Aviation authority launches performance-based regulation assessment

It has recently been reported that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) has launched a Performance Based Regulation (PBR) Maturity Assessment for aviation regulators, designed to help them establish their readiness to adopt a performance-based approach.

As detailed on eTurboNews, the Maturity Assessment requires a two-week 'health check' of a National Aviation Authority, which takes place on-site and is carried out by trained UK CAA assessors.

The assessment focuses on 16 core regulatory areas. After interviews, focus groups and surveys have been conducted, the results will be analysed by UK CAA analysts to prepare a report. This report will detail the strengths of the authority in question and also any areas that require further attention – these may include essential elements that need fixing before a PBR transformation can be completed.

Since the UK adopted a PBR approach a number of changes have been implemented, including changes to the people, processes and systems involved with the UK CAA. John Clark, the Safety Programme Manager for the UK CAA, has commented on the new assessment, claiming:

"Regulators need a baseline to work from and next-step priorities. The UK CAA Maturity Assessment allows regulators to establish this in a matter of weeks – something that without guidance, took the UK almost two years to achieve."

The hope is that the PBR Maturity Assessment will encourage an open and challenging risk-based discussion between the regulator and the regulated. The UK CAA is making calls for everyone to adopt PBR principles.