AviAssist Foundation to hold a Safety Seminar in Lusaka, 30-31 May 2013



The AviAssist Foundation with the support of AFRAA and other stakeholders will hold the annual 2Gether 4Safety African Aviation Safety Seminar scheduled to take place from 30-31 May 2013 in Lusaka, Zambia.

This event will bring together experts in the field of safety to provide the latest best practices in the aviation industry to improve the region's safety
record.

This 2-day seminar is recommended for all aviation professionals who have a responsibility or interest in safety. The event will feature key sessions led by operators for aviation professionals on:
•  Emergency Response Planning
•  Runway Safety
•  Safety Management System
•  Just culture
•  Dangerous Goods
•  Flight Data Management
•  Aviation training
•  Airport wildlife management

For registration and more details, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Telephone: +44 1326-340.308
Website: www.aviassist.org 

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) held its 44th Annual General Assembly from 18 – 20 November 2012 at the Sandton Convention Center in the South African commercial hub, Johannesburg. The Assembly was convened at the kind invitation of South African Airways.

Convened under the theme: Business Together in the Era of Growing Opportunities, this annual African air transport summit and conference brought together the largest gathering of airlines Chief Executives Officers (CEOs) and other top aviation executives and decision makers across Africa, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. As in previous events.

Every year, the AFRAA Assembly brings over 300 high profile aviation players and stakeholders under one roof, to review the state of the industry, assess the performance of African airlines and make decisions to further consolidate the growth of air transport across Africa and beyond. This is arguably the most prestigious aviation event in Africa. 

The Aviation Suppliers and Stakeholders Convention (ASASC) is an initiative of AFRAA to bring together operators and service providers with the view to foster dialogue, build sustainable networks in supply chain management, create a competitive environment for business and improve the aviation business support base in the continent. The main objective of this event is to bring together the suppliers of the whole range of airline products and services and the potential customers of these products and services at one venue annually.


Now in its second year, the Convention provides outstanding profile building, networking, and direct sales opportunities for suppliers of equipment, goods and services who are interested in engaging with top corporate buyers in airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and training establishments. Delegates at this convention will benefit from innovative strategies, proven solutions, best practices and information on a win-win supplier-customer relationship.

Who Should Attend?
The Convention is aimed at attracting Chairmen/CEOs, top executives and managers from airlines, CAAs, Airports and other service providers in the aviation industry. In addition the Convention will attract the following industry suppliers:

• Aircraft manufacturers
• Engine manufacturers
• Aircraft/engine leasing companies
• ICT solution providers
• Airport handling equipment suppliers
• Air traffic navigation product suppliers
• Metrological product suppliers
• Security equipment suppliers
• Financial institutions
• Aviation training institutions – pilot, engineer and general training
• Aviation recruitment agencies
• Consultants and academics
• Airports handling and catering companies
• Cargo Operators and cargo equipment providers
• E-Commerce and e-payment Solution providers
• Investors and financiers
• IT Services/Solutions providers
• Travel & Hospitality

Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities
Besides the presentations, panel discussions and master classes by renowned industry professionals, there will be opportunities for sponsoring events at the Convention and also for exhibition. With the profile of anticipated participants, sponsoring or exhibiting at this Convention will provide your company brand visibility and an opportunity to network and do business with the about 250 African Aviation top decision makers and leaders.

Master Class
The Convention will provide opportunity for Master Classes where cutting edge ideas, industry best practices, new opportunities and practical solutions will be presented and discussed. Key air transport topics will be presented by consultants and solution experts in a lively and engaging manner and ample time will be provided for debates, case studies and group discussions. Attendance at the Master Class is FREE for Convention delegates but places will be limited, so early booking is essential. As you register for the Convention, kindly indicate if you would like to attend a Master Class.

ATPCO has already booked a Master Class to address Fare Management and how to Generate Ancillary Revenue through the GDSs. Other Master Classes to be added soon.

Download the event brochure.

Mark your diaries and endeavour to be part of this event in 2013.

