The Wicks Group recently completed a project of assisting Cabo Verde Agencia de Aviacao Civil (AAC) with preparing for an FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program audit. The FAA audits countries under its IASA program to determine whether or not the countries are compliance with international requirements for aviation safety oversight and monitoring, awarding a Category 1 rating to countries that are and a Category 2 rating to those that are not. Our work for Cabo Verde included conducting a baseline assessment to identify compliance issues, developing a prioritized plan for addressing potential findings prior to the IASA audit, assisting the AAC with implementing the plan, and providing advice on strategic communications with the FAA. TWG also supported the AAC during the FAA audit in August 2015, guided agency management during the follow-up diplomatic consultation period with the FAA - including resolving preliminary IASA audit findings through additional corrective actions - and supported the AAC during a follow-up visit by the FAA audit team. With our technical assistance, the AAC was able to obtain an FAA IASA Category 1 rating, which was announced in January 2016.
The Wicks Group also carried out an earlier project for the Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) civil aviaion authority related to its compliance with international aviation safety oversight and monitoring standards. For a US Department of Transportation/FAA “Safe Skies for Africa” project in Cape Verde in 2003, TWG led the process of adapting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Model Civil Aviation Legislation and Regulations for use by the Cape Verde civil aviation authority. Our staff also participated actively in the drafting of extensive inspector guidance materials for the civil aviation authority and provided overall project management support to the civil avation authority. As a result of our intensive project work, Cape Verde’s revised civil aviation regulations, oversight structure and inspector programs were determined by the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Program to be 97 percent compliant with ICAO standards, and Cape Verde also was awarded FAA IASA Category 1 status.