Aviation Emissions Characterization (AEC) Roadmap

Purpose

The Aviation Emissions Characterization (AEC) Roadmap is an interagency collaboration to coordinate research activities and communicate research findings among stakeholders and other parties with an interest in particulate matter (PM) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from aviation sources.

Recent research into air pollutant health effects has confirmed that small particles, typical of those produced in aircraft engines and other combustion sources, can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and even enter the blood stream, with more significant health impacts than larger particles that are trapped in the nasal passages.

Analysis has shown that, perhaps even more significant, some pollutants are further transformed in the atmosphere to produce secondary particles that result in greater exposure of the general population. Also, airport operators are faced with employee and community concerns about emissions from airports, yet our understanding of emission levels and pollutant characteristics are incomplete.

For these reasons, PM and HAP research is significant and increasing in importance.

Mission Statement

The Aviation Emissions Characterization (AEC) Roadmap is a collaboration of parties from government, industry, academia, and the public interested in aviation emissions characterization research, development, and regulatory activities with a particular focus on PM and HAP emissions. The objective is to gain the necessary understanding of emissions’ formation, composition, and growth and transport mechanisms for assessing aviation's emissions and understanding their impact on human health and the environment. Ultimately, the Roadmap will also guide aviation technology development and, if warranted, other mitigation activities.

Past Meetings

• May 2022 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda
• May 2021 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda
• May 2020 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda
• May 2019 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda
• May 2018 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda
• June 2017 AEC Roadmap Meeting Agenda

Office of International Affairs

The FAA’s Office of International Affairs (API) is responsible for providing international coordination and outreach to support the harmonization of global aviation system modernization efforts. This supports the FAA’s international mission to promote a safe, secure, seamless, and sustainable global aerospace system. 

API’s staff is located at the FAA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and in offices strategically located around the world for in-person engagement.

Click here to view International Staff Listed by Area of Responsibility.

FAA's international offices are listed below:

• Global Strategy and Mission Support
• Africa, Europe and Middle East
• Asia-Pacific
• Western Hemisphere
• ICAO and International Training

In addition, API provides leadership for the FAA’s international programs and initiatives for harmonization of aerospace standards, prioritization and coordination of technical assistance and training, cooperative research and development, information exchanges, and other forms of international collaboration. FAA launched the Fiscal Year 2022-2026 FAA Strategic Plan, known as Flight Plan 21, and it focuses on the following four pillars to build the 21st century FAA: Safety; People; Global Leadership, and Operational Excellence. These pillars set a course for the future of the FAA and align resources and processes to better enable the FAA to provide exceptional service to the flying public. The Global Leadership pillar will advance global aviation safety, operational excellence, and innovation by leading and collaborating with aviation authorities globally.

Additional Resources:

• International Leadership
• Foreign Visitors to FAA
• International Crisis Management and Response
• Technical Assistance
• International Aviation Safety Assessments (IASA)

ICAO and International Training

The ICAO and International Training staff is based in Washington, D.C. and Montreal, Canada, and is responsible for managing the overall FAA relationship with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other global organizations involved in or affecting U.S. aviation interests. In addition, the staff lead many of the coordination and implementation of aviation activities that have a global impact.

• ICAO and International Training
  • About ICAO
  • International Training and Outreach
  • Interagency Group on International Aviation
• Resources

About ICAO

The United States is a founding member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which was established in 1944 by the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. Currently, there are 193 members or contracting states in ICAO, which is governed by the ICAO Council, which is composed of 36 member states including the United States. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, ICAO's core function is to develop and support the implementation of global standards and recommended practices for international aviation. These include safety, security, and air traffic management, among others. ICAO supports the implementation of these standards through technical assistance programs, and monitors their implementation through the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP).

The United States Mission to ICAO is led by a U.S. ambassador appointed by the President of the United States and is headquartered in Montreal. The Ambassador is assisted by a Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) from the U.S. Department of State, as well as by a Senior Representative of the FAA, who is a member of the ICAO and International Training staff. In addition, the United States appoints an Air Navigation Commissioner to serve as an independent technical advisor on the Air Navigation Commission (ANC). The ANC is the principal body concerned with the development of all international air navigation and safety standards and procedures covering international civil aviation. The Ambassador represents the United States on the ICAO Council, and the DCM, FAA Senior Representative, and Air Navigation Commissioner serve as alternate Council representatives.

The ICAO and International Training staff manage the FAA's relationship with ICAO headquarters, and ensures agency-wide coordination of technical aviation positions at ICAO that advance U.S. safety objectives. The ICAO and International Training staff lead the ongoing coordination effort across United States Government (USG) in the planning and execution of major events such as the triennial ICAO Assembly Sessions, the High-Level Safety Conference, Air Navigation Conferences, and other major ICAO events.

