Authored by Kiasha Nagiah, Eric Geldenhuys and Aneesa Laher.
In April 2026, South Africa scored a preliminary 95.12% on the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) through the Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) Coordinated Validation Mission, ranking first in Africa and 8th in the world. The result, validated against ICAO's eight critical elements of safety oversight, is an increase from the South Africa’s 91.23% score in the 2023 full-scope audit and reflects sustained corrective action by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
What is ICAO's USOAP audit?
ICAO is established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and develops the international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for civil aviation safety. The SARPs are codified in the Annexes to the Convention and oblige contracting states, including South Africa, to maintain effective safety oversight systems.
Compliance is measured through the USOAP, which evaluates how effectively a State implements eight critical elements of safety oversight: primary aviation legislation, specific operating regulations, the State system and functions, qualified technical personnel, technical guidance and tools, licensing and certification obligations, surveillance obligations, and resolution of safety issues.
USOAP operates through CMA, which combines periodic on-site audits and validation missions with ongoing analysis of safety data. Standardised Protocol Questions are applied across eight audit areas: legislation, organisation, personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation services, and aerodromes. Audit results are calculated through the Effective Implementation (EI) score which is the percentage of applicable Protocol Questions assessed as satisfactorily implemented.
In April 2026, the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission produced a preliminary Effective Implementation of 95.12%, reflecting validated improvements across regulatory and oversight functions. The result places South Africa first in Africa and 8th globally. The final report remains subject to ICAO’s internal review and quality assurance.
Why does the USOAP score matter for airlines, lessors and investors?
As a contracting state to the Chicago Convention, South Africa must maintain a safety oversight system capable of implementing and enforcing ICAO SARPs across all applicable technical areas. The EI score recorded following the Coordinated Validation Mission measures how far that obligation is met in practice through legislation, institutional capacity and the oversight functions exercised by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
USOAP results also shape international confidence in South Africa’s aviation governance. Foreign civil aviation authorities and international partners rely on them when entering bilateral air services arrangements and oversight-reliance agreements.
Safety oversight underpins international connectivity, market access and route sustainability, particularly for regional hubs. It strengthens South Africa's position in bilateral air services negotiations, supports lessor and financier risk appetite for South African-registered aircraft, and underwrites the country's standing under the Cape Town Convention and the Single African Air Transport Market. The positive score further reduces uncertainty for airlines, lessors and investors, supports trade, tourism and regional integration, and reinforces the sector’s contribution to South Africa’s GDP. The 95.12% result therefore signals regulatory capability and governance maturity with real market consequences.
For questions or assistance relating to aviation regulatory matters, please contact Kiasha Nagiah or Eric Geldenhuys.