1. ON THE FRONTLINE OF AVIATION SAFETY - SETTING STANDARDS FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE
BEING A PAPER PRESENTED BY ENGR E.N.G ORAGWU – AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR (NCAA) AS GUEST SPEAKER TO THE 46TH IFATSEA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SHERATON HOTELS ABUJA-NIGERIA FROM OCT 31ST TO NOVEMBER

2. What are standards ?
Definition .
Any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, matériel, performance, personnel or procedure, the uniform application of which is recognized as necessary for the safety or regularity of international air navigation

3. Annexes 1-19 to the convention on International Civil Aviation provides the standards and recommended practices used by the ICAO contracting states.
Some noteworthy are:
Annex 1 –Personnel Licensing
Annex 2 – Rules of the Air
Annex 6 – Operation of the aircraft
Annex 8 – Airworthiness of aircraft
Annex 10 – Aeronautical Telecommunications
Annex 11 – Air Traffic Services
Annex Aerodromes
Annex 19 – Safety Management

4. What are Recommended Practices?
Any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, matériel, performance, personnel or procedure, the uniform application of which is recognized as desirable in the interest of safety, regularity or efficiency of international air navigation’

5. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
Re-organised in 2006.
Developed and secured the approval of a Civil Aviation Act- 2006
Articulated the Nig,CARs 2006

6. - Passed the ICAO USOAP Audit 2006
- Developed and issued the Nig.CARs 2009
- Passed the FAA CAT 1 Audit 2010
- Reviewed the Nig. CARs 2009
- Developed and issued the Nig.CARs 2015 (current)

7. ATSEP LICENSE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
ATSEP Started as an association of BAET students in NCAT in late 1970s
Positioned a paper for implementation of ATSEP license in Nigeria presented by NAAE president at the National Civil Aviation Policy review in Abuja, Nigeria in Y2001
Approval for Implementation by NCAA - December Y2004
8 CNS Engineers sponsored by NAMA and NCAA Management trained for ATSEP license at DFS Academy, Langen- Germany in Y2003
Group also trained for the ATSEP Train-the Trainers course at same venue in Y2004

8. NCAA, NAMA and NCAT jointly developed ATSEP Pre-licensing training curriculum and established same in NCAT -Zaria in Y2004
First batch of ATSEP License trainees ATSEP 01 graduated from Zaria Y2005
- Over 400 plus ATSEP have trained from NCAT and licensed by NCAA since Y 2004

9. Nig.CARs Section 21
ATSEP License Requirements:
Ratings:
Communications Sytems
Navigational Aids Systems
Surveillance systems: and
- Electro-Mechanical Power systems

10. Nig.CARs Section (11) Approved ATSEP License as one of the licenses to be issued by NCAA

11. Nig.CARs 2015 (Official gazette 14th December 2015) Section 2.5.3
Ratings covered :
Communication systems
Navigational systems
Surveillance systems
Airfield Lighting /Visual Landing systems
Any other ratings as may be considered by the Authority

12. ATSEP REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge requirements - Nig.CARs sec
- Air law
- Knowledge area in CNS and AFL/VLS
- Pass ATSEP pre-license course from an ATOs

13. Knowledge requirements for Ratings: Nig.CARs 2015; Section 2.5.3.6
For Communications ratings-Nig, CARS 2015, section 2.5,3,6 (a)
For NavAids ratings- section (b)
For Surveillance ratings- section 2.5.3,6 (c ) ; and
For AFL/VLS ratings – section (d)

14. Experience Requirements: -Nig.CARs 2015 section 2.5.3.7
Practical Experience:-
Communications ratings -12 months
Navigational Aids – 12 months
Surveillance months
AFL/VLS months

15. Skill Requirements: - Nig.CARs 2.5.3.8
Each applicant must pass a skill test on the license/rating sought
5- week OJT field job tasks under supervision of a licensed/rated ATSEP
Evidence of satisfactory completion of all job tasks associated with the ratings sought
Assessment and/or practical examination by NCAA Aviation Safety Inspectors are done are the end of 5- weeks OJT at the facility.

16. Duration Of ATSEP License/Ratings
- License 5 years (renewable)
- Ratings 12 months (renewable)

17. SUMMARY:
ICAO SARPS through the Annexes sets the minimum standards for Aviation practice
Annexes 1, 2 , 10, 11, 14 and 19 are particularly interesting to ATSEP
Parts 1, 2, 3, 14 and 19 of Nig.CARs 2015 are relevant to ATSEP
Nig. CARs 2015 section sets the ATSEP Requirements and associated Implementing standards

18. The NCAA through her Aviation Safety Inspectors in DAAS and DOL performs safety oversight functions, surveillance, Personnel licensing and ratings to ATSEP personnel, facilities and stations - Nig. CARs 2015; Part 14 and Part 2 respectively
The NCAA also performs oversight functions and certification of Approved Training Organizations (ATOs) in accordance to Part 3 of Nig.CARs 2015
The NCAA amends Regulations when necessary and performs continued surveillance to ensure that the highest standards are met now and in the future

19. NCAA regulates practice of ATSEP license in accordance with provisions of the Regulations in force.
License/Rating is a state safety document issued by NCAA on behalf of state as approval to exercise the privileges atache to that license/rating
Benefit to state is that only competent licensed and skilled ATSEP re allowed by Regulation tp practice.
Level of safety and sustenance of CNS/ATM facilities deployed at our airports, en-route systems and locations are enhanced
Finally ATSEP are encouraged to work hard while on duty watch. Always bera in mind that the

20. In conclusion
All ATSEP are advised to focus on obtaining your competence through hard work
Be ICT compliant
Always bear in mind that the system you provide and maintain and the signals you generate can make or mar safety of airspace users.
- ANS providers should ensure that training of ATSEP and retraining should be given the priority it deserves as this is a sine -qua- non to maintaining highest standards and performance

21. THANKS