Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, various measures were taken to ensure the continuation of activities under the Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA), including the postponement and rescheduling of certain on-site activities. A rolling 12-month schedule for the USAP-CMA audit programme was developed using a risk-based approach, with postponed audits being moved to the end of the schedule. This ensured that on-site audits could be rapidly implemented as normal operations resumed. The need to postpone future audits was assessed on a monthly basis, considering, inter alia: the existence of sufficient operations at selected airports; travel restrictions for auditors, including at transit points; and the working conditions for auditors and their counterparts, including the availability of personal protective equipment.
During 2021, a total of 19 USAP-CMA activities were carried out, including two on-site audits, 15 documentation-based audits and two validation missions to evaluate the mitigation of Significant Security Concerns (SSeCs). A total of 19 unresolved SSeCs in eight States were posted on the ICAO secure portal as at 31 December 2021.
In addition, three virtual seminars for National Coordinators were conducted, and five online information sessions were held to update USAP-CMA auditors on recent amendments on audit methodology in Annex 17 –
Security and Annex 9 —
Facilitation.
The latest version of the USAP-CMA
Analysis of Audit Results booklet (Eleventh Edition), which is available under the Audit Analysis section of the USAP secure website, provides extensive information on global and regional trends and statistics until 31 December 2021.
During the pandemic, the Secretariat continued to make progress in implementing the 26 recommendations of the Secretariat Study Group on the USAP-CMA. Furthermore, new editions of the
Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Manual (Doc 9807) and the
Aviation Security Oversight Manual (Doc 10047) were published.
