Importance of international oversight in aviation safety and security: The need for political commitment and regional cooperation

The air transport industry is currently facing many challenges due to worldwide economic pressures and increasing costs of security and safety. It also has tremendous growth opportunities because of increased travel, growth in global manufacturing, and product development, as well as an increasing dependence of national economies on air transport as a facilitator for economic activity. Based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audits, compliance with ICAO requirements by many civil aviation authorities around the world is not adequate and often not sustained. Lack of political commitment and needed resources are often deficient in sustaining the minimum regulatory activities and oversight needed to match the pace of growth in aviation activities. This paper discusses the role of oversight in the aviation industry worldwide by examining the critical elements of an effective civil aviation oversight authority. Analysis of data on civil aviation authority oversight organizations showed that it is difficult to identify clearly quantifiable metrics for measuring the strength or degree of compliance of a civil aviation authority. Furthermore, the resource limitations of many civil aviation authorities make it clear that regional organizations are the best approach to strengthen oversight capabilities.