IADC MONITORS TECHNICAL and regulatory developments affecting drilling operations and keeps the drilling industry's interests at the forefront when dealing with issues that impact the contractor. Recent issues and initiatives range from helideck operations, low sulfur fuel for diesel engines, ballast water issues and incident and accident reporting. Offshore issues and initiatives are directed by Alan Spack-man, Director -Offshore Technical and Regulatory Affairs. In the United States and many other countries, the industry has been able to assure safe and efficient helicopter operations without the aid of onerous government regulations. However, certain governments, under pressure to harmonize national requirements to accommodate growing international helicopter traffic, continue to press the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to extend its standards and recommended practices to private aircraft and helideck operations worldwide. Under ICAO, contracting States (i.e., national governments) are supposed to notify ICAO if any differences exist between the ICAO standards and national practice. However, most ICAO contracting States do not inform ICAO of the differences, and several have informed ICAO that no differences exist when, in fact, they do.
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