Cape Verde's Civil Aviation Agency (AAC), in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), announced that it was conducting the course “Continuous Safety Monitoring for Regulators: Implementation and Best Practices” from 12 to 16 October 2026 in Praia.
The training brought together technicians from the AAC and the Institute for Prevention and Investigation of Aeronautical and Maritime Accidents (IPIAAM) and aimed to strengthen the skills necessary to fulfil the State's responsibilities under the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA).
At the opening session, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore representative Allan Tan highlighted the commitment shared by Cape Verde and Singapore, as island states, to promoting safe, reliable and sustainable aviation.
Allan Tan said, “It is with great satisfaction that, following our meeting here in May 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to continue our practical cooperation with Cape Verde. This week's program reflects our shared determination to share expertise and be a trusted partner in the development of aviation in Africa.”
The President of the AAC Board of Directors, Eng. Mário Gomes, praised the partnership between the two institutions, based on trust, dialogue and knowledge sharing, which has resulted in initiatives to strengthen technical and institutional capabilities.
Referring to the importance of training, Gomes stressed that confidence in aviation systems depends to a large extent on the ability of states to exercise effective oversight of operational safety.
Mário Gomes said, “Investing in the preparation of our team is an institutional priority. USOAP-CMA helps us understand and demonstrate the capacity necessary to effectively exercise our responsibilities, which requires knowledge of applicable requirements, clearly defined responsibilities and consistent evidence of the performance of our duties.”
The AAC president also highlighted the importance of inspector qualifications in maintaining high levels of operational safety. He reported that the AAC had recorded a 23% increase in its human resources, reflecting ongoing recruitment and technical training efforts.
Gomes noted that the coming years would be particularly challenging for the institution because of planned audits. He said the AAC expected a USOAP audit in the area of aviation security in May 2027 and that a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) audit could take place in 2028.
Mário Gomes concluded, “Preparing for an external evaluation is therefore part of a continuous process of improvement, aimed at improving our processes and strengthening the quality of the supervision we exercise.”
