The Director-General of Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Dr Moses Tiffa Baio has expressed firm optimism that Sierra Leone will score above the Global Aviation Safety Plans tagged at seventy-five percents (75%) average.
According to source, the levels of preparations by the authority under the watch of the Director-General Dr Baio are pointers to the facts that the authority will do well in the ongoing Safety Audit on Sierra Leone aviation safety.
Dr. Moses Tiffa Baio said, passing the Aviation Audit will open the country for more investment in the aviation industry and economic boom.
ICAO, before now had provided the authority with technical assistance under the institution’s Safe Fund Project, aimed at addressing safety deficiencies, strengthen oversight capabilities in the areas of air navigation services, aerodromes and ground aids for the authority.
He recalled May 8-12, 2006, before ICAO conducted the mandatory Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), Sierra Leone was completely deficient in all the eight critical elements audited which he said resulted for the 16% percent scored.
Dr Baio Wednesday 31st May 2023 made this revelation during a meeting with the team from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Ministry of Transport and Aviation conference room, at Youyi Building Freetown.
“Further an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) subsequently conducted in 2014, to test the progress made in the sector, resulted to 18.36 percent,” disclosed Dr Baio.
The Director of Transport, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Hindolo Shiaka also expressed hope that the country meets the minimum average this time around following adequate preparations.
Leader of the ICAO Auditing Team, Louis Opoku disclosed the approach for the USOAP audits.
He said they will be focused on the implementation of a structured process and methodology for the planning, preparation, conduct, reporting, fellow-up and evaluation of ICAO safety oversight audits.
