The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has expressed optimism that the ongoing safety audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will yield more favourable results compared to previous assessments.

According to the Ministry, this marks the first ICAO safety audit in over a decade, with the last one taking place 11 years ago. The audit is being conducted under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), which evaluates a nation’s adherence to global standards in air traffic safety and security.

Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, recently met with the ICAO audit team and stated that the administration is committed to strengthening the sector. He noted that the Administration's aviation policies had been shared with the auditors and expressed hope that this year’s audit would reflect the government’s ongoing reform efforts.

In an interview with PSM News, the Minister recalled that the Maldives had achieved a score of 54 per cent in the previous ICAO safety audit. He emphasised that the current objective is to raise that figure significantly, targeting a score in the range of 75 to 80 percent. One of the main shortcomings in the previous assessment was related to the legal framework, particularly the Civil Aviation Act, which is now undergoing revisions to bring it in line with international requirements.

As part of these reforms, responsibility for the investigation of aviation incidents and accidents has been formally transferred to a newly established body, the Maldives Transportation Safety Board. The board, which was created by Presidential Decree, is now tasked with independently examining incidents in the aviation sector and providing risk assessments and safety recommendations to the civil aviation authority.

Minister Ameen stated that the documents submitted to ICAO outline these changes, including the board’s independence from the civil aviation authority. This structural shift is expected to enhance the country’s compliance with international safety oversight expectations.

The audit is scheduled to take place from the 11th to the 23rd of this month. It will assess a range of components, including legal, administrative, and technical aspects of the national air transport system.