WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration today announced that Nigeria has achieved a Category 1 rating under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program, which means that Nigeria complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO is the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation which establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

The IASA Category 1 rating is based on the results of a July FAA review of Nigeria’s civil aviation authority. With the IASA Category 1 rating, Nigerian air carriers may now apply to operate to the United States with their own aircraft.

An IASA Category 1 rating means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters – meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping and inspection procedures.

As part of the FAA’s IASA program, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or might be authorized to fly to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.