Regulatory Audits
Under the Chicago Convention, States are required to put in place a safety oversight system to promote aviation safety by observing and assessing the compliance of aircraft operators/service providers with the applicable regulations, procedures and recommended practices. This is to be achieved through a mix of activities, including safety audits. Such audits conducted by a safety regulatory authority should take a broad view of the safety management procedures of the audited organisation. The key issues in such audits should be:
-Surveillance and compliance - the authority needs to ensure that international, national and local standards are complied with prior to issuing any licence or approval and continue to be complied with afterwards;
-Areas and degree of risk - the audit should assess how risks are identified and how any necessary changes are made to ensure that all safety standards are met;
-Competence - the audited organisation should have adequately trained staff for all safety related positions
-Safety management - ensure that the organisation’s SMS is based on sound principles and procedures, and that the organisation is meeting its safety performance targets.