The Safety and Security Regulation Department of the Authority (SCAA) is vested with the responsibility of ensuring a balanced and cost effective approach to safety oversight inclusive of initial certification and continued surveillance that ensures the development and operation of civil air transport in Seychelles is safe, and in accordance with national and international standards and requirements. Seychelles as a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Chicago Convention (hence being a Contracting State) has committed itself to the provision of a standardised and internationally accepted approach to the regulation and safety oversight of civil air transport. When permitting or undertaking local or international aviation activities within this mandate, Seychelles incurs certain obligations under the Chicago Convention, its Annexes and applicable Standards.
“Safety Oversight” is defined, as a function by means a State shall ensure the effective implementation of safety related Standards (SARPs) and Recommended Practices, associated Annexes to the Convention on Civil Aviation and related ICAO documents. However, is not limited to these Standards. Sufficient flexibility exists for individual States to make provisions it considers (through experience and expertise), over and above ICAO Standards. In this way Safety Oversight ensures that national aviation industry provides a safety level equal to, or better than that defined by the ICAO SARPs. The responsibility of States for safety oversight covers the complete spectrum of civil aviation in their State and aircraft registered in their State operating in other Contracting States. As such, an individual State’s responsibility for safety oversight is the foundation upon which safe global aircraft operations are built. The lack of safety oversight in one State therefore threatens the health of international civil aircraft operation. Seychelles responsibilities cannot be underestimated in this regard as safety oversight is a major obligation the implementation of which ensures the continued safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air transport.
The safety oversight obligations of the department are targeted at six main areas as seen in the groups below: