National activities
- Quality assurance

Coaching in Quality control

Duration: 5 days
Number of participants: max. 12
Number of experts: 2
Language : EN, FR, RU

What does it involve?
The CASE II Project offers the Partner State (PS) an opportunity to have its current quality control activities assessed by external, independent experts. The assessment covers the preparations ahead of an audit/inspection, the conduct of those activities on site and the effectiveness of follow-up activities at the level of the state and of the operators (evaluating the content of and reviewing the implementation of a corrective action plan).  There is also a focus on the importance of continuous monitoring of the way in which the human factor and technology interact so as to ensure potential issues are identified at the earliest opportunity. This section refers to methods of oversight that can contribute to this continuous assurance and covers the use of threat image projection (TIP), compliance observations, testing, screener certification processes and the importance of combining methods such as these to assemble a diverse quality control toolkit. If desired, the coaching activity may even include an assessment of legal and regulatory frameworks which underpin quality control activities and a review of the National Aviation Security Quality Control Programme (NASQCP). The objective of the assessment and subsequent report (see below) is to judge the current impact of quality control activities and, if necessary, to recommend actions that will assist the PS to deliver and sustain a robust quality control regime. 

Who should participate?
The assessment will be conducted for the benefit of and in conjunction with the PS’s appropriate authority. Participants should include:

  • Auditors;
  • Inspectors;
  • Trainees;
  • Airport screening force managers;
  • Relevant representatives from the Airport Operations Committee .

What is expected of the Partner State?

  • Ensure suitable participants;
  • Unfettered access enabling the CASE II experts to witness current routine quality control activities practiced by the PS (it is essential that such activities be conducted in the framework of the NASQCP and not as a result of the upcoming coaching);
  • Copies of all relevant legislation and regulations and the NASQCP should be provided to the experts in advance of the visit. Operational documents should also be provided and should include the planning of activities, templates or real examples of quality control programmes, outputs of observations, audit reports, corrective action plans, etc.);
  • Transport between the venue and airport for on-site observations. 

How will it work?
The assessment will last no longer than 5 working days and usually involves 2 experts. Discussions in advance between the CASE II Project Team and the PS will include details of quality control activities to be witnessed by the experts and details of the participating representatives of the PS (overall number, organisations and job titles). 

What will be delivered?
In addition to the discussion of best practice, the CASE II experts will deliver an informal on-site debrief followed by a written report to be produced within 30 days of the completion of the assessment. The report will describe the findings and the degree to which the PS is consistent with the objective of ensuring a robust quality control regime. Where appropriate, this will include recommendations for changes to current quality control practices and operations and procedures. In addition, recommendations will be set out in relation to advised changes to legislation, regulations and the NASQCP aligned to the objectives of the activity.

What happens afterwards?
Written feedback should be provided by the PS – within a timeframe mutually agreed during the coaching activity – on action taken regarding the recommendations provided. In the longer term, further quality control engagement under the Country Programme of Action could involve direct assistance with the recommendations emerging from this activity. In particular, there is scope within the CASE II Project for a range of quality control training courses aimed at both junior and more senior auditors and inspectors, from which the PS could also benefit. In addition, there is an opportunity to embed a CASE II expert in the quality control department of the PS on a short-term basis. In a reciprocal manner, there is also the possibility to arrange for a PS’s inspector/auditor to take part in scheduled quality control activities conducted by ECAC itself or by an ECAC Member State.

Best practices in security equipment inspection

Duration: 3 days
Number of participants: max. 12
Number of experts: 2
Languages : EN, FR, PT, RU

What does it involve?
An opportunity to improve the skill and competences of national junior auditors. The intention of the course is to introduce participants to best practice in inspecting the deployment and use of airport security screening equipment during national compliance monitoring activities. This will promote the understanding of the functional and operational aspects of the equipment (including the respective limitations and capabilities of each category) and provide familiarisation with applicable regulatory requirements of the Partner State (PS). 

Who should participate?
National junior auditors either directly hired by, or contracted to the Civil Aviation Authority of the PS should participate in this course. 

What is expected of the Partner State?

  • Ensuring suitable candidates for the course drawn from the ranks of its auditors;
  • Classroom or conference meeting room facility, including audio-visual equipment;
  • Transport between the venue and airport for on-site observations;
  • Ease of access to security equipment in use at the airport.

