CAAP failed to prepare the country for the FAA review

Roxas tagged CAAP Officials Incompetent

February 5, 2012

 

Manila -  The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has rated the Philippines anew as "FAILED" in its aviation compliance directive, and recommended that the country should remain further under heightened surveillance (CAT 2), according to initial reports submitted to Washington.

"It (the Philippines) failed  to pass our technical review" says one of the members of the FAA team that went to the Philippines two weeks ago. He was speaking on conditions of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Among the FAA Technical Team that went to the Philippines were Jacque Astre, FAA Team Leader; Beverly Sharkey, Team Attorney; Craig Michael, Operations Team Member; Andre Lamarre, Airworthiness Team Member and Julianna Kim, State Department International Transportation Officer, as observer.

"We told the Secretary of Transport the real score and he was disappointed with our report" says the source. The FAA Audit Report was already shipped to the Philippines last week.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas was reported to have walked out during an exit conference last January 27, 2012 conducted by Operations Inspector Specialist Jacques Astre, head of the FAA technical team, when he was mislead by CAAP officials as to its readiness to take on the FAA audit.

Secretary Roxas hurriedly left the CAAP building in Pasay City around 11:30 in disgust followed by some CAAP officials pleading to him to come back to the meeting but his face showed how the progress review went. Sources from inside DOTC said that the Secretary was so disgusted with CAAP officials, saying the officials failed to prepare the country for the FAA review.

Press briefing later that day showed a sanitized report as it contained contradictory statement to the real score of Philippine Aviation announcing a complimentary remark from Jacques Astre.

In the announcement, CAAP declared that the Federal Aviation Administration’s Technical Review team tasked with assessing the country’s readiness for an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit complimented the CAAP on its progress, saying the agency had accomplished “more in six months than in the previous five years.” 

The FAA representative however stopped short of declaring the Philippines eligible for Category 1 status, pointing out that issues in Legislation, Licensing & Certification Obligations and Resolution on Safety Issues still has to be resolved.

FAA inspectors was very concerned on CAAP’s certification processes for aircraft and personnel, and should accordingly focus its efforts in resolving the problem, the report said.

FAA said that the next audit will be done by The International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA) sometime in February but the specific date was not announced to CAAP. The FAA report said another technical review is necessary before another formal audit could be conducted.

The International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA Program) is a program established by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 1992 designed to appreciate a country's ability to adhere to standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance. 

Upon hearing Astre's remarks, DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas became infuriated with the CAAP officials in attendance at the briefing, berating them for failing to adequately prepare for the FAA review before walking out of the meeting. 

Sec. Roxas was interviewed later by the Inquirer who hinted that the Aquino Administration might consider giving up on the issue of upgrading our aviation status, explaining that “It’s our decision to invite them [the FAA] back,” based on the findings of the technical review team’s report.

The FAA told CAAP that it should focus more its attention to the five phases in certification process: application, submission of documents, review of submitted documents, demonstration of capability and issuance of certificate.

When pressed for comment, CAAP said that they were “minor issues” that can easily be resolved.

“The technical review is meant to prepare us for the IASA audit. Minor issues need to be rectified. We ask questions and they provide answers and recommendations. In the actual audit, there will be no questions. It’s either pass or fail,” said CAAP director general Ramon Gutierrez Saturday.