THE United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will tomorrow commence an assessment visit to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) where they will be looking at the regulatory body’s capability to enact and enforce regulations in accordance with eight critical elements.
A four-member team from the FAA have arrived Nigeria to conduct the audit which will take place from 21st – 25th August, 2017.
The members of the team are Team leader, Louis A. Alvarez, Operation specialist, L.P.Vanstory; Airworthiness Specialist, Benjamin Garrido, and Attorney Jeffrey Klang.
The FAA officials will assess the State’s aviation law, regulations and oversight capability in accordance with the eight critical elements as defined in ICAO 9734.
Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, the FAA determines whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers that operate, or seek to operate, into the U.S., or codeshare with a U.S. air carrier, complies with safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
IASA assessments determine compliance with these international Standards by focusing on the eight critical elements of an effective aviation safety oversight authority specified in ICAO Document 9734, Safety Oversight Manual.
The eight critical elements include (I) primary aviation legislation; (ii)specific operating regulations; (iii)State civil aviation system and safety oversight functions; (iv.)technical personnel qualification and training; (v.)technical guidance, tools and the provision of safety critical information; (vi.)licensing, certification, authorization, and approval obligations; (vii.)surveillance obligations; and (viii.)resolution of safety concerns.
In addition, during the assessment, the team will need to visit the facilities of an Airline Operators Certificate (AOC) holder. They will look at the operations and maintenance organisations.
At the end of the assessment there will be a debriefing session at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).