On 25 September, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) awarded Georgia with two Council President Certificates for significant reforms and high achievements in aviation safety and aviation security oversight, reported agenda.ge.

The main criteria for receiving certificates are improving the indicators for effective implementation of ICAO standards (with at least a 15% increase) and lack of serious deficiencies. According to the ICAO audit conducted in 2018, the overall rate of effective implementation of international civil aviation standards and practices by civil aviation in Georgia has been 87.64%. Since 2013, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency has improved aviation safety oversight by almost 56% (from 32% to 87.64%), while aviation security oversight has improved by 30% (from 58% to 87.8%).

The International Civil Aviation Organization is a UN specialized agency, established by Member States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. ICAO works with the Convention’s 193 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.

Georgia became ICAO member in 1994. In 2007, according to the comprehensive audit of the ICAO Aviation System, Georgia failed to comply with 68% of international aviation standards. The audit concluded that the aviation authorities of the country failed to carry out their tasks properly, including the adequate supervision over the safety of the major airlines. In 2010, the decision was made to implement the reform, the first phase was completed on April 15, 2011 by the Civil Aviation Agency. A comprehensive audit of 2013 showed that Georgia had 24% better performance compared with ICAO’s 2007 audit. In 2015, nearly 30% of the aviation safety supervision indicators improved. In 2016, supervision of aircraft operators improved to 82.73% (World average rate - 66.6%), while the quality of airborne surveillance (AIR) increased to 82.11% (World average rate - 74.57%). In the 2016 audit, Georgia exceeded 60% of the ICAO aviation safety plan and comprised 64.76%. According to the ICAO official audit conclusion in 2018, Georgia ranked first in the region in terms of introducing international aviation standards and supervision.