The primary objective of surveillance is to provide the CAA, by means of comprehensive inspections, with an accurate, real-time evaluation of the safety status of the air transportation system. This surveillance programmed objective is accomplished by CAA inspectors performing the following:-

• Determining each operator's compliance with regulatory requirements and safe operating practices.
• Detecting changes as they occur in the operational environment.
• Detecting the need for regulatory, managerial and operational changes; and
• Measuring the effectiveness of previous corrective actions.

Surveillance activities are aimed at ensuring that the operator continues to adhere to the standards to which he was certified or approved, through regular inspections of various aspects of an operator's operation.

The types of activities recommended by ICAO and are undertaken on a regular basis to ensure that an operator maintains adequate standards and follows approved procedures are:

• Base Inspections should be performed at the operator's principal base of operations, sub-bases, and separate maintenance facilities; and the purpose of the inspection is to assess the suitability of the operator's organization, management, facilities, equipment, manuals, personnel and training records. The operations portion of Main Base Inspections will be accomplished in six increments as follows:
  • Operations Manual.
  • Operational Control.
  • Operations and Flight (trip) Records.
  • Flight and Duty Time Records.
  • Training Programmed.
  • Training and Qualification Records.
• En Route Cockpit Inspections.
• En Route Cabin Inspections.
• Station Facilities Inspections.
• Ramp Inspections.
• Emergency Evacuation Demonstrations.
• Ditching Evacuation Demonstrations.