The Wicks Group (TWG), represented by Managing Director Glenn Wicks; Partner Ekaterina Grimes; Director, Consulting Lenica Morales Valenzuela; Senior Technical Consultants Fred Hight and Jerry Ostronic; and Head of Civil Aviation Cooperation Division Batbayar Gurragchaa, recently met with leadership from MIAT Mongolian Airlines to discuss continued cooperation under the Aviation Safety Standards Technical Assistance (ASSTA) Project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
During the meeting, TWG briefed MIAT leadership on the background and objectives of the ASSTA Project. In order for Mongolian air carriers to operate direct flights to the United States, the Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (CAAM) must successfully pass a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit, demonstrating compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexes 1, 6, and 8.
Discussions focused on MIAT's role as a key stakeholder in Mongolia's aviation safety oversight system and the airline's continued support for the ASSTA Project as preparations for a future FAA IASA audit progress. TWG underscored the importance of close coordination with Mongolia's national carrier throughout this process, given MIAT's central role in any future direct air service between Mongolia and the United States.
The parties also reviewed the foreign carrier Part 129 licensing requirements that MIAT must complete in order to be authorized to operate services to the United States. TWG and MIAT discussed a coordinated approach to ensure these requirements are addressed in parallel with Mongolia's broader IASA preparations, helping to position MIAT for direct U.S. operations once Category 1 status is achieved.
TWG reiterated its appreciation for MIAT's continued engagement and noted that strong cooperation between the national carrier and Mongolia's civil aviation authority is critical to a successful FAA assessment. Both parties expressed their shared commitment to maintaining close communication as the project advances, with MIAT's continued participation viewed as an important contributor to Mongolia's long-term civil aviation 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.