About Us |
Our OriginThe Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) evolved from the Directorate of Civil Aviation - Eastern Caribbean States, which may be considered as one of the oldest, if not the oldest institutions in the Eastern Caribbean region. From inception, the Directorate was seen as a vehicle for facilitating a collective and uniform approach to Civil Aviation matters affecting the then Windward and Leeward Islands, which now comprise the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Group. A Director of Civil Aviation was first appointed in 1957 by the Government of the United Kingdom. In 1961, the responsibilities of the post were advertised as "to advise the Governments of the Windward and Leeward Islands on all matters relating to Civil Aviation including airfields and airport developments, the implementation of ICAO conventions and the adequacy of air services." Dissolution of the West Indies Federation in 1962 and reversion of the islands to the former colonial status meant that the Directorate was again exercising the functions on behalf of the UK Government. Administration of the Directorate was assigned to the Antigua and Barbuda government until 1968 when the West Indies Associate States (WISA) Council of Ministers assumed responsibility for its operation. In 1982, the Directorate became an Institution of the OECS through the Treaty of Basseterre, which established the OECS. At the 35th Meeting of the OECS Heads of Governments, in 2002, the Heads decided that:
Acting upon this mandate, in October 2003 at St Georges, Grenada, the OECS Ministers responsible for civil aviation signed the Agreement establishing ECCAA; however, this agreement had to be given legal effect through an act of Parliament in each Member State. By October 2004, five Member States had passed the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority Agreement Act, which signaled the ECCAA's birth. Who we areWe are the OECS Institution responsible for regulating aviation safety and security within the OECS Member States in accordance with international standards. Safety Oversight
Safety Oversight is defined as a function by which States ensure their effective implementation of the safety-related SARPS and associated procedures contained in the ICAO Annexes and related ICAO documents through an integrated system of laws, regulations, technical capabilities and procedures. It also ensures that the national aviation industry provides a safety level equal to or better than that defined by the SARPs.
Five Member States of the OECS are signatories to the Chicago Convention, which established the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Accordingly, they are obligated to meet the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) enshrined in ICAO's eighteen annexes. They agree on certain principles and arrangements in order that international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and orderly manner. They must collaborate to the highest degree to achieve standardisation and harmonisation in regulations, rules, standards, procedures and practices. Thus, they should establish and implement a system that enables them to satisfactorily discharge their obligations and responsibilities. We therefore provide civil aviation safety and security oversight through a system of inspecting, investigating, monitoring and licensing; and regulate civil aviation activities in all Member States consistent with ICAO SARPS. What we doECCAA's purpose is to:
Our Structure |