FSF calls for an advanced standardisation of digital health certificates

The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has called on the aviation industry, regulators and health authorities around the world, to accelerate development of standardised and internationally accepted digital health certificates and to have them widely deployed within the next 12 months.

“Commercial aviation has begun the long, slow climb out of the travel trough created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even the most routine international trip is fraught with confusion and frustration about acceptable documentation, testing requirements and the specter of quarantines, never mind the risk of fake COVID-19 test results or vaccine status fraud,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, Foundation President and CEO.

“To maximise passenger health and safety we need a secure, globally accepted digital tool that enables travellers to upload and carry with them their vaccine status, recent test results or COVID-19 recovery status, and that will be recognised and accepted wherever they go,” Dr. Shahidi added.

While dozens of airlines and countries have deployed digital health certificates and apps, the pace of adoption of these tools has been slow and uneven. The Foundation is concerned that as travel picks up, airlines, security personnel and immigration, and border control agents are likely to be faced with a bewildering array of testing and vaccine documents to process.

Capt. Conor Nolan, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Governors commented: “The only way the industry is going to be able to move forward safely and in a manner that instills confidence in travellers, aviation industry personnel, regulators and health authorities, is if all the stakeholders pull together and prioritise development and adoption of these tools.

“We need solutions that are scalable, interoperable and that ensure sensitive information remains secure.”

The Foundation recently published on its website ‘Guidance on Advancing COVID-19 Risk Mitigation in Air Travel’, which includes recommendations on ensuring passenger health and safety for air travel. Development of the guidance material was informed by the Foundation’s Medical Advisory Committee.