Trinidad and Tobago’s recent airport security audit by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has sparked debate over the basis on which the United States can conduct such reviews. The issue came to prominence after a recent report on August 17 about the new terminal at ANR Robinson International Airport and noted TSA personnel had carried out audits there.
The authority for these inspections stems from the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, to which both the U.S. and T&T are signatories. Under the Convention, scheduled international air services can only operate with permission of the host state, formalized through bilateral air services agreements (BASAs).
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T&T and the U.S. signed an “open skies” BASA on May 22, 2010, which took effect on November 2 of that year. Like all BASAs, it contains provisions on safety and security. The agreement allows each party to recognize the validity of the other’s aviation certificates, while also reserving the right to request consultations or suspend operations if safety standards fall below International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) minimums.
In practice, this means that if concerns arise, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can conduct International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audits of T&T’s Civil Aviation Authority. These reviews measure compliance with eight critical oversight elements, including licensing, technical guidance, continued surveillance, and resolution of safety issues. The audits focus on ICAO Annexes One (Personnel Licensing), Six (Aircraft Operations), and Eight (Airworthiness).
Failing an IASA audit results in a downgrade to FAA Category Two, restricting national airlines’ ability to expand service to the U.S. and blocking new carriers from entering the U.S. market. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has remained at Category Two since 2020, preventing LIAT 2020 from operating flights to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. By contrast, T&T passed IASA audits in 2005 and 2012.
The TSA’s role focuses specifically on aviation security. As part of U.S. Department of Homeland Security protocols, TSA officials conduct periodic security audits of airports in countries with direct flights to the United States, including Trinidad and Tobago. These reviews, coordinated through diplomatic channels, evaluate compliance with ICAO security standards.
If concerns arise, T&T may request consultations with Washington regarding its compliance with ICAO safety and security requirements.
