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Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy |
The Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs) consist of thousands of islands across 30 million square kilometers of ocean. Modern air transport is essential for tourism and trade to enable economic growth and poverty alleviation. To support this growth, air transport operations are required to comply with internationally recognized safety regulation and oversight standards. However, all PDMCs face severe financial limits and shortages of skilled personnel to perform these essential functions, and consequently often fail to meet requirements. Non-compliance places safety and security at risk and potentially jeopardizes continued international services. In recognition that regional co-operation can be an effective approach to safety regulation and oversight, seven PDMCs (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu) are working to establish PASO as a collaborative regional aviation safety oversight program. PASO will create effective regional capacity and economies of scale, but requires external assistance to become established. ADB finance will enable these countries to achieve mandatory compliance with international requirements through a cost effective and financially sustainable organization.
The project represents practical implementation of the Pacific Stategy's key result area regarding enhanced impact of regional cooperation, by providing a regional public good through intergovernmental capacity sharing.
The Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs) are signatories to the Chicago Convention and committed to meeting international aviation safety standards. Regional cooperation in aviation safety regulation and oversight among PDMCs has reached an important milestone with the establishment of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO). Eight PDMCs (Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) are members of PASO which provides a regional safety regulation and oversight function that allows its members to continue to meet their obligations and improve their capabilities through technical and institutional cooperation. PASO's core responsibilities are to audit (i) flight operations, (ii) airworthiness of aircraft, (iii) personnel licensing, and (iv) airport security and safety. The audits and inspections will be undertaken in accordance with the legal environment of the state of operation, based on local regulations and the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The regional Project for the Establishment of the Pacific Aviation Office will finance (i) establishment of PASO, (ii) initial operations enabling PASO to commence cost recovery-based functions, and (iii) training and technical assistance.
The regional project is a regional public sector loan made directly to PASO, and guaranteed by the governments of Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Vanuatu.
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