PASO Training and Capacity Development

PASO recognises the strategic importance of providing strong programs and support services to our Member States. A key PASO service delivery area is training and capacity building initiatives to Member States in the delivery of their oversight, audit, and regulatory requirements.

PASO appreciates that Member States may face challenges attracting, recruiting, training and retaining aviation professionals with the appropriate expertise to undertake aviation regulatory safety and security oversight operations.

Equally, by 2022 PASO wants to enable more Pacific Island citizens, who meet ICAO qualifications and experience requirements, to become qualified inspectors and join PASO’s Pool of Inspectors.

Through funding from the World Bank, PASO manages two aviation safety and security training and capacity building initiatives to address these strategic issues:

Civil Aviation Authorities Strengthening Programme (CAASP)

Funded by the World Bank, the CAASP is building the capability and capacity of Member State’s national civil aviation authorities’ (CAA) personnel, as well as national aviation industry participants, by providing funding to meet identified training needs, including their participation in ICAO training activities.

Pacific Inspector Development Programme (PIDP)

Funded by the World Bank, the PIDP was established to train, support and mentor appropriately qualified and experienced Member States’ civil aviation authority personnel to eventually become ICAO-recognized inspectors for the Pacific region.

PASO operates two aviation safety and security training and capacity development initiatives.

PASO operates two aviation safety and security training and capacity development initiatives.

COVID-19 Challenges

COVID-19 has impacted the operation of PASO’s Training and Capacity Development Programs, as travel to accredited training sites is not possible for the foreseeable future.

PASO Master Class Series

To continue providing technical training opportunities for Member States, in July 2020 PASO began delivering virtual training opportunities for Member States’ civil aviation and airport personnel in strategic areas such as:

The PASO Master Class Series provides virtual technical training opportunities for Member States

The PASO Master Class Series provides virtual technical training opportunities for Member States

PASO operates two aviation safety and security training and capacity development initiatives.

PASO operates two aviation safety and security training and capacity development initiatives.

Civil Aviation Authorities Strengthening Program (CAASP)

Funded by the World Bank, the CAASP is building the capability and capacity of Member State’s national civil aviation authorities’ (CAA) personnel, as well as national aviation industry participants, by providing funding to meet identified training needs, including their participation in ICAO training activities.

The CAASP focuses on supporting Member States CAAs to gradually improve their achievement of Critical Element (CE) #4: Personnel Qualifications and Training, under the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP).

The CAASP provides training opportunities for CAA personnel to ensure they can effectively contribute to their CAA’s operations. Through the CAASP, PASO covers course fees, flights, accommodation and allowances for attendance to aviation oversight professional courses.

The selection of courses offered to Member State’s aviation oversight personnel is based on common training needs for the Pacific, and course selections are validated by the PASO Personnel Panel, which is made up of PASO Council representatives.

Contact the PASO Operations team for more CAASP information.

Pacific Inspector Development Program (PIDP)

Funded by the World Bank, the PIDP was established to train, support and mentor appropriately qualified and experienced Member States’ civil aviation authority personnel to eventually become ICAO-recognized inspectors for the Pacific region.

PASO and Member States identify candidates who qualify for this program; candidates must be citizens of a PASO Member State. The candidate is supported by PASO with training and mentoring with the aim that eventually, the candidate would be accepted to the PASO pool of Inspectors.

PIDP provides course fees, flights, accommodation and allowances for candidates’ attendance to:

  • Training courses required to attain the inspector level in their field of expertise.
  • On the job training and mentoring to allow trainee inspectors to work alongside (and learn from) existing PASO Inspectors.

The PIDP has high entry requirement. This is because prospective inspectors selected through the PIDP need to conform with ICAO guidelines regarding the seniority and experience level of certified inspectors. The minimum requirements to be admitted into the PIDP program are:

  • 5 years Basic Aviation Technical or Academic Qualification (TAQ)
  • 7 years of Industry Experience (IE)
  • 3 years of Regulatory Oversight Experience (ROE)

In order to benefit from these training opportunities, candidates need to be accepted in the PIDP program. Applications are assessed on a Quarterly basis by PASO Operations Manager with support from the PASO Personnel Panel, which is made up of PASO Council representatives.

Contact the PASO Operations team for more PIDP information and the application form.

Safety Oversight Inspectors Course – August 2019

Safety Oversight Inspectors Course - August 2019

Last Updated on November 27, 2020