International Training and Outreach

Recognized globally for its commitment to safety, the FAA helps the world's aviation community keep safety first in order to build and maintain the flying public's trust. ICAO and International Training staff do that in part through their extensive outreach and aviation training programs for foreign Civil Aviation Authorities, Air Navigation Service Providers, Regional Safety Oversight Organizations, and others.

Additionally, they ensure that training and outreach events are aligned with the FAA international strategy and priorities and modernize training offerings to meet international stakeholder needs and reflect Agency priorities in the rapidly shifting aviation landscape. Working together, they ensure that the international aviation network provides the maximum safety and benefits for the traveling public and the citizens of the world.

To request a training or workshop event and ask further questions, please email AviationTraining@FAA.gov.

Interagency Group on International Aviation

The Office of International Affairs also plays a key role by managing the Interagency Group on International Aviation (IGIA). IGIA was created in 1960 to provide coordinated, inter-agency recommendations on aviation matters to the U.S. Department of State. IGIA membership is comprised of representatives from the U.S. Departments of Transportation, State, Commerce, Homeland Security and Defense, as well as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Communications Commission, with additional USG agencies included as necessary. The Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the Department of Transportation serves as the IGIA Chairperson, and the Executive Director of the Office of International Affairs is the Vice Chairperson. The ICAO and International Training staff provide administrative support as the IGIA Secretariat.

The IGIA Secretariat includes a Principal Staff Officer who is responsible for coordinating USG aviation positions with the applicable IGIA member agencies. In addition to coordination of broad cross-USG international aviation matters, the IGIA Secretariat serves as the conduit between the USG and ICAO headquarters and ICAO's seven regional offices. All incoming documentation or correspondence for USG information or action is directed to the IGIA Secretariat for coordination and the IGIA Secretariat is responsible for the submission of responses to the appropriate organizations and ICAO Offices.

Resources

• International Training and Outreach Services
• International Training & Outreach Catalog
• U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• ICAO Upcoming Meetings and Events
• Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices

Key Officials

Policy and Strategic Engagement leads the agency's efforts to increase the safety and capacity of the global aerospace system in an environmentally sound manner.

• Assistant Administrator, Simone Pérez
• Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Rebecca Cointin

Office of Aviation Policy and Plans develops, facilitates, coordinates, and implements cross-cutting civil aerospace system policies, goals, and priorities.

• Executive Director, Daniel Blum (A)
• Deputy Executive Director, Erik Amend (A)

Office of International Affairs leads FAA's international programs for the harmonization of global standards, technical assistance, training, and infrastructure planning.

• Executive Director, David Burkholder (A)
• Deputy Executive Director, Ian Ross (A)
• Regional Directors:
  • Africa, Europe & Middle East Office, Coleen Hawrysko
  • Asia Pacific Office, Natalie Randolph (A)
  • Western Hemisphere Office, Melvin Cintron
  • ICAO and International Training, Ian Ross
  • Global Strategy and Mission Support, Michelle Westover

Office of Environment and Energy develops, recommends, and coordinates national aviation policy relating to environmental and energy matters, which includes noise and emissions.

• Executive Director, Julie Marks
• Deputy Director, Don Scata

National Engagement & Regional Administration leads a nationwide organization through a headquarters office in Washington, DC and nine regional offices strategically located across the country.

• Acting Executive Director, June Green
• Acting Deputy Director, June Green
• Regional Key Officials

Areas of Responsibility in Asia-Pacific

• Afghanistan
• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Burma
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China (including special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau)
• Cook Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• India
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mongolia
• Nepal
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Niue
• North Korea
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region is both expansive in size and diverse in make-up, as it comprises 41 areas across the sub-regions of North Asia, Northeast Asia, Oceania, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The region includes four of the five most populous areas in the world and collectively encompasses approximately 60% of the global population.

With many of the world's largest and fastest growing economies, the Asia Pacific region has seen significant economic and aviation growth in recent years. Looking forward, as aviation continues to recover from the global pandemic, the region is forecast to have the highest economic growth worldwide over the next twenty-year period. This growth, led in part by a growing middle class in a number of Asia Pacific areas, will lead to continued increases in the number of airline passengers traveling both within and to/from the region.

FAA maintains a number of interests in the Asia Pacific region and is committed to working with regional partners to advance aviation priorities. The region includes 10 shared Flight Information Region boundaries with the U.S. and is home to numerous parts suppliers for U.S. aviation manufacturers. FAA engages bilaterally with civil aviation authorities throughout the Asia Pacific region, and with regional entities such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Asia and Pacific Office, the Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Asia and Pacific region, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and many others.

