By Stephen Onabe
The
period between the 7th and 9th of October, 2013,
witnessed the largest convergence of the African think-tank on aviation safety
in recent history, as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hosted the
first Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) Africa Region
conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Founded
in 1996, CANSO is the global voice for air navigation service providers (ANSPs)
worldwide, with Regional Offices in Brussels, Singapore, Jeddah and Mexico,
where regional activities serve as clearing houses for the central body. CANSO
Africa Region was formed barely a year ago with its office in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The African peculiarity boldly stands out among other regions of
CANSO and hence the need for urgent action by stakeholders.
Despite efforts over the years, aviation in
Africa is hamstrung by a plethora of challenges in the areas of infrastructure,
technology, capacity and resources. The continent’s safety profile is also not
an impressive one and this is traceable to poor aircraft maintenance, dearth of
qualified personnel, obsolete technology and lack of regulatory oversight in
most countries. With 3% global movement and 80% incident rate, experts are of
the view that the continent must brace up to surmount these challenges and the
conference was an ambitious first step in that direction.
The
theme of the conference, ‘Transforming ATM Performance’ according to the
Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, was a striking co-incidence
with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, in which the reform
of the aviation sector is a primary component, adding that “this conference is Africa’s
bold attempt to key into CANSO’s vision of a globally harmonized, seamless and
interoperable air navigation system through collaboration and partnership
within the region”. Engr. Udoh also seized the opportunity to inform the
delegates that as a major beneficiary of the transformation agenda of the President,
and with the deployment of sophisticated navigational and communication infrastructure
by NAMA in recent time, “the Nigerian airspace is by all standards very safe”.
The conference provided a veritable platform
for deliberation, debate and exchange of ideas as to how Africa could key into
the global CANSO’s vision 2020 strategic framework, aimed at delivering safe
and seamless air navigation globally. Key-note speakers presented incisive papers
on topics like “Air Transport Liberalization and its Implication in ATM in
Africa”; “Partnerships and Collaboration with the Industry in the African
Region”; “Canso’s Vision 2020, Changing ANSPs Business Model and Africa ANSPs”;
“The ASBU Framework Implications and Status of Implementation in Africa”; “Status
of Identified Critical Areas in Africa and the Challenges of Future ATM
Operations”, which collectively identified critical areas of change needed
within the safety, regulatory and operational domains and which have to be
addressed if Africa must key into the global safety average.
In the area of safety, attention was drawn to runway
safety, incursion and excursion and the need to optimize approach procedures
through Performance Based Navigation (PBN) implementation and enhancing
en-route safety through improved surveillance and communication infrastructure
across the region. The importance of implementation
of effective and independent regulatory oversight in line with ICAO standards
was also stressed.
On
operations, delegates identified the need for constant training of Air Traffic Controllers,
pilots, engineers and regulatory personnel in up-to-date technology and
syllabus including workshops on PBN and engagement in collaborative decision
making. Some organizations, it was
revealed, were at different stages of implementation of Safety Management
Systems (SMS) while others have not started at all. ANSPs were also tasked to
re-examine their business models and streamline them towards profitability.
In
her opening speech, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah said
as a driving engine of the nation’s economy, the Jonathan administration has
taken steps to develop safety critical infrastructure in aviation like the
Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria and the Total VHF Coverage.
Director
General of CANSO, Jeff Poole in his speech affirmed that transforming ATM
performance was at the heart of Africa’s economic growth. Hear him: “Aviation
is vital to African development and air traffic management is critical to the
safety, growth and development of aviation across the continent. …Both industry
and states can take important measures to further improve safety and transform
ATM performance in Africa”. Poole revealed that as part of a larger initiative
of CANSO to improve runway safety in Africa, programmes are being organized to
educate airport operators, engineers, pilots and Air Traffic Controllers on the
causes of and risks concerning unstable approaches as they constitute 80% of
incidents in the continent.
A well attended conference, participants
included industry bigwigs from the International Civil Air Navigation
Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airport
Council International (ACI), Frequentis AG of Austria, Thales SA of France,
ATNS of South Africa and Civil Aviation Authorities of Ghana, Botswana, Uganda,
Mozambique and other parts of the world.
Delegates
also had time to unwind after each day’s brain-storming session, and appreciate
Nigeria’s trademark hospitality. Over an array of delicious Nigerian cuisine,
they were treated to and particularly thrilled by the acrobatic stunts of the
famous Atilogu dancers from Eastern
Nigeria among others.
Apparently elated by the success of the event,
CANSO Director of Africa Affairs, Ms Boni Dibate, commended NAMA MD Engr. Mazi
Nnamdi Udoh for “a wonderful conference”, noting that the agency’s safety
initiatives have sent a strong signal to the world that Africa is ready to take
charge of its own destiny.
Engr. Udoh who bagged the 2013 Transport Day Individual Safety Award, earlier in the
year, also appreciated the delegates in his closing remarks, for the quality of
debate and deliberation and enlisted the support of stakeholders for a “sustained
and periodic engagement” as this would engender the needed peer review and
synergy, in Africa’s quest to improve safety standards across the continent.
Stephen Onabe is
an aviation analyst based in Lagos
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