Last week, Glenn Wicks, Kathryn Wicks, Ekaterina Grimes, and Mihaela Cebotari represented The Wicks Group at a reception hosted by the embassy of Azerbaijan in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event—which brought together senior government officials, including congressmen, diplomats, and high-ranking members of the U.S. armed forces—marked the country’s progress since proclaiming independence from the Russia in 1918.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov emphasized the role the country has played in restoring the country’s statehood traditions, as well as the critical economic and political roles Azerbaijan plays in the region. Ambassador Suleymanov also noted the longstanding cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan in the areas of energy, defense, and combatting extremism.
In recent years, as Azeri-U.S. relations have strengthened, airline service between the two countries has grown rapidly. Throughout this expansion, The Wicks Group, a Washington, DC-based aviation consulting and legal firm, has provided intensive technical assistance to ensure that Azerbaijan meets ever-evolving standards for international aviation safety oversight. In May of this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation reconfirmed that the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) had achieved full compliance with international safety oversight standards and would retain its top safety rating, FAA Category 1 status.
Azerbaijan first gained its IASA Category 1 safety rating in March of 2014, after receiving intensive technical assistance from The Wicks Group. During the most recent IASA assessment, The Wicks Group provided additional technical, legal, and political support to Azerbaijan, including inspector training, guidance material development, and the refinement of the organization’s surveillance and enforcement program.
During last week’s event, The Wicks Group was congratulated by Azeri officials for their success in ensuring that the country continues to meet international standards for safety oversight. The renewal of a Category 1 rating means that air carriers in Azerbaijan can continue to apply for new services to the U.S. and code-share with U.S. carriers. It also means that Azerbaijani carriers are allowed to expand or change their current services to the United States as well as enter code share agreements with U.S. airlines.
As part of the centennial celebration, the embassy of Azerbaijan screened a film dedicated to the 100th year of the republic, including its rich history serving as a transit point along the Silk Road for goods passing from China and India through the Black Sea to the west. Today, Azerbaijan continues to connect the world with goods, services, and people, and The Wicks Group remains committed to ensuring that Azerbaijan remains a leader in transportation.
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.