During the ICAO A41 Assembly in September 2022, a meeting was held between the Capacity Development & Implementation Bureau (CDI), the MID Regional Office of ICAO (MID RO) and the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the ICAA and ICAO.

This Project, IRQ23801, seeks to address the discussions held during the above meeting and subsequent conversations, through the provision of continued assistance with the aim to expand the areas of cooperation as required during the lifetime of the project.

The initial project scope consists of the recruitment and deployment of ICAO International Experts with the status of Operational Assistance (OPAS) as agreed, as well as the administration of their contracts, salary payments and other entitlements. An OPAS Expert is recruited by CDI to serve in an executive capacity as part of the staff of the assisted government. OPAS experts report directly to their superior in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Government.

Under the functional responsibility of the ICAA and with coordination on administrative matters with CDI, achieving such results as:

1. Assess, update/develop ICAA Laws and Regulations related to OPS section.
2. Develop an organizational structure for (OPS section) in line with the requirements of ICAO Standards and national requirements.
3. Issue and develop methodology of staffing needs such as Man-Hour Plans for OPS section inspectors and coordinate with other flight safety areas.
4. Issue and develop Job Description (JD) for each category of OPS inspectors according to ICAO requirements.
5. Develop and improve the entire (OPS section documents/procedures for technical instruction such as (Procedure/Handbooks, rulemaking, Forms, Checklists, Certification, Advisory Circulars, etc.) according to ICAO requirements.
6. Check the files of OPS section for completeness and integrity and identify any shortcomings.
7. Propose and implement a new documentation system in (OPS section) based on ICAO standards.
8. Carry out all functions of the (OPS) section mentioned in the job description developed for the section.
9. Participate in all activities related to certifications, re-certifications, approvals authorizations and supervisions, etc. to service providers and ensure that all steps in the structured assessment and certification processes have been completed.

Under the functional responsibility of the ICAA and with coordination on administrative matters with CDI, achieving such results as:

1. Perform an assessment of the current ICAA-FSD (OPS section) staff according to the ICAO minimum qualification requirements and propose necessary measures for implementation.
2. Prepare a training program and training plan for (OPS section) staff in coordination with other areas, based on the identified training needs; and propose necessary measures to implement a system for the maintenance of training records for all inspectors.
3. Provide a training plan covering initial, basic, recurrent, specific trainings and On-Job-Training to Flight Safety Department staff in related positions.
4. Maintain and develop training file records for all Flight Safety Department staff in related positions, documenting and retaining in the trainee’s file the achievement of competencies and their associated performance criteria.
5. Qualify counterparts/staff in the Civil Aviation Authority – Flight Safety Department / OPS section to perform required tasks.

Under the functional responsibility of the ICAA and with coordination on administrative matters with CDI, achieving such results as:

1. Issue the surveillance program and procedure (Audit, Ramp Inspections, etc.) and develop the annual audit plan (scheduled and random), forms, check lists and follow up for inspection non­conformity, reviewing corrective action proposals, closing or escalating non-conformity as appropriate, Taking into consideration the software records for surveillance.
2. Assist the ICAA to prepare for the upcoming USOAP full audit/validation activity in (OPS) section for all safety domains (CE-1 to CE-8), ICAO Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVMs), CC-EFOD, Self-Assessments, development and follow up of subsequent Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) including resolution of Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) in (OPS) area, if any. including assistance in the implementation of USOAP CMA CAPS and provide support through the following:

• Assist ICAA to analyze the compliance of OPS regulations to applicable ICAO SARPs and draft the compliance checklists and notify differences.
• Independent review for ICAA responses to all PQs (as provided by the ICAA in the USOAP CMA OLF).
• Develop corrective action plans (CAPs) for the PQ responses that experts deem to be unsatisfactory.
• Provide technical assistance to draft procedures, policies, and regulations.

The incumbent establishes relationships, contact and coordinates with internal and external aviation stakeholders such as ICAA professional, technical personnel from airline companies and managers.