The Wicks Group (TWG) recently completed a successful kickoff trip to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, marking the start of in-country activities under the Aviation Safety Standards Technical Assistance (ASSTA) Project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
The visit represents a significant milestone in TWG's ongoing partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (CAAM), which engaged TWG in 2024 to conduct an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Baseline Assessment (BA) evaluating Mongolia's compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexes 1, 6, and 8. The findings of that assessment laid the groundwork for the ASSTA Project, which is designed to support Mongolia's preparations for a future Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) IASA audit and its pursuit of FAA Category 1 status.
During the trip, the TWG team held a series of introductory meetings with CAAM leadership and technical staff to formally launch the project and align on priorities, timelines, and areas of focus. Sessions included detailed reviews of Critical Element (CE) checklists and regulatory gap analysis across key areas of aviation safety oversight, providing a clear picture of the work ahead and helping CAAM staff understand the scope and expectations of the FAA IASA audit process.
The team met with His Excellency Borkhuu Delgersaikhan, Mongolia’s Minister of Road and Transport to discuss aviation safety oversight, inspector capacity building, regulatory modernization, and the implementation of Mongolia’s Air Transport Agreement with the United States. The TWG team also met with the executive leadership team from MIAT Mongolian Airlines to discuss the airline's role in Mongolia's civil aviation safety system and its continued support for the project.
Throughout the visit, TWG emphasized the importance of close, sustained coordination among CAAM, MIAT, and Mongolian government stakeholders to maintain momentum as the project advances. The kickoff trip established strong working relationships and a shared understanding of the milestones ahead, setting the stage for continued technical assistance activities in the months to come.
TWG extends its appreciation to CAAM, MIAT, the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, and the Ministry of Road and Transport for their hospitality and engagement throughout the visit and looks forward to continuing this important work in support of Mongolia's civil aviation safety objectives.
Established in 1999 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., TWG has a longstanding record of providing FAA IASA technical assistance to civil aviation authorities worldwide, including those of India, Panama, Cabo Verde, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Trinidad and Tobago. To date, FAA Category 1 ratings have been awarded to ten TWG technical assistance clients. TWG also supports foreign air carriers seeking authority to operate services to the United States and assists foreign repair stations in obtaining FAA certification to provide maintenance services for U.S.-registered aircraft.
To learn more about The Wicks’ Group technical assistance work for achieving IASA Category 1 status, contact Glenn Wicks via email at gpwicks@wicks-group.com