Concept Paper for Establishment of Regional Aviation Medicine Centre in the EAC

Partner States of the East African Community (EAC) have previously taken part in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).  This identified a number of short-comings in the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).  As a result there has been an acknowledgement of the need for the Civil Aviation Authorities of the Partner States to have access to an Aviation Medicine Centre that complies with ICAO medical SARPs.  The Civil Aviation Authority Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) of the EAC decided that a study was required to guide its determination on the feasibility of such a Centre.  It was intended that this study should seek the views of stakeholders from across the region and it was agreed that ICAO would sponsor a Medical Consultant from out with the region to undertake the study.

The Terms of Reference of the study were produced by CASSOA and a consultant qualified and experienced in Aviation Medicine was contracted from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.  Stakeholder meetings took place in each of the Partner States with the exception of Burundi.   A review was undertaken of the legal framework within the region with regard to aeromedical certification.  The current practices in the region were reviewed with the specific focus on areas of practice that had been subject to USAOP findings.  A comparison was made of practices in other countries outside the region where the medical certificatory process is ICAO compliant.  From this work a number of options are presented that could enable Partner States to comply with ICAO medical SARPs and a more detailed illustration has been provided for the option that was felt to be most feasible from discussions with stakeholders.
ANNEX I Concept Paper for Establishment of Regional Aviation Medicine Centre in the EAC