The United States Federal Aviation Administration would today begin the re-certification of the Category 1 status of the nation’s aviation sector at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in Lagos. Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, who disclosed this in Lagos on Sunday, said the exercise would take place from August 21 to 25, 2017.

Adurogboye in a statement said that the exercise usually called International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit was last conducted in 2015. The IASA audit affords the FAA the opportunity to determine whether another country’s airline had complied with the safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization to fly into the US or can code-share with a US air carrier.

Adurogboye said a four-man team from the FAA had arrived in the country for the audit. According to him, the members of the team are Louis Alvarez – Team leader; L.P. Vanstory – Operations Specialist; Benjamin Garrido – Airworthiness Specialist; and Jeffrey Klang as the Attorney.

Adurogboye said the officials would assess the country’s aviation law, regulations and oversight capability in accordance with the eight critical elements as defined in ICAO document 9734.

He said: “These will include legislation, regulations, organisation, technical staff, quality and training. “Others are: the technical guidance, tools, licensing, certification, continuous surveillance and resolution of safety concerns.”

Adurogboye added that during the assessment, the team would visit Medview Airline to assess its operations and maintenance section.

He said the team would hold be a debriefing session on is findings at the headquarters of the NCAA in Lagos.