El Alto International: First in The Americas to Pass ICAO's Aviation Security Audit

El Alto International Airport (LPB), located at about 13,000 foot altitude, above La Paz, Bolivia, is the first airport in the Western Hemisphere, and third in the world, to successfully pass the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Program (USAP). El Alto is managed by SABSA, a private company owned by the London-based global airport operator, TBI plc. (SABSA manages El Alto under a 25-year contract with the Bolivian Government, as well as two other airports in Bolivia: Jorge Wilstermann International Airport in Cochabamba, and Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz.)

The audit was designed to assess ICAO member state's National Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP) and compliance with ICAO standards. It was conducted by a team of four certified ICAO audit members between March 28th and April 10th, 2003. Normally, ICAO provides six months notice of their wish to perform this audit. SABSA was given less than two months notice. Commenting on the success of the audit, Anthony Alicastro, Managing Director of SABSA, "We are very pleased to see the hard work of SABSA's staff and the team here at El Alto recognized by ICAO. For some time now, we have been working with TBI through an internal safety and security program called 'Business Risk Assurance,' this was critical in allowing us to accept ICAO's request to perform the audit with less than two months notice."

Felicitaciones.

FMI: www.tbiplc.com