ICAO introduced the first version of the GASP in 1997 by formalizing a series of conclusions and recommendations developed during an informal meeting between the Air Navigation Commission (ANC) of ICAO and industry. ICAO used the GASP to guide and prioritize the technical work programme of ICAO and updated it regularly to ensure its continuing relevance.

In May 2005, a meeting with industry identified the need to broaden the GASP to provide a common frame of reference for all stakeholders. Such a plan would allow a more proactive approach to aviation safety and help coordinate and guide safety policies and initiatives worldwide to reduce the accident risk for commercial aviation. It was then decided that industry representatives from the Industry Safety Strategy Group (ISSG) would work together with ICAO to develop a common approach for aviation safety. The global aviation safety roadmap, developed by the ISSG, provided the foundation upon which ICAO based the GASP 2007 edition. In March 2006, ICAO held the Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference (DGCA/06) on a global strategy for aviation safety, which welcomed the development of the global aviation safety roadmap and recommended that ICAO develop an integrated approach to safety enhancement initiatives (SEIs), based on the roadmap. The global aviation safety roadmap would provide a global framework for the coordination of safety policies and initiatives.

In 2013, during its 38th Session, the Assembly urged ICAO to complete the development of a global aviation safety roadmap in support of the GASP. The second High-level Safety Conference held in 2015 (HLSC 2015) agreed on the need for ICAO to develop a global aviation safety roadmap in support of the GASP, in collaboration with States, regional aviation safety groups (RASGs), aviation safety partners and industry.

The 2014-2016 edition included GASP objectives for States to achieve, through the implementation of an effective safety oversight system, a State safety programme (SSP) and safety capabilities necessary to support future aviation systems.

In 2015, ICAO established the Global Aviation Safety Plan Roadmap Group (GASPRG) to undertake necessary actions to assist ICAO in updating the GASP, particularly in relation to the development of a new global aviation safety roadmap that would support the implementation of the GASP. The GASPRG was composed of subject matter experts from States, regions and industry. It included participation by all the organizations previously involved in the ISSG.

The 2017-2019 edition of the GASP maintained the objectives presented in the 2014-2016 edition. The 2017-2019 edition included the introduction of the new global aviation safety roadmap, developed by the GASPRG, to assist the aviation community in achieving the objectives presented in the GASP. It provided a structured, common frame of reference for all relevant stakeholders from States, regions and industry.

The 2020-2022 edition of the GASP introduced a new set of goals, targets and indicators, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The GASP included the global aviation safety roadmap, which was expanded to encompass organizational challenges and operational safety risks. The 2020-2022 edition of the GASP also introduced the concept of regional and national aviation safety plans, as well as the high-risk categories of occurrences (HRCs).

The GASP has significantly changed since its introduction in 1997 and has evolved through continual consultations and reviews. The 2023-2025 edition of the GASP maintains the goals and G-HRCs listed in the previous edition and contains updated targets and examples of indicators. The roadmap was migrated into a standalone document (Doc 10161) and guidance related the regional and national aviation safety plans is addressed in Doc 10131, Manual on the Development of Regional and National Aviation Safety Plans.