How will it work?
The course will focus initially on classroom discussion, providing background on security equipment functions and their relationship to the objectives and standards set out in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme. The subsequent sessions will be more practical in nature, with participants able to see security equipment operating in situ. This will enable a better understanding of how different types of security equipment operate both individually and in conjunction with others in an effort to produce an effective, efficient and sustainable level of passenger, staff, baggage and cargo screening. Inspection techniques and best practices for security technology will be covered throughout the course. 

What will be delivered?
The expert will ensure written and audio-visual material on the range of security equipment at an airport is distributed among participants. A list of key points emerging from on-site observations will also be circulated no later than 10 working days after the course. The implementation of the training may include the procurement of standard test pieces and log sheets through the CASE II Project. 

What happens afterwards?
This is one in a series of course related to quality control. The PS may therefore wish to consider adding other related courses to its Country Programme of Action. Such courses include those aimed at recently qualified auditors, those aimed at more experienced auditors and those specialising in the auditing of cargo security. The CASE II Project also includes an introduction to operational issues relating to airports and the airlines that serve them that are not directly related to security. This wider understanding would complement the practical knowledge gained from this training on security equipment. More broadly, the CASE II Project also offers coaching in all aspects of quality control issues.

Support for corrective action following ICAO audit

Language : EN, FR, RU

What does it involve?
At the request of a Partner State (PS), the CASE II Project Team will seek to identify supporting activities and provide advice to assist with the corrective action plan set out in the latest ICAO USAP-CMA audit report on aviation security within the territory of the PS. 

Who should participate?
The Civil Aviation Authority will be the lead agency for this activity. Where appropriate and dependent upon the specific activities to be delivered, airport management, the security screening force, law enforcement and intelligence agencies and relevant members of Airport Operations Committees should also be involved.

What is expected of the Partner State?
The PS must be willing to share the entire ICAO USAP-CMA audit report with the CASE II Project Team, the contents of which will be held in strict confidence. The PS will be expected to support their request for support through the provision of assistance in the form of temporary office accommodation, access to airports to witness current/revised practices, provision of current legislation and supporting regulations as deemed necessary by the CASE II experts.

How will it work?
Following a request from the PS, the CASE II Project Team will look at the corrective action plan and decide which deficiencies identified by the audit fall within the scope of the CASE II Project. Relevant activities will then be added to the Country Programme of Action (CPA) of the PS and a timeframe agreed between the PS and the CASE II Project Team. The overall CPA will then be prioritised to ensure early delivery of the corrective action plan.

What will be delivered?
Reports by those appointed by the CASE project team to assist the PS with elements of the post-audit corrective action plan will set out the changes or additions necessary to achieve compliance with ICAO-mandated standards. It is important to note, however, that it is the PS that remains solely responsible for ensuring compliance with a corrective action plan stemming from an ICAO USAP-CMA audit. Furthermore, the PS maintains the responsibility to communicate with ICAO regarding the plan for adequate security provision and ECAC and the CASE II Project will not be involved in this process.

What happens afterwards?
Should the PS request it, or following recommendations on further work beyond the scope of the corrective action plan made by the CASE II Project-appointed experts, additional assistance may be offered and added to the CPA. Such assistance may depend on the nature of the proposed support and the availability of relevant resources.

Partner State participation in ECAC audit activity

Duration: 5 days
Number of participants: 1-2
Language : EN, FR

What does it involve?
An opportunity for an auditor(s) from a Partner State (PS) to participate as an observer in a live audit conducted either by ECAC within one of its Member States, or by an ECAC Member State as part of its own national quality control activities. This is subject to availability and prior agreement by the parties involved. 

Who should participate?
One or two auditors from the PS each with at least two years’ experience and who the PS expects to remain with the Civil Aviation Authority as increasingly senior auditors. If it proves possible to arrange for the participation of two auditors, the possibility exists for them to come from two different PSs. 

What is expected of the Partner State?
The PS should select its nominees from a range of candidates currently working as auditors within the Civil Aviation Authority and advise the CASE II Project Team once the nominees have been selected. Both the PS and its nominees will be bound by confidentiality rules in relation to the detailed findings of any audit in which the nominees participate. 

How will it work?
The CASE II Project Team will consult ECAC and its Member States to explore the possibility of the nominees from the PS joining either an ECAC team conducting a live audit of one of its Member States’ airports or joining an ECAC Member State team con-ducting a national inspection or audit in accordance with its NCASQCP. The audit is likely to last 5 working days, although the precise duration will be discussed via the CASE II Project Team in advance. The PS is welcome to state a preference for its nominee between the two audit options above, but the CASE II Project Team reserves the right to offer one option only. Possibilities are based on timings, the agreement of all parties involved and other determining factors. 

