ICAO Coordination Validation Mission to Tonga Featured
23 January, 2020. The Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure was honored to receive the ICAO team leader – Mr. Len Wicks and Mr. Punya Raj Shakar to conduct the very first ICVM mission for Tonga from 18th to 27th November 2019.
This mission mainly focused on two audit areas which were Air Navigation Services (ANS) as well as the Aerodromes and Ground Aids (AGA).
Tonga underwent the last ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) back in March of 2010.
At the end of this audit process, Tonga was issued with several non-compliances and was required to submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAPs) to ICAO on measures being taken to rectify all noncompliances identified during the audit.
Whilst the process of verifying the above CAPs continued, ICAO introduced a new system which enabled all contracting states to ICAO and its headquarters to interface with all its contracting states and for required information to be submitted online in accordance with the international standard and recommended practices in a timely manner.
However, transitioning from the former USOAP Programme to the new USOAP Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) system, brought challenges to small developing states especially small pacific island states including us – Tonga.
This system lets both the State and ICAO gain access to information which reflects each State’s status of implementation of the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and how it meets its international obligations under each of the ICAO Annexes.
Additionally, it lets the auditor(s) check all required documents and evidences provided to show how the States implement the requirements as mentioned above.
It also requires checks the Corrective Actions taken if it has been updated continuously.
The CAD team worked tirelessly with its counterparts to ensure that all relevant CAPs were addressed appropriately in accordance with the ICAO requirements.
The week of the 18th November 2019, both the ICAO and CAD teams underwent the process of checks, observation, verifications and interview, sight visits and industry involvement to cover all areas that were required to be checked and verified.
As a result Tonga has shown an improvement in its system however still room for improvement.
The ICVM process ended with an exit meeting held on 27th November 2019 with the result of the ICVM process between the Prime Minister of Tonga however Acting Minister responsible for Aviation in Tonga, together with the CEO, the ICAO auditors, representatives of the Aviation industry (i.e TAL and the Meteorology Services Office), the Director of Civil Aviation and all its staff at the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is anticipated that upon the results obtained during this ICVM process will better improve the performance of the CAD Tonga for the upcoming ICVM process for the rest of the audit areas expected to take place in 2021.
