Freetown — President of the international civil aviation organisation council (ICAO) Thursday called on the government to rigorously supervise the civil aviation industry if it were to meet international standards.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Kimbima Hotel in Freetown, Robert Kobeh Gonzalez said the civil aviation authority of Sierra Leone has the onus of making sure that air transport meets international standards.

He said ICAO has signed a communiqué with government to establish a joint programme for the attainment of and compliance with the international aviation standards.

Gonzalez said he was in the country to establish safety air transport adding that that could only be done with the political will to collaborate and implement recommendations necessary to improve the air transport in the country.

He noted that the ICAO would work with the government to cooperate and re-establish the transport services as soon as possible.

Gonzalez added that he was prepared to assist the country to achieve greater compliance with international requirements regarding the level of safety oversight.

Transport and aviation minister Kemoh Sesay said the aviation sector is faced with serious challenges in respect of the state's inability to comply with international standards in terms of both regulatory oversight and operational safety compliance.

He mentioned the lack of adequate resources to ensure a sound and sustainable safety oversight system and investment in aviation infrastructure as one of the main reasons for the poor state of the aviation sector.

Sesay said he would pursue the reform initiative of the aviation sector in the country, while he appealed for more technical support from ICAO.

Director of civil aviation George Gbongbor said since the establishment of the department in 1966 the sector has encountered tremendous constraints including effective autonomy, sustainable financial capability, sufficient and well qualified personnel, and adequate premises.