Self-assessment of Cameroon's Aviation Safety Oversight System

Published: Thursday, 13 February 2025 16:27
 
This was the focus of the meeting held in Kribi from January 27 to 31, 2025, which aimed to conduct an internal evaluation of Cameroon’s safety oversight system in alignment with the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). 
Air safety is central to global civil aviation priorities, and to ensure compliance with international standards, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducts audits in all member states. With this objective in mind, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), in preparation for the full ICAO audit, organized this self-assessment workshop to evaluate its safety oversight framework.  
During the workshop, participants conducted an internal review of the safety oversight system using the latest 2024 edition of the USOAP protocol questions. Key activities included:  
- Evaluating compliance levels for each protocol question: Managers meticulously examined aviation safety-related domains to identify areas of conformity and opportunities for improvement.  
- Developing a corrective action plan: Concrete steps were taken to draft a targeted plan addressing identified gaps and reinforcing areas requiring enhancement.  
Over the five-day session, participants analyzed each domain against ICAO criteria to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses within the current oversight system.  
By the conclusion of the workshop, an actionable roadmap had been formulated. Its implementation will bolster the safety oversight framework and ensure Cameroon’s readiness for the comprehensive ICAO audit scheduled for 2026.  
ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) is designed to assess how effectively states fulfill their aviation safety oversight obligations. By evaluating eight critical components of the oversight system, ICAO verifies adherence to Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), fostering safer and better-regulated aviation worldwide.  
Through this self-assessment initiative and by addressing USOAP requirements, Cameroon reaffirms its commitment to strengthening oversight capabilities and advancing aviation safety in line with global standards.
Trans: MKG/CEA-CRP