Transparency and the International Civil Aviation Organization

In recent years, the need for international organizations to become increasingly transparent has been a key issue within the international community. Numerous debates have resulted in significant changes to disclosure policies, resolutions, and decisions developed by international organisms. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been an innovator in this respect. In transforming its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) to provide a window to essential safety information for the international aviation community, ICAO has successfully dealt with challenges associated with the transition to a more transparent approach. In order to envisage the future of USOAP, the author presents an analysis of its evolving transparency policies and assesses the safety, economic, political, as well as legal implications related to the disclosure of safety audit information.