By Chuks Okoh
In its determination to meet the highest global aviation safety standards, Dana Air has commenced an Implementation Training Initiative as part of the preliminary process to prepare the airline for the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).
Dana Air is one of ten airlines benefiting from the IOSA implementation training initiative that is 100 per cent funded by International Airline Training Fund (IATF), a non-profit foundation whose purpose is to bridge the training gaps for airlines in regions of the world where it is most needed,with a particular focus on improving safety.
The first stage of the implementation training is a gap analysis workshop, the first of three sessions over the next year, that will give Dana Air a greater understanding of their shortcomings in relation to the IOSA standards and recommended practices (ISARPs) and to provide guidance and tools to establish action plans towards ISARPs implementation.
Last year the Abuja Declaration by the states of the African Union mandated that all African airlines should achieve IOSA status by 2015. The total accident rate for IOSA carriers in 2012 was 77% lower than the rate for non-IOSA operators.
Speaking on Dana Air’s commitment towards achieving a listing on the IOSA directory in line with the African Union mandate, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Yvan Drewinsky noted that Dana Air is resolute in adhering to globally recognized safety standards and its commencing preliminary training for the IOSA process confirms the premium the airline places on safety.
“The IOSA Implementation Training Initiative is coming at an auspicious time when Dana Airline is looking at reinforcing services as well as seeking the possibility of forming alliances with global airlines as it aims to operate in line with the highest global standards”, said Mr. Drewinsky.
The Manager of the IATF, Oscar Haro, said IATA was pleased to confirm Dana Airlines Limited as one of the 10 African airlines for the IOSA implementation training in readiness to meet the challenges of the Abuja Declaration. “Congratulations to Dana Air on being accepted as one of the 10 airlines that the IATF will support with IOSA implementation training. Airlines applying to access the training fund had to satisfy a varied set of criteria, and Dana Air’s commitment to reaching world-class safety levels was a major factor in their successful application,” said Haro.
The IOSA is an internationally accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of airlines. IOSA uses internationally recognized quality audit principles, conducting audits in a standardized and consistent manner worldwide.
It will be recalled Dana Air is the first Nigerian airline to have successfully undergone the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) prescribed operational audit after the successful outcome of the recent painstaking and transparent audit involving the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight Standard Group (FSG) in conjunction with their foreign partners.
