Joint Planning and Development Office

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Executive Summary 

In 2003, Congress created the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) to facilitate and 

coordinate the interagency planning, development, and implementation of the Next Generation 

Air Transportation System (NextGen). The JPDO is comprised of eight partner departments and 

agencies, which include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA), the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland 

Security, Transportation, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the 

Office of the Director of National Intelligence. 

Within the JPDO, the Global Harmonization Working Group has developed this appendix to 

document the process for coordinating issues or concerns regarding international aviation matters 

(i.e., standards, policies, and procedures). According to the U.S. Presidential Executive Order 

11382—Amendment of Executive Orders Relating to Functions of the Department of 

Transportation, the Interagency Group on International Aviation (IGIA) was established to 

coordinate U.S. Government recommendations on international aviation policy matters affecting 

two or more agencies. In achieving NextGen, the JPDO will adhere to the processes and 

procedures as detailed in this appendix. 
Joint Planning and Development Office

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Interagency Group on International Aviation (IGIA) 

What: 

According to the U.S. Aviation Policy, Executive Order 11382, the Interagency 

Group on International Aviation (IGIA) was originally established by Interagency 

Agreement in 1960 at the direction of the President. The IGIA is responsible for 

providing coordinated recommendations on international aviation matters to the 

Department of State (DOS). The IGIA process ensures coordination and approval of 

U.S. policy, position, and working papers that are relative to international aviation, 

and specifically, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) international 

standards. All U.S. Government agencies are obligated to follow IGIA 

recommendations and processes. 

 Currently, administrative support is furnished by the Department of Transportation 

(DOT) through the IGIA Secretariat, located in the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA) Office of International Aviation. 

For:

• Working papers at international meetings, forums, and conferences 

• U.S. policy positions for direction at international aviation meetings 

• Amendments to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) 

• Amendments to ICAO Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) 

Who: 

IGIA is comprised of members from the U.S Government on a full and ad hoc basis: 

Full IGIA Members: 

• Department of State (DOS) 

• Department of Defense (DOD) 

• Department of Commerce (DOC) 

• Department of Transportation (DOT) 

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 

• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) 

Ad Hoc Members: 

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 

• Department of Justice (DOJ) 

• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 

• Department of the Interior (DOI) 

Industry members are copied for informational purposes and voluntary response.
How: 

Figure 1: The IGIA Process

IGIA Member 

(Lead Agency) 

IGIA Secretariat 

Full IGIA Members 

IGIA Ad Hoc 

Members 

Industry

IGIA Secretariat 

1. IGIA Member forwards 

correspondence to IGIA 

Secretariat. 

2. Proposed 

correspondence is 

circulated among IGIA 

members for 

concurrence/comments. 

3. Comments are sent to Lead 

Agency to amend response if 

necessary. 

International 

Organization/ 

Forum 

4. Once concurrence is obtained, the IGIA 

Secretariat sends final action to the 

international organization/forum (e.g., 

ICAO, International Trade Union, World 

Health Organization)

IGIA Member 

(Lead Agency) 

The IGIA is used to: 

• Respond to incoming State 

letters from ICAO headquarters 

and regional offices 

• Vet working papers for 

international forums 

• Circulate policy, positions, 

issues (even if these issues are 

not in response to an official 

request from ICAO or other 

international bodies), or to 

obtain views of other member 

agencies 

Joint Planning and Development Office

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