ICAO launches audit into U.S. civil aviation safety

The FAA reported on July 9 that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is initiating an audit of the U.S. civil aviation oversight system. According to a report by Reuters, this marks the first such probe by ICAO since 2007.

The two-week audit will involve 12 auditors from 10 countries and commence this week. Results are expected to be released in January. The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), along with other agencies involved in aviation matters in the U.S., will be scrutinized.

According to Reuters, 790 questions will examine eight separate areas of civil aviation legislation, regulation, accident history, incident investigation, and air navigation systems. A positive score in the audit would enable U.S. aviation infrastructure to "demonstrate leadership in meeting robust aviation safety standards and to encourage nations around the world to do the same," according to the FAA.