Dana Begins Preliminary Training For IOSA Certification

Less than three months
after the former Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, had directed airlines to meet IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in order to continue in business, Dana Air has started the process for the certification.
IOSA is the minimum requirement recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for its members which defines stringent safety conditions for safe operations and which has been effective as statistics shows that fewer IATA member airlines record air crashes compared to that of the non-members.
“Dana Air is one of ten airlines benefiting from the IOSA implementation training initiative that is 100 per cent funded by International Airline Training Fund (IATF), a non-profit foundation whose purpose is to bridge the training gaps for airlines in regions where it is most needed with a particular focus on improving safety,” spokesman of the airline, Sam Ogbogoro said.
The airline explained that the first stage of the implementation training is a gap analysis workshop, the first of those session over the next year, that will give Dana Air a greater understanding of their short comings in relation to the IOSA standards and recommended practice (ISARPs) and to provide guidance and tools to establish action plans towards ISARPs implementation.
Dana Air plan to obtain the IOSA certification is also in line with the Abuja Declaration on air safety by African States.
Last year the Abuja Declaration by the States of the African Union mandated that all African airlines should achieve IOSA status by 2015, the total accident rate for IOSA carriers in 2012 was 77 per cent lower that the rate for non-IOSA operators.
Speaking on Dana Air’s commitment towards achieving a listing on the IOSA directory in line with the African Union Mandate, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Yvan Drewinsky noted that Dana Air is resolute in adhering to globally recognised safety standards and its commencing preliminary training for the IOSA process confirms the premium the airline places on safety.
“The IOSA implementation training initiative is coming at an auspicious time when Dana airline is looking at reinforcing services as well as seeking the possibility of forming alliances with global airlines as it aims to operate in line with the highest global standards,” Drewinsky said.