On May 16, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed Azerbaijan’s State Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) that Azerbaijan has achieved compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety oversight standards and would retain its Category 1 safety rating.
Under the IASA program, the FAA assesses 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 ICAO international aviation safety standards. The FAA maintains two ratings for the status of a country’s safety oversight compliance. A Category 1 rating means the FAA determined that the country has demonstrated that it meets the ICAO standards for each of the critical elements of civil aviation safety oversight. A Category 2 rating is assigned when the FAA determines the country does not comply with ICAO standards.
The renewal of Category 1 status means air carriers in Azerbaijan can continue to apply for new services to the U.S. and code-share with U.S. carriers. In contrast, had Azerbaijan been downgraded to a Category 2 rating, the United States would not permit expansion or changes in the current services of air carriers to the United States. Additionally, U.S. airlines are generally prohibited from code sharing with foreign air carriers from a Category 2 rated country.
Azerbaijan first gained its IASA Category 1 safety rating in March of 2014, after receiving intensive technical assistance from The Wicks Group, a U.S-based aviation consulting and legal firm. During this most recent IASA assessment, The Wicks Group provided extensive technical, legal, and political support to Azerbaijan. The Wicks Group undertook a specific work plan designed to address inspector training, the enhancement of the designee oversight system, the refinement of the surveillance and enforcement program, and the further development of civil aviation regulations and inspector guidance material.
The Wicks Group consultants have assisted numerous foreign civil aviation authorities achieve or maintain an existing Category 1 rating in the past decade, including six Category 1 achievements since 2012. The Wicks Group also provides ongoing Category 1 sustainment services to help ensure that civil aviation authorities maintain ICAO-compliant practices over time.
For more information on The Wicks Group’s IASA-related services, please contact Glenn Wicks at (202) 457-7790 (Office) or gpwicks@wicks-group.com.