The Wicks Group has completed several projects for the Azerbaijan State Civil Aviation Administration (SCAA) and also has assisted Azeri air carriers and maintenance organizations with heir US-related business plans and operations.
The SCAA contracted with TWG in 2009 to help it prepare for its first FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program audit. The FAA audits countries under its IASA program to determine whether or not the countries are compliance with international requirements for aviation safety oversight and monitoring, awarding a Category 1 rating to countries that are and a Category 2 rating to those that are not. The Republic of Azerbaijan had undergone a similar audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2007 that produced numerous negative findings, reflecting the capabilities and limitations of the transitioning civil aviation system of Azerbaijan at that time. The 2007 audit findings, as well as the adoption of a new regulatory system, led to the decision to establish the ASP and hire TWG for technical assistance.
Phase One of the ASP project focused on developing and documenting an acceptable civil aviation oversight system. TWG worked with the SCAA to review the existing regulatory structure; assess new regulations as they were developed; identify discrepancies between the new regulations and key ICAO requirements (Annexes 1, 6, and 8); prepare new/revised regulations to support a subsequent full implementation of an acceptable regulatory system; and develop comprehensive and functional inspector guidance in the areas of personnel licensing, operations, and airworthiness certification and surveillance. TWG also prepared several specialized documentation programs and procedures and provided the SCAA with materials to educate air carriers and other stakeholders about the new regulatory system. In addition, TWG assessed the current SCAA air carrier certification process and recommended changes to ensure compliance with applicable ICAO standards. TWG also completed an updated IASA checklist form to highlight areas in which improvement or change still was needed.
Phase Two of the ASP began in November 2011 and included designing and putting into operation a program to accomplish a continuous surveillance system and other safety monitoring and oversight activities required by the new regulations, implementing a new inspector training program, implementing new personnel licensing procedures, and helping the SCAA certify the major air carriers and an approved maintenance organization (AMO) using the ICAO-approved five-phase certification process. Phase II culminated in an FAA IASA Technical Review (an IASA audit conducted at the request of a country) in early October 2013. In March 2014, the FAA announced that Azerbaijan had received a Category 1 IASA program rating based on that Technical Review.
The Wicks Group's services to Azeri operators has included helping the country's flag passenger air carrier, AZAL, and its flag cargo air carrier, Silk Way Airlines, with obtaining the necessary US governmental approvals for flights into and out of the US. TWG continues to advise the carriers on how best to comply with US regulatory requirements and security measures in their ongoing US operations. In addition, TWG assisted Silk Way Technics, an approved maintenance organization, with obtainingan FAA Part 145 Foreign Repair Station Certificate, allowing it to service US-registered aircraft.