The Role of the Federal Aviation Administration in Fulfilling the Requirements of the ICAO

The International Civil Aviation Organization is an affiliate institution of the United Nations. It is responsible for planning and developing global air transport systems while ensuring safety. It formulates standards and policies which regulate and control navigation programs in the member states. In addition to that, it oversees and addresses emerging issues in navigation. ICAO sets standards and recommends policies and procedures regarding air transport internationally. More so, it defines the protocol and procedures for investigation of air accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration is a national authority that regulates all aspects of civil aviation. Airport construction, airline management, personnel training and aircraft certification are the responsibilities of the FAA. It ensures that the United States complies with the safety standards, rules and regulations as outlined by the ICAO.

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The FAA has created programs to ensure that the United States maintains navigation safety standards as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization. These programs include; the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program (VDRP). FOQA is in charge of collecting flight information for analysis during usual flights. It gathers flight information that is not accessible through other techniques, thus enhancing analysis and enabling improvement airways, air traffic control, and personnel training. On the other hand, the Aviation Safety Action Program enables the workers to provide relevant information that is crucial in identifying potential causes of accidents. Appropriate corrective measures are then used to provide action remedies to the companies or individuals. The Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program encourages the respective airline companies to report instances of non-compliance with the regulations of the ICAO. The FAA then analyses the root causes and the reasons for violating the standards and offers appropriate corrective remedies. Each program has rules which protect the individuals who voluntarily report instances when there are violations of the rules set by the FAA. Also, the FAA issues Airworthiness Directives (ADs) to correct conditions which may be deemed unsafe in an aircraft, engine, propeller, or any appliance (U.S Department of Transportation, 2017).

The International Civil Aviation Organization imposes requirements on its member states. It stipulates that member states should have Safety Management Systems (SMS) to enhance flight safety. The requirements place more emphasis on the functions of regulatory organs in monitoring private companies. Privately owned airlines and air traffic organizations are required to have their own SMSs, and the appropriate government monitoring institutions must ensure that the systems align with the ICAO standards. According to ICAO, the SMS systems should be efficient in identifying possible hazards and propose appropriate actions to mitigate the risks CITATION Edw08 \l 1033 (Stimpson, Babbitt, & William, 2008). The Safety Management Systems should be implemented and continuously monitored and assessed to achieve the desired safety levels.

In compliance with the ICAO flight regulations, the FAA requires that all pilots use the ICAO flight plan form when submitting flight plans. Initially, pilots used the domestic flight plan forms. However, new technology has designed a system where pilots can submit the files from an iPad application. Even so, the ICAO form requires much similar information to the domestic plan. The only difference is that pilots have an obligation to provide the airplanes navigation, communication, surveillance, and survival equipment.

In conclusion, the Federal Aviation Administration has put numerous efforts to ensure it complies with the requirements of the ICAO. It has put in place programs and policies which oversee the operations of airline companies in the United States. The FAA has created a safe, reliable, efficient and highly productive air transport system in the United States and the world at large. It has developed a highly flexible air system that fully caters for the needs of business enterprises and customers in the 21st Century.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY Stimpson, W. E., Babbitt, J. R., & William, M. O. (2008). Managing Risks in Civil Aviation: A Review of the FAA's Approach to Safety.

U. S. Transportation Department (2015). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 04 01, 2017, from https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/continued_operation/sd/mcai