AVIATION SAFETY

At the core of the regulatory mandate of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), is ensuring that safety is the primordial objective and concern of all the stakeholders in the civil aviation sector of the country. Adherence to its practice in the many facets of its application in the different areas of aviation is the continuing challenge that provides the impetus for CAAP in exercising its regulatory and oversight functions. Republic Act No. 9497, also known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008, delineated CAAP’s mandate of providing safe and secure air transportation for the country, vesting it with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers with corporate attributes, and empowering it with the regulatory enforcement as the sole authority on the technical aspect of Philippine civil aviation. In further recognition of this role, the provisions of its enabling law created units within CAAP to perform specific functions such as certifying the airworthiness of aircrafts; issuing licenses to pilots and cabin crews; validating the capabilities of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies; supervising aviation schools; providing air traffic management; installing navigational aids; and constructing, operating and maintaining airports. The culture of safety extends to support units that provide legal enforcement — administrative and financial, security and intelligence, management information system, and corporate planning services. Under the guidance of the Board of Directors and the Director General, the legal framework for CAAP’s corporate existence as it relates to the propagation of an ethos of safety is prudently utilized and constantly evaluated.

As a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention which was signed on December 7, 1947, the Philippines is obligated and duty-bound to abide by the principles and arrangements of the agreement which aims to establish safe and orderly international civil aviation based on equal opportunities and a sound economic operation. As such, CAAP aligns its regulatory promulgations with the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) issued by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) into 18 documents called Annexes, that applies to the different aspects of the civil aviation industry. New and amended SARPs are issued by the ICAO twice a year and the member state, based on their assessment, can implement or amend them to address their particular needs. CAAP’s focus on aviation safety is timely as the 19th Annex of the Chicago Convention, applicable since November 2013, will address safety management in civil aviation.

The rudimentary application of the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR) in exercising regulatory and oversight functions over the civil aviation sector is a way of propagating aviation safety consciousness among stakeholders. Although, it is a challenge to make such awareness an integral part of their management philosophy to sustain the commercial viability of their operations. A paradigm shift among stakeholders — from one being regulated into one who has internalized the regulations is imperative. To instill this bias towards processes and procedures, shunning shortcuts and devious practices is a major step in ensuring safety in aviation.

The bedrock of CAAP’s drive for aviation excellence and programs for sustainability is rooted on a culture of safety that is embraced by its personnel and propagated among its stakeholders. The empowering authority of its enabling law defines CAAP’s ability to enforce safety as a regulator of civil aviation having independent oversight, financial and operational autonomy to be upheld at all times. Within the premises of its legal mandate, CAAP’s resolute drive to enforce compliance to ICAO SARPs is a testimonial to its affiliation with the international civil aviation community.