MONTRÉAL, 30 MAY 2014 – Driving further momentum on aviation safety and air navigation performance goals in its Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Region, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) wound up a special two-day AFI Aviation Safety Symposium earlier this week in Dakar, Senegal.
High on the meeting’s agenda was a progress report and detailed review of the regional safety targets adopted by the Ministerial Conference on Aviation Safety in July 2012. The Abuja safety targets have become an inspiration to other regions of the world and are consistent with the revised global priorities established in ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan.
“Between 2010 and 2013 the accident rate for Africa has fallen by 45 per cent – from 16.8 accidents per million departures to 9.3 – while the number of fatal accidents over this period dropped from three to one per year,” remarked the ICAO Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin. “This represents excellent progress, but there is still work to be done if Africa is to more fully benefit from the socio-economic benefits that invariably derive from the establishment of safe and dependable air services.”
Close to 300 African aviation experts and senior officials from both public and private-sector bodies attended the ICAO Symposium, which was opened by Minister of Tourism and Air Transport of Senegal and was held on the eve of the 13th Meeting of the Steering Committee for ICAO’s Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa (AFI Plan). Also held in conjunction with the Symposium was a half-day Aviation Security Meeting where attendees were presented with the results of the second cycle of ICAO’s Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), and with a new initiative for enhancing aviation security and facilitation in Africa.
The Safety Symposium participants were additionally presented with an overview of the assistance options currently available from States, aviation safety partners and ICAO. The Organization’s goal was to provide higher-level coordination of these initiatives and resources for African States, which was fostered during the event.
The principal outcomes of the Symposium were the signature of three major agreements: 1) the Memorandum of Understanding concluded among AAMAC, CEMAC and UEMOA aiming to coordinate the functions of the RSOOs of these Regional Economic Communities and in the long-term to establish one common RSOO; 2) the African Flight Procedure Programme (AFPP) agreement to which 20 States adhered on 27 and 28 May 2014 to facilitate PBN implementation in the AFI Region; and 3) an agreement was signed among France, Madagascar and ICAO on an assistance project aimed at enhancing the safety oversight capability of the Civil Aviation Authority of Madagascar (ACM).
“As a global Organization, an important aspect of ICAO’s mission is to assist our member States with training and capacity-building coordination. This targeted assistance helps them to meet global expectations with respect to the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices,” Benjamin added.
Resources for editors:
AFI Aviation Safety Symposium Background and Documentation
The AFI Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan For Aviation Safety In Africa (AFI Plan)
The ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan
The ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan
ICAO Online Regional Reporting Dashboards
