THE CAA’S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial responsibility
The Civil Aviation Administration provides the services necessary for air transport effectively, economically and safely. Through our countrywide network of airports and air navigation system – and through reasonable pricing – we aim to provide a favourable infrastructure for regular, scheduled traffic in Finland, which includes the low-traffic airports.
As a provider of air traffic services and infrastructure we are important for the competitive ability of such a remote country as Finland. Good flight connections help Finnish society and commerce by furthering the movement of people and goods in a globalized world – aiding business but also science, the arts and tourism.
By operating as a profitable enterprise the CAA is able to invest in the areas it considers important, especially in safety and security and in reducing environmental damage.
Thanks to its healthy financial management the CAA is able to return some of its profits to the government each year, in accordance with the profit obligations set for us. The amount for 2005 came to over 11 million euros.
Social responsibilities
The CAA works as an active partner with the airlines and thus tries to react quickly to the changing demands of the airlines – as well as society as a whole. The defence forces are also an important client, whose special needs the CAA understands well.
The CAA takes responsibility at social level by providing rescue services at the request of the government and other bodies. At the turn of 2004–2005 the CAA took part in the reception and other special arrangements at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport for those returning from the Asian Tsunami.
The CAA is a good employer which invests in the well-being, skills and coping abilities of its staff. Our occupational health care has always been of a high standard. Our development programmes pay attention to management practices, staff skills and to creating a good working spirit.
Environmental responsibilities
The aim of the CAA is to ensure safe, regular and fi- nancially sound aviation which places as little burden as possible on the environment. The CAA is naturally responsible for its own activities but as proprietor for the airports it is also partially responsible for the environmental effects of operations at these facilities.
Aircraft noise control, keeping the number of residents in the areas affected by aircraft noise to a minimum and reducing the environmental burden of antiskid and de-icing agents, are of primary importance in the environmental work of the airports.
In addition to managing and sorting the waste from its own operations, the CAA also has contracts with other companies operating at its airports to take care of their refuse. The heat consumption, electricity and water usage at airports is monitored monthly and the CAA sets an energy saving target every year.
The CAA is a good neighbour. In environmental matters, especially those concerning aircraft noise, the CAA engages in close dialogue both with those living in the vicinity of its airports and with official bodies. The CAA openly distributes information about the environmental effects of its activities and the environmental work it is doing, through such channels as its annual environmental reports.
The Arts
The CAA is active in promoting Finnish architecture by investing heavily in the design and construction of airport passenger terminals and other buildings. Our cooperation with Finnish designers has proved fruitful and has earned acclaim abroad, too.
The CAA has an extensive collection of artistic works which can be seen and enjoyed both by air travellers and CAA personnel alike.