Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has placed our society in a new situation. From the perspective of air transport, preparedness, proactivity and close cooperation among the operators involved are essential to enable a continued high level of safety, regardless of the surprises our operating environment may present.
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom has updated the Finnish Plan for Aviation Safety (FPAS), a collection of prioritised actions to preserve and improve the strengths of the Finnish aviation sector and to manage associated risks.
The 2025 plan focuses on actions that support preparedness and proactive risk management. Other key themes include fatigue risk management, unruly passengers and cybersecurity.
“Unintentional — but also intentional and deliberate — threats are already targeting, and may increasingly target, our aviation system,” says Traficom Director-General Jarkko Saarimäki. One example of current threats is the sharp increase in satellite navigation disruptions, to which our aviation system is, however, well equipped to respond. “We, as aviation professionals both on the authority side and in aviation organisations, have long-standing experience in risk management. We have a wide range of tools for ensuring safety,” emphasises Traficom’s Director General of Civil Aviation Jari Pöntinen.
Measures at system level and targeted actions for all aviation stakeholder groups
The actions in the FPAS are binding on both Traficom and aviation stakeholders. The actions are based on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS 2025 Edition) and national aviation risk management. The FPAS includes targeted measures for all aviation stakeholders, such as airlines, helicopter operators, airport operators, air navigation service providers, pilot schools and ground handling services.
“Stakeholders responsible for various aviation domains are the key source of information regarding the safety of daily operations — in identifying threats, assessing risks, and defining the actions needed,” highlights Heli Koivu, the coordinator of the Finnish Aviation Safety Programme (FASP).
Forms of collaboration include aviation events, such as the Aviation Safety Forum to be held annually in the future. In May 2025, industry stakeholders will jointly carry out a communications campaign to reduce unruly behaviour, both in aircraft cabins and at airports.
Enquiries
Jari Pöntinen, Director General of Civil Aviation, tel. +358 29 534 6071
Heli Koivu, Chief Adviser, FASP Coordinator, tel. +358 29 534 6200