ICAO to end Audit in 2013
November 2, 2012
The Philippine government is bullish with the recent results of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit which found the country deficient only of two Significant Safety concerns (SSC) from the previous 89 the UN aviation body reported few years ago. Malacanang is confident of meeting all the safety concerns over Philippine aviation in time for the final audit of ICAO in the first quarter of 2013, according to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.
“We would not consider this as a setback, because we already have implemented progresses” says Valte in an interview with state-run Radyo ng Bayan.
"The feedback we have is, we have made significant progress on some of the areas of concern but there are still some things to be done. There is a final audit that will happen sometime in the first quarter of 2013 and we are optimistic that the significant safety concerns can be address in time for the final audit in the first quarter," Valte said.
Valte remarked that the country's Civil Aviation Authority CAAP) will ensure that measures will be in place when ICAO makes the next audit in the first quarter of 2013.
ICAO classified the Philippines in December 18, 2009 with “Significant Safety Concern” that requires Universal Safety Oversight Audit for failure to resolve issues relating to air safety oversight.
The UN aviation body created the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) to address a UN-member country’s capability for providing safety oversight so that the traveling public can make an informed decision when using air transportation.
The mandatory audits of the safety oversight systems in all Contracting States, such as the Philippines, assesses whether critical elements of the safety program have been implemented and identify deficiencies which should be corrected. Follow-up visits are then done to confirm whether the measures were effective.
A final audit by ICAO signifies closure of monitoring activities as it declare a country's aviation safety policy compliant with international standards.
