In collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), CAA International (CAAi) has delivered an Aerodrome Certification course for 26 delegates from 11 countries in South East Asia. CAAi funded the training under its Social Enterprise activity.
The course was held at the ICAO Asia and Pacific (APAC) Regional Office in Bangkok and delivered under ICAO’s Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme – South East Asia (COSCAP-SEA).
Developed by the UK CAA and based on ICAO Annex 14, the training was prioritised by ICAO for the COSCAP-SEA Member States because it addressed the lowest average USOAP Effective Implementation (EI) area in the COSCAP-SEA sub-region; AGA – Aerodromes and ground aids. The COSCAP-SEA and APAC average EI in the AGA area is 58%. Under the Beijing Ministerial Declaration of 2018, APAC Member States have committed to certify all aerodromes used for international operations by 2020 and raise Effective Implementation in the region above the global average by 2022.
Michiel Vreedenburgh, Programme Coordinator for ICAO COSCAP-SEA said, “ICAO welcomes the UK CAA as a valuable new contributing partner to COSCAP-SEA to collaborate with on assisting States in South East Asia to develop and improve aviation safety oversight systems. The topic of the course was prioritised based on the existing low levels of implementation in the sub-region and with a view to achieving the Ministerial Declaration target to certify all international aerodromes by 2020.”
Under invitation by ICAO, the course attracted delegates from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Delivered by UK CAA aerodrome experts, Graeme Ritchie and David Macmillan, the training explored the aerodrome certification process and continuing surveillance, and the importance of safety management systems. The course introduced participants to the pre-certification documentation, the initial as well as on-going regulatory oversight activities, and the steps to take when regulatory intervention is deemed necessary.
Maria Rueda, Managing Director for CAAi added, “We are delighted to support ICAO and COSCAP Member States with this important training. Asia’s rapid growth in commercial aviation and continued airport investment relies on safe operations and ICAO compliant regulatory oversight. We hope this course equips our SEA regulatory peers with the latest best practice and competencies for Annex 14 compliance.”
In 2017, CAAi became a Social Enterprise and committed to reinvest a substantial part of any profit it makes back into the global aviation community. Earlier this year, CAAi and ICAO held its first fully funded aerodrome certification training programme in Nairobi, attracting 36 delegates from 14 ICAO Member States in Africa.
Photo: Representatives from ICAO, CAAi and the course delegates at the ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok.
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