The purpose of the certification process is to provide assurance that potential air navigation service providers understand their mission and are capable of fulfilling it. When satisfactorily completed, the certification process shall ensure that the provider of one or more air navigation service(s) is capable of complying with the Cameroon Civil Aviation Regulations relating to the provision of the air navigation service(s) subject to certification.
THE FIVE PHASES OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Each phase is described in sufficient detail to provide a general understanding of the entire certification process. These five phases are as follows;
PHASE 1: PRE-APPLICATION PHASE
This phase is also known as the applicant’s “Expression of Interest”. As far in advance as possible of the start of operations, the applicant must contact the aeronautical authority and inform it of its intention to provide air navigation service(s) by submitting an “Application for certification to provide air navigation service(s)”.
This application must contain the information required for a preliminary assessment of the applicant’s ability to provide the planned air navigation service(s). It must include:
- Company name and address of the applicant’s registered office,
- Brief description of the air navigation service(s) envisaged
- Relationship with other air navigation service providers and aircraft operators, including the military
- Obstacles and terrain
- Any need for operational restrictions
- The existence of restrictions or controlled airspace, etc.
After reception of the application, a pre-application evaluation meeting will be organized by the personnel in charge of air navigation.
EVALUATION OF THE PRE-APPLICATION
The evaluation of the pre-application consists of a meeting between the applicant and the persons responsible for the directorate in charge of air navigation in order to determine if the activities of the applicant justify the award of the certification for the provision of air navigation services.
This meeting also permits the applicant to appreciate the conditions and requirements established for the obtention of the certificate for the provision of air navigation services.
In the course of the meeting, only basic information and general requirements of certification will be discussed. It is based on the following points;
- Introduction of participants
- Verification of the preliminary application information of the potential provider of the air navigation service(s)
- Communication to the potential provider of air navigation service(s) of additional regulation and possible additional requirements
- Explanation of the minimum requirements for the submission of the formal application
- Explanation of the timetable of events and the certification process.
If the results of the meeting are positive, the Director General of the CCAA will invite in writing the applicant to submit a formal application.
PHASE 2: FORMAL APPLICATION
It is recommended that the formal application be submitted at least 180 days before the commencement of the air navigation service provision envisaged.
The formal application has to be written in the form and structure prescribed by the aviation authority and contain all information which is required from the applicant.
It is filled, signed by the applicant and sent to the aviation authority.
After receipt of this application, the Director General of the aviation authority will designate a head of project who has as function to conduct the certification of the applicant.
The head of project is the official spokesperson of the aviation authority during the process of certification.
EVALUATION OF THE FORMAL APPLICATION
The formal application is evaluated by the head of the project assisted by the personnel of the concerned structures.
If the information contained in the formal application is incomplete or erroneous, it will be returned to the applicant with the reasons for rejection mentioned.
If the information contained in the formal application is acceptable, the head of the project will submit for the approval of the Director of the aviation authority a team tasked with the certification of the applicant. This team will be composed of;
- At least One certified inspector in each specialty of the air navigation service(s)
- A specialist in aviation law
- An economist in air transport etc.
once this team is designated, the head of the project will fix a meeting to evaluate the formal application with the applicant and the members of the certification team.
The evaluation of the formal application by the certification team will permit the aviation authority to make a general opinion on the scale of the proposed operation and the applicant’s apparent suitability for it.
The goal of this meeting is not to establish conformity but to ensure that the applicant is competent before the operational inspection phase which precedes the authorization.
In the course of this first meeting, the following points will be examined;
- Financial capacity of the applicant
- Time table of events
- Initial declaration of conformity
- Documentation
- Service manual etc.
If this application is complete, the certification team will proceed to evaluation.
- The financial, economic and legal aspects.
- The regulatory documentation.
In the contrary case, the documents transmitted to the aviation authority will be returned to the sender for correction measures. The certification process cannot continue except the corrective measures have been declared acceptable by the certification team.
The following documents accompany the formal application;
- Specific arrangements for the Service(s): this document describes the intentions of the applicant in terms of the air navigation services proposed, and clearly indicates the authorizations, limitations, provisions and privileges relating thereto which are requested.
- The CV of the key personnel “those responsible for the air navigation service(s), for maintenance, maintenance base, quality assurance, management of security, security program etc”,
- The program of events: this document sets out the calendar of activities, the acquisition of equipment program and the necessary structures for the inspection of the aviation authority before certification,
- The most recent finance and internal audit documents, if there exist a certified accounting document of the last finance exercise, the document should also be joint as annex.
- The manual for the provision of the different service(s).
- Quality manual etc.
It should be noted that the acquisition of premises, accords relative to structures and other elements of the manual and procedures for the provision of air navigation service(s) may not be entirely elaborated at this stage.
If the evaluation of the formal application is judged to be satisfactory, the head of the project in collaboration with the head(s) of the air navigation services which is subject to the formal application for certification draws up a draft order approving air navigation service provider(s). tis project will be forwarded to the Minister in charge of Civil Aviation for approval.
PHASE 3: EVALUATION OF DOCUMENTATION
The evaluation of documentation consists of;
- Evaluating the organizational structure of the applicant, and
- Verify the regularity of document in view to acceptation in accordance with the requirements.
This leads to
- The revision of documents
- The revision and the solution to conflicts, program of events
- The revision to the solution of problems
- The revision of the certification process.
If it is realized in the course of this evaluation insufficiency in the described procedure as regards the manual of the conformity of the organization, the applicant will be informed as soon as possible and the procedure to acquire the certificate to provide air navigation service(s) will be suspended pending the production of the corrective actions by the applicant.
PHASE 4: CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
Operational inspection is subject to acceptance of the documents and the accounting of financial and human resources in relation to the provision of the air navigation service(s) proposed for certification. It consists of an audit of the applicant.
The Civil Aviation Regulation requires the provider of air navigation service(s) who’s provision is the subject of the certification to demonstrate its ability to comply with the regulations and safe operating practices before commencing their actual implementation.
This demonstration means the real execution of activities and/or operations in the presence of inspectors of the aviation authority. This has to do with onsite evaluation of the equipment and the applicable structures.
PHASE 5: CERTIFICATION
After the conformity of documents and the phases of demonstration and inspection have been achieved in a satisfactory manner, the aviation authority will deliver an Air navigation service provider(s) certificate and specific implementation provisions.
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