Airworthiness: a shared responsibility

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Six years since its last update, ICAO recently released the fourth and latest edition of Doc 9760, which provides enhanced guidance on airworthiness inspection and flight safety. This updated copy of the manual has been revised and revisited by the ICAO Airworthiness Panel (AIRP) and the Air Navigation Commission (ANC). It aligns with the requirements and procedures to ensure that the state of an aircraft, its design, and infrastructure meet ICAO standards to operate safely.

The manual supports States in setting the technical and operational guidelines of an aircraft’s performance and maintenance and it details the responsibilities and plan of action to follow when performing inspections and in the event aircraft certifications are suspended or revoked. For airworthiness to be effective and consistent, the training of personnel is essential. Pilots, flight crews, aircraft mechanics, and Member States must undergo technical and practical training to be educated, qualified, and apply the information correctly.

With a new approach that aims to improve safety oversight and risk assessment, the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme (COSCAP-SEA) works closely with Member States to develop a program that identifies its particular needs. “The proposed novel approach for implementing the Programme activities was prepared to address the immediate, near and longer-term needs of Member States, with due consideration to the need for effectiveness, sustainability and resilience of States’ aviation systems, and in line with the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and the Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Plan (AP-RASP).”

To learn more about COSCAP-SEA past and future events, click here.