CCAA: Capacity building for aviation safety experts
Published: Saturday, 17 January 2026 14:09
The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), in partnership with ICAO, is hosting a 12-day high-level technical training session on air operator certification at its Training School in Nsimalen. The program is titled "Government Safety Inspector Operations - Air Operator Certification (GSI-OPS). 
This intensive course, which commenced on January 12, 2026, aims to refresh and bolster the technical expertise and fundamental knowledge of the certification process for 17 aviation safety inspectors. Among the participants is the Director General of the CCAA, Ms. Avomo Assoumou Koki, a recognized expert in the sector.
Two ICAO-accredited instructors have been deployed for this session, delivering the rigorous "ICAO 18700" curriculum. This framework is designed to ensure reliable expertise, enabling Africa to maintain a competitive and secure stance against global safety challenges. The training alternates between the theory of the "Pre-application" phase and the practical requirements of the "Demonstration and Inspection" phases, an immersive methodology that ensures a seamless transition from regulatory concepts to daily operational application.
Specifically, the program equips inspectors with critical tools to evaluate the capacity of air carriers (commercial, business, or aerial work) to maintain safe flight operations.
The curriculum further covers several specialized areas, including:
-The validation of Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL), which define the essential instruments required for dispatch.
-The evaluation of the Safety Management System (SMS) serves as a company's preventative "health record."
-Emergency evacuation demonstrations, conducted to safeguard the integrity of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the vital technical authorization for flight operations.
This training session is based on the ICAO Five-Phase Certification Model, ensuring a comprehensive verification process before certification. This systematic approach eliminates guesswork while ensuring that every operator in Cameroonian airspace adheres to strict integrity criteria.
Furthermore, the implementation of this course will align the CCAA with the requirements of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), the global audit that evaluates State safety oversight. This alignment rests on two fundamental pillars: Personnel Qualification (Critical Element No. 4) and the Standardization of Procedures (Critical Element No. 5). The session is scheduled to conclude on January 23, 2026.
This initiative further empowers inspectors, ensuring enhanced performance and efficiency during routine inspections and the upcoming ICAO audits slated for later this year. It is noteworthy that this course is the result of a collaboration between ICAO and the FAA, aimed at harmonizing national inspection protocols with ICAO international standards.
Trans: MKG/ARO-PRU