The FAA Asia Pacific Director is located in Singapore, and there are FAA Senior Representatives located in Beijing, China; Delhi, India; Tokyo, Japan; and Singapore.

• Asia Pacific: Areas of Responsibility
• Asia Pacific: Regional Offices
• International Staff Listed by Area of Responsibility

Policy and Strategic Engagement - Contact Us

• Organization Contacts
• Foreign Locations
• Regional Locations

Organization Contacts

• International Staff listed by Country of Assignment

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Foreign Locations

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Regional Locations

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Areas of Responsibility in Western Hemisphere

• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Bahamas, The
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Virgin Islands, British
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Curacao
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• French Guiana
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Montserrat
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Barthelemy
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• St. Lucia
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sint Maarten
• Suriname
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks and Caicos
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Western Hemisphere

The Western Hemisphere is made up of 48 nations across North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Aviation plays an important role in many of these areas' economies, and it supports the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the region. For areas with tourism-based economies, aviation is a key driver for economic growth and prosperity. With 17 Flight Information Regions (FIRs) adjacent to the U.S. National Airspace System, the region is critically important to the FAA. In 2021, Mexico was the top global aviation destination for U.S. passengers; the Dominican Republic ranked second, and Jamaica ranked third. In 2021, 35% of all U.S. citizen departures were to Mexico, and Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica combined accounted for 48% of all U.S. citizen departures by air. In addition, approximately 70% of all U.S. international traffic (aircraft, rather than passengers) flies to destinations in the Western Hemisphere each year.

The United States is an accredited member of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Regional Office for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (NACC) located in Mexico City, and the FAA participates extensively in ICAO activities in both the NACC and the South American (SAM) Regional Office in Lima, Peru. The FAA Western Hemisphere Office (AWH) leads coordination for all high-level and cross-agency meetings in the NACC and SAM regions.

The AWH Director is located in Panama City, Panama. AWH currently has offices for our FAA Senior Representatives in Panama City, Panama; Brasília, Brazil; Mexico City, Mexico, and Miami, Florida.

The resilience of the region has been demonstrated by the swift aviation recovery of most Latin American areas following the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent FAA and industry forecasts predict that much of the Western Hemisphere will continue to experience significant aviation growth in the coming years.

• Western Hemisphere: Areas of Responsibility
• Western Hemisphere: Regional Offices
• International Staff Listed by Area of Responsibility

Africa, Europe, and Middle East

The Africa, Europe, and Middle East region is an exceptionally diverse and large portfolio which covers 122 areas and four ICAO regional offices, ranging from areas and organizations with which FAA engages on a peer-to-peer level to some of the least-developed areas in the world. The FAA has its regional office in Brussels, Belgium, with senior representatives posted in Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; London, United Kingdom; Dakar, Senegal; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Warsaw, Poland.

Europe

The FAA's engagement with Europe, which extends to Russia and the former Soviet republics, is characterized by long-term partnerships with mature global aviation systems, including the institutions of the European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Eurocontrol, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Currently, the U.S. and Europe produce most of the world's commercial aircraft, which drives high import and export activity. In addition, nearly half of FAA's Part 145 global repair stations are located in Europe.

This region, which contains important connection points to the rest of the world, has a complex, dense airspace with high passenger volumes, including substantial numbers of U.S. travelers and operators. Additionally, the European Union (EU) is home to a majority of the areas FAA is engaged with on regulatory cooperation on emerging commercial space transportation concepts and operations, as well as cooperation in other important areas, such as aviation environment and the integration of drones. As a substantial mature aviation market with large numbers of passengers, Europe remains a key international regulatory partner for FAA and economic focus for U.S. Industry.

Middle East

The Middle East, especially the Gulf States, is experiencing tremendous growth in aviation at an annual rate of 10% a year (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic). Complicating matters is the continued geopolitical unrest/conflicts zones that plague the region, resulting in safety restrictions that are generating an increasing level of congestion in the region's usable airspace corridors.

Africa

Most of sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag behind the rest of the world in developing safe and reliable air transportation. However, as a bloc, these States have a significant level of influence at ICAO. There have been recent advances in liberalization of air service agreements among African States and that bodes well for increases in passenger and cargo traffic. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, IATA projects growth to increase at an annual average rate of 5.9% over the next 20 years, resulting in more than 300 million additional annual passengers.

Africa and the Middle East present opportunities for targeted strategies to advance U.S. leadership and to promote best practices for air traffic flow management, air traffic control oversight, and safety interests.

• AEU: Areas of Responsibility
• AEU: Regional Offices
• International Staff Listed by Area of Responsibility