Sao Tome

1) What have been your achievements in CAA and aviation in your country in 2022 ?

In 2022, as part of its safety oversight operations responsibilities, the State developed activities that enabled the achievements of critical elements CE-1, CE-2, CE-3 and CE-5, as follows:

Critical Element (CE-1) – Primary Aviation Legislation

Revision, Approval and Publication of the Aviation Code to include the provisions of the Chicago Convention which were not included in the said Code.

Critical Element (CE-2) – Specific Operating Regulations

Development, Review, Approval and Publication of regulations to meet the recommendations of all annexes except 19 (annex 19).

Critical Element (CE-3) – State’s Civil Aviation System and Safety Oversight Functions.

Organization of the system by revising the Institution’s Organizational Manual.

Critical Element (CE-5) – Technical Guidance, tools and safety-critical information

Development and approval of technical guidance and procedures.

Lastly, CAA Sao Tome & Principe was selected to benefit from the ICAO SAFE Technical Assistance Project, launched in July last year in Sao Tome, which, and after an interruption, resumed in February 2023 and is still ongoing.

2) What are your challenges and how can AFCAC assist you?

Our commitment revolves around establishing an institution based on the 8 Critical Elements (CE) of the Safety and Security Oversight System. We must provide the necessary means to achieve the defined objectives, and involve staff in a process where each individual in his or her area of responsibility can contribute to the success of the Civil Aviation Authority (INAC Sao Tome & Principe). We aim to continuously enhance our quality policies, adapt them to current challenges, and promote a positive culture. Doing so will allow us to define performance indicators and establish timetables for INAC’s activities and projects.

As a result, the current challenges mainly involve being removed from the EU’s safety list, which requires achieving an EI score of approximately 75%. Also, it entails enhancing safety levels from an EI of 59.24% to 80%.

Of course, these objectives require resources that the Authority lacks, which is why we would like AFCAC to provide us with expert technical assistance in a number of areas, including safety and security, and above all in the training of our technicians.

3) Your commitment to SAATM: how are you going to proceed with the implementation?

With the realization that the liberalization of the Single Africa Air Transport Market among African States is still below 15% to date, steps are being taken to expedite its implementation. The measures involve conducting BASA Reviews and removing all limitations on traffic rights concerning the 3rd, 4th, and 5th air freedoms, making sure that they comply with the provisions of the YD and, voluntarily commit to the SAATM-PIP.

4) What can you say about SAATM PIP?

Sao Tome & Principe, under the Single Air Transport Market – SAATM, is committed to establishing a framework for the liberalization of intra-African air transport services, through the full implementation of the provisions of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), bearing in mind that some countries have taken further steps to sign up to the Single African Air Transport Market Pilot Implementation Project (PIP), i.e. “States ready and willing to participate in the SAATM-PIP”. This initiative not only evaluates the State’s implementation of the YD and SAATM, but also facilitates an easy transition from BASA to the Multilateral Agreement. It is therefore crucial for African states and promises to enhance the liberalization, connectivity, and integration of air transport in Africa.