ICAO gives U.S. high marks for safety

By Paul Lowe

October 1, 2008
Safety

The U.S. aviation system received a score of 91 out of 100 in a new safety audit released by the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency that oversees international civil aviation.

The U.S. tally, which was well above the global average of 56, reflected FAA compliance with more than 9,500 international safety standards. The FAA led U.S. preparations for the audit, which also studied the NTSB, the Coast Guard and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The ICAO team conducted a comprehensive audit of all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S., including aircraft operations and airworthiness, accident investigation, navigation services, airports, personnel licensing, and legislation and regulations. The auditors interviewed technical experts and conducted site visits to government and industry facilities to assess overall safety oversight.

The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program was established by ICAO in 1995 at the urging of the U.S. It provides civil aviation authorities throughout the world with valuable information on the overall health and effectiveness of their airspace systems.

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