The Wicks Group provided extensive aviation safety technical assistance to the India Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) to prepare the organization for an FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program audit in 2014. 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. The DGCA established an IASA audit preparation project because it had been downgraded to Category 2 based on a 2013 audit and had made returning to Category 1 status a top priority.
The project began began in May 2014 and entailed intensive delivery of services to prepare the DGCA for a new FAA IASA audit in December 2014. Our work included developing and executing a strategy for effective pre- and post-audit communications with the FAA; evaluating the inspector workforce staffing need; supporting indoctrination training for numerous new inspectors; preparing or revising certification and surveillance policies and procedures, and providing extensive on-the-job training to Grantee inspectors in carrying out certification, licensing, and surveillance activities in accordance with international standards. The Wicks Group continued to assist the DGCA during a 60-day post-audit diplomatic consultation period to ensure that a few issues raised in the December 2014 audit were resolved. As a result, the FAA announced on April 8, 2015 that India had been returned to Category 1 status.
The Wicks Group will soon begin a follow-on project for DGCA to help it maintain the Category 1 rating going forward. TWG will provide additional technical assistance to help DGCA continue the strengthening of its aviation safety oversight structure, policies, procedures, and inspector training programs. TWG will also support the DGCA's ongoing air operator certification work and develop recommendations related to certification and oversight of business aviation in India.