FAA PROPOSES CHANGES TO IASA PROGRAM
September 16, 2024
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On August 16, 2024, the FAA published changes to its International Aviation Safety Assessment (“IASA”) program. The FAA cites confusion over changes it made to the program in September 2022 which created a process for “informal engagement” with countries believed to have safety issues. During this informal engagement, countries and their civil aviation authorities (“CAAs”) would have an opportunity to address risks before the FAA launched a formal IASA audit. These latest changes drop the informal engagement process and instead implement a 90-day window for CAAs to develop plans to mitigate noncompliance. “If the FAA determines that the foreign CAA has not corrected its oversight deficiencies after the conclusion of the final discussion, the country will … receive an official determination of Category 2 status.” A Category 2 status indicates noncompliance with ICAO standards and subjects such country’s airlines to operational restrictions for any operations which include U.S. destinations. The FAA also introduced “Category 1*” status. The asterisk indicates that a country has been notified of a risk of noncompliance. The asterisk may be removed only after a reassessment is completed which would move the country into either Category 1 or Category 2 status. The FAA also did away with a previous change that froze levels of service to the U.S. upon determination that reassessment of a Category 1 country was necessary. Now, service will only be frozen upon completion of a reassessment and a downgrade to Category 2 status.
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