The Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority is in the midst of a safety oversight audit.

BCAA officials said they felt well prepared for the audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN specialised agency which aims to improve the safety of the global air transport system.

The opening meeting took place on Monday with attendance and remarks from Governor John Rankin, Zane DeSilva, Minister of Tourism and Transport, BCAA board of directors deputy chairperson, Herman Tucker and BCAA director general, Thomas Dunstan.

“I thank the ICAO Team for coming to Bermuda and giving us the opportunity to demonstrate to the world aviation community, the effort we put into ensuring our regulatory oversight is to the highest standards,” Mr DeSilva said.

Mr Dunstan said Bermuda has built a solid reputation internationally for being safe and well-regulated.

“With the help of regulation bodies, such as ICAO, we continue to ensure that Bermuda maintains the highest safety standards,” he said. “The outcome of this audit is extremely important to the Authority and to Bermuda and our team has been working very hard to prepare for this audit for the last ten months.”

Karolyn Darrell-Burgess, safety oversight adviser, said everyone at BCAA has had a role to play in preparing for the audit.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” she said.

BCAA is responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of aviation in Bermuda and is in full compliance with the standards and recommended practices of ICAO. The scope of this audit includes: primary aviation legislation and specific operating regulations, civil aviation organisation, personnel licensing and training, aircraft operations and airworthiness of aircraft.

The safety audit will continue at BCAA offices until Thursday.