What will be delivered?
The CASE II Project Team will coordinate feedback from the PS and, separately, from the ECAC team leader or the Member State team, as appropriate. This will cover the views of the participating auditor(s) from the PS of the value of the activity in term of experience and additional skills gained. It will also cover the views of ECAC or its Member States on the performance of the PS nominee(s). The CASE II Project Team will then share the views of the PS and Member State with each other, subject to the requirements of confidentiality. In addition, the nominee(s) from the PS are expected to produce a report containing recommendations, as appropriate, for changes, additions or alterations to the current audit practice in the PS. The CASE II Project Team will provide a template for that purpose, although this does not preclude the drafting by the observer of an internal report for its authority, as per the decision of the PS. Finally, in addition to elaborating on the experience gained and the subsequent recommendations for improving their own NCASQCP, the nominee(s) will be invited to make observations and recommendations on the quality control performed by ECAC or its Member State. This supports the best practice of two-way feedback. 

What happens afterwards?
The CASE II Project offers a wide range of quality control training courses, coaching activities or other sorts of related technical assistance. Following this activity, the PS may wish to consider supplementing its Country Programme of Action: appropriate additions may include the opportunity to have an expert auditor from the CASE II Project embedded into its Civil Aviation Authority, perhaps in order to assist with any recommendations arising from the nominee’s experience. The PS may also consider the addition of best practice training courses for both junior and more experienced auditors.

Secondments to Partner States

Duration: 15-90 days

What does it involve?
The secondment of an aviation security expert from an ECAC Member State* into a relevant authority of a Partner State (PS). The aim of this is to assist with a particular issue(s), development(s), change(s) or improvement(s), as identified in advance by the PS and agreed with the CASE II Project Team. 

Who should participate?
Those in senior management and all other staff within the identified relevant authority or entity of the PS (Civil Aviation Authority, airport management, law enforcement agency, security screening force etc.) should participate. Although it is assumed that the national authority receiving the expert would be the appropriate authority (i.e. the CAA), embedding the expert in another public authority or even a private entity responsible for aviation security could potentially be considered by the project team when discussing the nature of the secondment with the PS. 

What is expected of the Partner State?
The PS should reach out to the CASE II Project Team as early as possible to suggest such a secondment be added to its Country Programme of Action (CPA). Once agreed and an appropriate expert is identified, the PS should ensure that senior management in the relevant agency makes the purpose of the secondment clear to all staff. The purpose is for the expert to embed and not to merely observe; full facilitation of the expert’s remit should be provided by the PS and this includes full engagement from employees within the PS in relation to their work. Suitable office accommodation and logistical support (IT provision etc.) should also be provided by the PS. 

How will it work?
Once the request from the PS has been received and discussed with the CASE II Project Team, the latter will advise if an expert is available and the timeframe for the secondment (a minimum of 15 working days, to a maximum of 90 days). All such details, with the addition of the precise programme with which the expert will be engaged, the related objectives and expected key performance indicators, as well as all other terms and conditions of service, will be set out in an annex to the CPA. 

What will be delivered?
Following the secondment period, the expert will produce a written report on the activity, which should include any recommendations for changes or additions, further to the ones made on site. The report will be subject to approval by the CASE II Project Team. For all secondment lengths, this report will be sent to the PS no later than 20 working days after the secondment ends. 

What happens afterwards?
The PS may require further support in order to implement recommendations reflected in the expert’s post-activity report. In these cases, provision of requested assistance can be considered by the CASE II Project Team and if appropriate, additional activities can be added to the CPA of the PS.

* Although the expert would normally be secured from an ECAC Member State, the CASE II Project Team reserves the right to draw on resources volunteered by other states that have previously supported such activities with the provision of recognised experts.

Embedding an expert auditor

Duration: 30 days

What does it involve?
This is an opportunity to embed an external expert within the quality control department (audit section) of the Civil Aviation Authority. The expert would review audit regulations and related operating practices. These may be linked to the planning and implementation of quality control activities, the response to identified deficiencies, as well as other procedures. The expert would either be an experienced national auditor or a head of quality control or an inspectorate, and drawn from an ECAC Member State. The objective is for the Partner State (PS) to make use of the expertise on offer to gain insight, and potentially recommendations, in respect of changes or additions to the National Aviation Security Quality Control Programme (NASQCP). 

