NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

By Lateef Lawal

The International Air Transport Association(IATA) has again listed the Nigerian Eagle Airlines for the second time in its Operational Safety Audit(IOSA)and is valid till November 2011. The previous listing of the airline’s IOSA Certification expired on 9th November, 2009.

According to IATA, IOSA is an integral process and procedure mechanism through which IATA evaluates airlines' integral safety processes. IATA also says it is an internationally accepted evaluation process designed by IATA and ICAO by extension, in assessing operational management and control systems of airlines.

The Nigerian Eagle Airlines formerly Virgin Nigeria currently the only IOSA Certified airline in West and Central Africa sub-region, first achieved IOSA in 2007 under expatriate management. The current IOSA listing was achieved under a Nigerian led management-indicating that processes and procedures as well as culture of safety have been internalized. IOSA signifies that Nigerian Eagle Airlines has attained the global bench mark for safety standards. ( Continues below..... )

IOSA is key in enforcement of code-share and inter-line agreement, including audit sharing with other airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) accepts the use of IOSA by American carriers for code-sharing with foreign airlines. Nigerian Eagle Airlines was the first airline to achieve IOSA in West Africa in 2007. IATA had announced that all airlines must be IOSA compliant by the end of 2009, but many airlines around the world, and particularly in Africa are yet to comply. However, with the latest development, the Nigerian Eagle Airlines is currently on the league of African Airlines on IOSA listing.

Nigerian Eagle Airlines recorded other landmarks which include, the award of Most Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa by Security Watch, Best Airline in West Africa 2009 – African Travel Awards. IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the benchmark for global safety management in airlines. This demonstrates the commitment of IATA’s members to safety and makes IATA membership a mark of quality. Meeting and complying with the very high standards of IOSA is a challenge for airlines and its certification is valid for 2 years. IOSA focuses on 8 areas of operational safety: Corporate Organisation and Management Systems, Flight operations, Flight Dispatch, Aircraft engineering and maintenance, Cabin Operations, Ground Handling, Cargo Operations and Operational Security. IOSA management is certified to ISO 9001 : 2000 standards

IOSA LISTED AIRLINES IN AFRICA

Air Austral, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius Ltd, Air Namibia (Pty) Ltd, Air Seychelles Ltd, Air Zimbabwe Comair Ltd, Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, South Africa, Kenya Airways Limited, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, Precision Air Services Limited, S.A. Airlink (Pty) Limited, SAFAIR Operations (Pty) Ltd, South African Airways, South African Express Airways (Pty) Ltd, TAAG Angola Airlines and Nigerian Eagle Airlines. Others are: Afriquiyah Airways, Air Algerie, Air Cairo, Egypt Air, Sudan Airways Company and Tunis Air.

Lateef Lawal ( NigerianAviationNews )