DOT Offers Guidance For Foreign-U.S. Codeshare Safety

<B>DOT Offers Guidance For Foreign-U.S. Codeshare Safety</B>

By Barbara Cook

The U.S. Department of Transportation, as promised, has announced guidance for U.S. airline safety audits of their foreign airline codeshare partners. The intent of the program is to ensure that foreign airlines comply with internationally accepted safety standards before they are allowed to enter into codeshare partnerships with U.S. carriers.

The guidelines, which are scheduled to take effect April 29, will be based on the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and incorporate procedures developed by the Defense Department and the Air Transport Association.

Under the guidelines, only airlines from countries whose aviation authorities meet ICAO standards for safety oversight will be allowed to code share with U.S. carriers. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration will review the audit process to determine that the carriers are in compliance before approving a new codesharing agreement.

DOT's guidance outlines the minimum elements airlines should examine in carrying out the audits of their codeshare service on foreign air carriers, including personnel qualifications, and operation and maintenance of aircraft. DOT also said U.S. carriers should conduct onsite audits of foreign codeshare partners at least once every 24 months, with audit reports available for FAA review not more than 45 days later. For codeshare agreements already in effect, the U.S. carrier should audit one-fourth of its foreign carriers during each quarter of the year after the guidelines take effect, followed by audits of each foreign carrier not less than once every 24 months. The guidance also sets out recommended qualifications of auditors.