Sierra Leone Aviation Institutions Convene for Safety Management Workshop

The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority has conducted a two-day workshop focused on strengthening aviation safety management and improving the reporting of operational occurrences.

The engagement brought together representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, the Sierra Leone Airports Authority, Sierra Leone Handling Partners, Freetown International Airport and the Roberts Flight Information Region.

Participants examined key areas including hazard identification, risk assessment, incident prevention, safety-data collection, and the documentation and analysis of operational occurrences.

Focus on early risk identification

The discussions considered how stronger information-sharing can help aviation institutions identify potential dangers and introduce corrective measures before they develop into serious incidents or accidents.

Occurrence reporting was highlighted as an important part of aviation safety management. It enables regulators and service providers to gather information on incidents, operational irregularities and potentially unsafe conditions, helping them identify recurring problems, emerging risks and areas that require corrective action.

The workshop also promoted a just culture in aviation. This approach encourages the reporting of genuine safety concerns while preserving accountability for deliberate misconduct and serious breaches of established procedures.

Coordination across the aviation sector

Musayeroh Barrie, Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, said the engagement formed part of the authority’s commitment to proactive safety management, effective risk control and timely occurrence reporting across the aviation sector.

According to Barrie, the workshop gave participating institutions an opportunity to deepen their understanding of aviation hazards, assess operational risks and strengthen procedures for reporting and addressing safety concerns.

He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among the institutions, linking cooperation to the development of a stronger safety culture and safer skies in Sierra Leone.

The involvement of the Roberts Flight Information Region was considered significant because aviation safety depends on coordination that extends beyond individual airports and national institutions.

Support for the State Safety Programme

The engagement supports Sierra Leone’s State Safety Programme, which provides a framework for regulating and managing aviation safety in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

Under the programme, the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority provides regulatory oversight, while aviation service providers are expected to establish and maintain effective Safety Management Systems.

Such systems assign clear safety responsibilities, set out safety policies, introduce measures to control risks and monitor safety performance continuously. They are designed to help institutions identify and manage hazards before they cause harm rather than responding only after accidents occur.

The workshop reflected the authority’s continued focus on protecting passengers, aviation personnel and the wider public, while promoting safer airport operations and more secure skies across Sierra Leone.