The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) sought assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Advancing Philippine Competitiveness (COMPETE) Project to strengthen the authority’s regulatory capability. The objective was to avoid a second downgrade of the Philippines’ civil aviation status after the safety downgrade imposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2008 and lifted in April 2014.

The CAAP also sought assistance in separating regulatory and operational functions, through amendments to the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008 and creation of a new entity responsible for national airport development.

Nathan was tasked to review the proposed amendments, review the organizational structure of various airport operating agencies, and to craft a proposal for separating regulatory and development functions.

Nathan provided financial analysis and projections for the CAAP and the proposed development authority, and created an implementation and transition plan based on the team’s recommendations.