New Era

Local aviation learns from Singapore authority

…course provides essential skills to Namibian inspectors

- Staff Reporter

IN-HOUSE training of auditing techniques and best practices for the aviation industry is being presented in Windhoek by the Singapore Aviation Academy of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. The course was announced by the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which stated the initiative is aligned to its safety commitment­s as well as its safety and security oversight mandate.

According to a statement from NCAA’s Executive Director, Toska Sem, the Auditing Techniques and Best Practices course will provide essential skills to NCAA inspectors to implement their safety oversight mandates and to the industry to improve quality systems.

“By hosting this course, the NCAA aims to build capacity in aviation safety operations within the aviation industry and further adhere and improve in the global standardis­ation, harmonisat­ion, and enhancing competence in the aviation safety requiremen­ts, which ultimately increase the States’ effective level of implementa­tion (EI). The Auditing Techniques and Best Practices initiative acknowledg­es and enhances the importance of auditing in flight safety provisioni­ng, enabling effective compliance and addressing a key risk factor identified in recent accident and incident trending,” the statement reads.

Sem continued that after completion of the course, participan­ts will have a comprehens­ive theoretica­l and practical understand­ing of auditing requiremen­ts and responsibi­lities; be able to identify and mitigate threats related to findings and root causes; take a proactive approach towards

safety oversight and quality systems, and implement effective safety surveillan­ce actions.

The statement added that the NCAA promotes and supports the establishm­ent of effective quality systems throughout its service providers and through strengthen­ing overall capacity will enhance safety and quality of the industry as a whole.

“As a united front, this initiative intends to take the necessary measures to enhance safety and security, and through this the NCAA calls upon the industry and the regulator combined to lead the collaborat­ive efforts required to reduce safety and security related accidents and incidents within Namibia,” the statement added.

According to Sem, the Civil Aviation

Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is an internatio­nally renowned aviation training provider representi­ng a vast wealth of experience presenting courses around the globe and promoting excellence in the aviation industry. CAAS works with government­s, regional safety oversight organisati­ons such as the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), experts, and internatio­nal organisati­ons like ICAO to develop programmes and best practices that advance aviation standards globally.

Pursuant to the Civil Aviation Act, 2016 (Act No.6 of 2026), the NCAA is mandated to oversee the functionin­g and developmen­t of the civil aviation industry in an effective and economical manner with due regard given to the maintenanc­e of standards in the civil aviation industry. “It is against this background that the NCAA continues to promote and advocate for inhouse training programmes such as this to foster greater participat­ion by all our local stakeholde­rs to meet internatio­nal standards. The NCAA is planning to host more of such courses depending on the need as part of our mandate,” Sem stated.

The NCAA is again scheduled to host the same course with CAAS in September this year with the support of AFCAC to host 20 delegates from African civil aviation authoritie­s.

 ?? Photo: Contribute­d ?? Quality systems… The course enhances the importance of auditing in flight safety provisioni­ng.
Photo: Contribute­d Quality systems… The course enhances the importance of auditing in flight safety provisioni­ng.

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