Air Transport

ICAO members agree to transparency in safety audits

By Lori Ranson

A majority of the member states of ICAO have agreed to full transparency for the results of the organization’s safety review – the universal safety oversight audit program (USOAP).

ICAO director, air navigation bureau Nancy Graham earlier this week at the US/Europe International Aviation Safety Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida explained that 188 of 190 member states have agreed to make their audit results available, with six states so far being identified as having immediate safety concerns.

Graham supplied those statistics in a larger discussion regarding worldwide implementation of safety management systems, which is a standard ICAO is pushing for by 1 January 2009 that requires operators as part of their safety programs to identify safety hazards and remedial actions to maintain a continuous level of safety.

In addition, operators should also continually monitor safety levels and have regular assessments of safety levels achieved.

ICAO is continuing its efforts to aid member states in SMS training. Graham says by yearned two fully trained SMS instructors should be in place at each IACO regional office.

Singapore started its SMS process about three-to-four years ago, said Wong Chew Wah of the country’s civil aviation authority.

Wah explained one of the main elements in implementing SMS in Singapore is identifying hazards based on human and organizational practice.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news