International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP)/Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) Evaluation of the United States of America - July 10-24, 2024

The United States (U.S.) participated in a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP)/Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) activity from the tenth – twenty fourth of July 2024. The last full scope USOAP/CMA audit was in 2007.

As Member States of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), participation in the USOAP/CMA is mandatory.

The USOAP/CMA audit constitutes a review of 8 audit areas ranging from Primary Legislation and Civil Aviation Regulations (LEG), Civil Aviation Organization (ORG), Personnel Licensing and training (PEL), Aircraft Operations (OPS), Airworthiness of Aircraft (AIR), Aircraft Accident and Investigation (AIG), Air Navigation Services (ANS), and Aerodromes and Ground Aids (AGA).

Standard Protocol Questions (PQs) are used as the primary tool to assess the level of effective implementation of a Member State’s safety oversight system and accident/incident investigation capabilities. PQs are standard for all ICAO States. There was a total of 790 PQs for the 8 audit areas. The PQs for the Meteorological (MET) Service falls under the ANS (122 PQs) where there are 24 MET specific PQs.

Every ICAO state is required to establish a MET Authority (FAA) and a MET Service Provider (NWS) for International Civil Air Navigation. The objective of this presentation is to discuss this current relationship between the MET Authority (FAA) and its MET Service Provider (NWS) and the outcome of the USOAP/CMA as it relates to the MET PQs and any potential changes that could occur as a result of the activity.