As part of their cooperation under the Capacity Building Project, the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) represented by its EUR NAT office jointly organized a Search And Rescue (SAR) Workshop at Paris, France the 20 - 21 November 2025.
The SAR WS brings together representatives from ACAO and ICAO EUR/NAT States, Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs), and SAR stakeholders. The workshop aimed to reinforce regional collaboration and enhance the effectiveness of SAR services. Discussions focused on three priority areas: Regional SAR Coordination, SAR Training, and SAREX activities.
Participants emphasized the importance of stronger cross-border cooperation to address operational challenges in joint SAR missions. Key issues discussed included: Promoting bilateral and multilateral SAR agreements to facilitate rapid deployment and information exchange; Improving access to real-time flight and maritime tracking information; Locking forward to certification of SAR service providers as best practices on regulatory oversight.
The workshop underlined the critical role of training in ensuring effective SAR response. Key takeaways included: Investing in personnel skills remains essential to maintaining operational readiness and safety; The need for more structured training on SAR oversight tackling the regulator duties on that matter.
During the WS a brainstorming session has been organized, simulating a (SAR Exercise) SAREX activities which were recognized as vital for testing SAR Multilateral coordination. Discussions highlighted the importance of regular, structured, and well-documented SAREX events involving multiple States, the requirement for systematic debriefings to capture lessons
37 States and 8 Organisations attended the WS. The workshop reaffirmed the ICAO and ACAO willingness to continue supporting States ensuring that SAR capabilities remain robust, coordinated, and prepared to save lives.
