-KATHMANDU
The 26th Steering Committee Meeting of the Co-operative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness – South Asia (COSCAP-SA) was concluded in 11 January 2018 in Kathmandu. The Meeting was participated by the Directors General of seven South Asian States namely Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives and delegates of ICAO, EASA, FAA, DGAC France, UK CAA, Boeing, Airbus, IFALPA etc. Director of ICAO APAC Office Mr. Arun Mishra also participated the meeting.
The Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation(MoTCA), Mr. Jitendra Narayan Dev inaugurated the meeting in a special ceremony held in Hyatt Regency Hotel. Director of ICAO APAC Office Mr. Arun Mishra, Chairman of COSCAP-SA and Director General of CAA Maldives Mr. Hussain Jeleel and Director General of CAAN Mr. Sanjiv Gautam also addressed the meeting. The meeting made evaluation of the programme organized by COSCAP-SA during 2017 and approved the plan and programme for year 2018. The meeting agreed to conduct a feasibility study as proposed by EASA for the establishment of Regional Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO) in South Asia. The meeting also agreed for Phase V of COSCAP-SA Programme which will commence from January 2019. The COSCAP-SA Programme commenced in 1997 and is presently in its Phase IV (2013 – 2018).
COSCAP-SA under the aegis of ICAO, is a joint programme of seven SAARC countries, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Delegation also includes donors and industry participants e.g. Airbus, Boeing, EASA-EC, ICAO, COSCAP-SA, France Embassy, Airlines, Airport Operators, AAI, IMD. The programme is aimed in assisting the participant States in developing regulations and standards and to improve their independent oversight capabilities. Steering Committee is the apex body of COSCAP-SA and meets annually to approve the plan, programme and its budget. The members of the Steering Committee includes, Heads/DGs of the participating States; Director, ICAO TCB; Regional Director, ICAO APAC; and Programme Coordinator, who acts Secretary to the Steering Committee.
ICAO Headquarters and Regional Office Bangkok carry out overall supervision and provide guidance to the programme. The Programme is financed by a Trust Fund which consists of Member States’ annual subscriptions and contributions of donor agencies including Partners. The contribution of the States is determined by ICAO, Headquarters based on the services rendered to the individual State.
The Steering Committee is headed by the Chairperson who is selected amongst the SC Members and holds office for a period of two consecutive years and presides over the SC meetings which are held every year. Currently, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Maldives is the Chairperson of the Steering Committee.
The Programme appoints a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) to execute the plan and programme of COSCAP-SA as approved by the Steering Committee. To facilitate the coordination and interactions among the Member States and the CTA, each Member has designated a senior official of Civil Aviation Administration as the ‘ National Coordinator’ to act as the focal point in that Member State. The COSCAP-SA office is currently located at Paro, Bhutan for the period of 5 years.
