To know how to perform an internal audit for Air Operators means understanding very well the requirements, applications, and methodologies of an audit in the aeronautical sector. Next, we are going to show you certain information so you can get to know the internal audit techniques for air operators, as well as the required processes for it.
The ISO 19011 defines an audit as the systematic, independent and documented process to obtain records, fact declarations or any other pertinent and verifiable information for the groups of policies, procedures or requirements used as a reference.
Internal audits for air operators are performed by, or on behalf of, the organization itself for review by the top management of the company or with other internal purposes such as, for example, to confirm the effectiveness of the management system or to obtain information for its improvement. Internal audits can constitute the base for the self-declaration of conformity of an organization.
Steps to perform an internal audit for Air Operators
Given that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the European authority in the aviation field, does not provide specific information about how to perform an internal audit process, the most usual practice is for the airlines to use the 6 steps proposed in the ISO 19011 as a reference:
1. Beginning of the audit: It starts when the organization establishes contact with the auditee part and the viability of the proposed audit is evaluated.
2. Preparation of auditing activities: In this stage, the audit team gives to the auditor team all the documents related to the audit, tasks are assigned within the auditor team, an evaluation of the possible risks of the audit inside the company is performed, the methodology of the audit is specified, and checklists are made.
3. Audit: It starts with an opening meeting in which all the parts confirm that they agree with the characteristics of the audit that is being made. Afterward, the associated documents are reviewed and an interview is performed to collect all the necessary information. A record of the findings is performed and a report of the conclusions is prepared, in which the compliance evaluation is shown. Finally, a closing meeting occurs to show the results in which if it is necessary the corrective and improvement actions will be decided, and the compliance deadlines.
4. Preparation and distribution of the audit’s report: The audit’s report shows a complete, exact, concise, and clear record of the process and includes the following:
- Objectives of the audit.
- Scope of the audit.
- Identification of the audit’s client.
- Identification of the auditor team and the members of the audit team.
- Dates and places where the auditing activities will take place.
- Audit’s criteria.
- Findings of the audit and related evidences.
- Conclusions of the audit.
- A statement about the degree to which the audit‘s criteria have been met.
The audit report is distributed to the designed receptors within the audit plan.
5. Ending of the audit: It is reached when all the planned activities have been performed or have been agreed upon otherwise.
6. Follow-up: Conclusions of the audit can indicate the need for corrective, preventive, or improvement measures. When suitable the auditee must keep the people in charge of the audit program, and the auditor team, informed about the state of these actions. The finishing and effectivity of these actions must be verified. This verification can be part of a subsequent audit.
If you want to know more about how to certify an Air’s Operator Certificate (AOC) in EASA and what tools are available to successfully manage the audits, we invite you to subscribe to the EASA Quality Compliance Newsletter.
Solutions that help to successfully perform an internal audit for Air Operators
A good start when facing an internal audit for Air Operators is to review previous audit noncompliances, which will help to define the problems.
Nowadays, there are software solutions for legal compliance, for the management of noncompliances and for the performance of internal audits for Air Operators. They are solutions that allow, besides guaranteeing the control of the compliance with the regulations and standards of the airline, to optimize the complete audit process to comply with the demanded requirements.
One of the solutions that facilitate the work when performing an internal audit for Air Operators is SICOMO. It combines software with an associated service, allowing the automatization of all the processes related to internal audits like audit planning, checklist’s creation, control of the nonconformities, traceability of the processes, etc. To rely on SICOMO greatly favors the optimization of airline resources, delivers a global and immediate view of the quality management, and guarantees the compliance with the requirements that should be audited in a noticeably higher level to that reached without this solution.
To know how to manage and internal audit for Air Operators is not something you learn in one day. It depends on the implementation of systems that help to optimize the internal processes in the company and the consequent evaluation and measurement of the results. Subscribe now to the EASA Quality Compliance Newsletter, and you will receive updated information about the best practices for preparing internal and external audits and How to certify an air operator for the IOSA certification and manages its audits successfully.