Who should participate?
The audit team and senior management within the Civil Aviation Authority should work closely with the embedded expert to extract maxi-mum benefit from their presence.

What is expected of the Partner State?
During the consultation period between the PS and the CASE II Project Team, the schedule of quality control activities planned for the period of embedment must be provided. Once an expert has been identified and confirmed, senior management within the Civil Aviation Authority of the PS (including the Director for Security or equivalent) should make it clear to audit team leaders and members that full co-operation with the expert is expected by all. In particular full participation should be granted to the expert in all activities of the quality control department, including internal meetings. Suitable office space alongside the audit team should be made available, together with all necessary IT and telecommunications equipment that is usually made available to audit team members.

How will it work?
Depending on the specific needs of the PS (identified in advance via consultation with the CASE II Project Team) and depending on availability, an expert will be embedded within the Civil Aviation Authority of the PS for a period of approximately 30 days. The period of embedment will usually begin with a detailed review of the regulations, operations and NASQCP procedures of the PS by the expert. This review may lead to recommendations from the expert to the Civil Aviation Authority for changes or additions to the Programme. During the period when the NASQCP is being reviewed, the embedded expert should witness routine audit and inspection activities at the airport conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority’s audit team. That should include overt and covert testing if possible. If the expert’s recommendations are accepted and implemented by the PS, the former should be provided with the opportunity to take part in further audit and inspection activities, to ‘stress test’ and comment on any revised procedures and operational aspects. 

What will be delivered?
The expert will deliver a written report on the outcome of the first phase of the embedded period, namely the review of the NASQCP. This will include recommendations related to operations and procedures pertaining to the expert’s participation in the first tranche of quality control activities. Having discussed these initial recommendations with the PS, the expert will also provide a summary of those which the PS has agreed to adopt. At a later stage, the expert will provide a report of observations pertaining to the second tranche of quality control activities, with specific reference to those areas where agreed changes following the initial review have been implemented. 

What happens afterwards?
The CASE II Project offers a wide range of activities related to quality control, from detailed training courses to coaching, plus an opportunity to participate in standardised quality control activities conducted by an ECAC Member State.

Mentoring on security screening equipment

Duration: 3-5 days
Number of experts: 1-2
Language : EN

What does it involve?
Expert advice on: the suitability and efficacy of screening equipment in current use within the Partner State (PS); the options for replacing or adding to that equipment; and upon request, the certification and procurement of screening equipment. 

Who should participate?

  • The Civil Aviation Authority (both as the regulator and the auditor);
  • National Procurement Agencies;
  • Airport Managers;
  • Aviation Security Team Managers.

What is expected of the Partner State?

  • Briefing of the expert(s) by the PS on arrival (and in confidence) in relation to the local threat picture;
  • Access to the security screening lanes and associated staff (to include security officers, super-visors and managers) in the airport(s) chosen by the PS as the subject of the activity;
  • Prior provision of detailed information of the range of security screening equipment deployed in the territory of the PS (to include category, make, model, quantities, locations, etc.);
  • Provision of meeting rooms as required and where necessary, transport between locations.

How will it work?
Following the briefing from the PS on the local threat picture, the expert(s) should spend 2 or 3 working days examining the way in which the equipment is deployed and operated at a major international airport within the territory of the PS. Finally, the mission should end with an extensive but informal debrief with the CAA. The discussions should also include best practice in maintaining complex and sensitive equipment, so as to maximise its lifespan. Additionally, guidance should be provided as to how to safely and optimally dispose of equipment that is no longer required or is beyond economical repair. This is particularly important as those two issues are often neglected. If requested by the PS, the expert(s) can also discuss any concerns or questions around procurement and certification of equipment (i.e. how the PS can be assured it is getting the right equipment for the right price). 

What will be delivered?
The expert(s) will produce a report within 10 working days of the end of the visit, covering advice on the operation and deployment of existing security screening equipment and on possible replacements or additions to better mitigate current and emerging threats. If requested in advance by the PS, the report should also offer advice on the certification and procurement of such equipment, as described above.

What happens afterwards?
The CASE II Project also offers activities in related subjects, such as those which refer to the relationship between technology, human resources and the operations process that binds the two together. Another available option looks at specific explosive detection techniques. All of these activities can be added to the Country Programme of Action affiliated to the PS upon request.