S.Atlantic : UK Overseas Territories CAA Conference
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 03.07.2003 (Article Archived on 17.07.2003)
Directors of the Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) have been holding a conference
UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES DIRECTORS OF CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE
Representatives from the UK and its Overseas Territories debated a number of key aviation issues at the Directors of Civil Aviation (DCA) Conference in Gibraltar between the 17th and 19th of June.
The conference was the first since the formation of Air Safety Support International Limited (ASSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which started operations on 1 April this year in response to Directions from the UK Secretary of State for Transport to the CAA.
The requirement to set up ASSI stemmed from the findings of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit of the UK and the Overseas Territories in June 2000. A two year study of the ICAO findings by W S Atkins International Limited recommended that the UK's obligations to ICAO in respect of the Overseas Territories could be best met by establishing a new organisation with an aviation oversight responsibility for the Territories.
The Gibraltar conference was organised to:
- recognise the legitimate interests of the Overseas Territories;
- ensure their full participation in ASSI's work plan development;
- start the formulation of ASSI's operational practices; and
- begin the development of the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements.
ASSI will work closely with the Overseas Territories in order to ensure effective safety oversight of civil aviation by conducting assessments and any required regulatory activities in a co-operative and inclusive manner.
The Chief Executive Officer of ASSI, Rod Dean, stated: "I am very pleased with the start of the consultation process and the positive response of the Overseas Territories’ DCAs at such a crucial turning point for the industry. It is reassuring that the Overseas Territories’ degree of commitment, as demonstrated this week, will enable us to move forward at a sustained pace in the effort to achieve our joint goals. There is an exciting and challenging future ahead but one which can only be successful through the maintenance of a close working relationship between ASSI and the Overseas Territories."
For more information please contact Jonathan Nicholson on +44 (0) 20 7453 6027.
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