For more information, please contact the AFRAA Secretariat:
African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
P O Box 20116 Nairobi 00200 – Kenya| Tel: +254 20 23 20 144/8 M: +254 722209708 / +254 735 337 669
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  | Website: http://asasc.afraa.org/ 

IATA and ICAO in partnership with AFRAA, ASECNA, AASA, AFCAC, ACI Africa, CANSO, IFALPA, Boeing and Airbus convened AFI 2012 Aviation Safety Summit from 14 to 16 May 2012 to develop an AFI Strategic Improvement Action Plan to be implemented from 2012 to 2015, in order to strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance safety performance of the Region.



                                                           Executives present at the AFI Safety Summit.

The Safety Summit agreed the following AFI Strategic Improvement Action Plan, the report which will be submitted for endorsement to the African Union Ministerial Meeting on Aviation Safety planned in 2012. The Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG), whose Chairman endorsed this Action Plan, will use its mechanism to ensure the implementation of the Action Plan.

In order to significantly improve safety in Africa by end of 2015, the Summit focused on five (5) achievable tasks. These tasks are a result of an analysis of accidents in Africa carried out by IATA and ICAO for the 2006-2010 period.

In the analysis, it was observed that the main influencing factors of accidents are lack of effective Regulatory Oversight, lack of implementation of Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and Safety Management Systems (SMS). Implementation of these processes/tools could have identified precursors to the two major accident types, namely Runway Excursions (RE) and Loss of Control (LOC).

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IATA and ICAO in partnership with AFRAA, ASECNA, AASA, AFCAC, ACI Africa, CANSO, IFALPA, Boeing and Airbus convened AFI 2012 Aviation Safety Summit from 14 to 16 May 2012 to develop an AFI Strategic Improvement Action Plan to be implemented from 2012 to 2015, in order to strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance safety performance of the Region.


 
                                                           Executives present at the AFI Safety Summit.

The Safety Summit agreed the following AFI Strategic Improvement Action Plan, the report which will be submitted for endorsement to the African Union Ministerial Meeting on Aviation Safety planned in 2012. The Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG), whose Chairman endorsed this Action Plan, will use its mechanism to ensure the implementation of the Action Plan.

In order to significantly improve safety in Africa by end of 2015, the Summit focused on five (5) achievable tasks. These tasks are a result of an analysis of accidents in Africa carried out by IATA and ICAO for the 2006-2010 period.

In the analysis, it was observed that the main influencing factors of accidents are lack of effective Regulatory Oversight, lack of implementation of Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and Safety Management Systems (SMS). Implementation of these processes/tools could have identified precursors to the two major accident types, namely Runway Excursions (RE) and Loss of Control (LOC).

The following five (5) recommendations will not exclude other aviation safety related programs under way and/or being conducted by any aviation organization:

1) Adoption and implementation of an effective and transparent regulatory oversight system

The analysis of the accidents identified weak regulatory oversight as the most significant contributing factor to accidents involving African air carriers. This situation set up latent safety risks in operational environment.

The root cause of weak regulatory oversight is lack of, or weak primary legislation and inadequate financial and human resources available to the regulators.

The solution lies in pooling together the existing scarce resources at the regional level. In Central America, ACSA is considered as one of the most advanced and successful Regional Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO), particularly in terms of its financial sustainability.
Effective regulatory oversight will not only remove unsafe latent conditions in the operational environment in the Region but increase credibility leading to the removal of international restrictions imposed on African airlines.

The Action Plan therefore includes:
Short term:
States in the AFI region continue their efforts to enhance primary Aviation Laws, Regulations and Procedures.
• Enforce strict compliance with ICAO SARPs and related guidance material.
• Mandate the implementation of IOSA to all airlines in AFI Region.
• ICAO to facilitate implementation of bilateral or multilateral agreements where appropriate Article 83 bis of the Chicago Convention (1944) by AFI States needing assistance for safety oversight.
• RSOOs be strengthened to become fully operational in providing Regulatory Safety Oversight on behalf of their member States.
• RSOOs and States make use of the AFI Cooperative Inspectorate Scheme (AFI-CIS) in order to optimize the use of resources.

Long term
• Other AFI COSCAPs be strengthened and transformed into RSOOs in order to support member States and;
• Recommend industry audit programs such as ISAGO, to ensure the implementation of industry best practices.

2) Implementation of runway safety measures

Runway excursions, which mainly occur during the landing phase represent approximately 25% of the accidents in Africa.

A common single factor in landing excursions is an unstable approach and an associated human factor (failure to go-around, CRM). Weather and in particular, rain and tail winds are the other main contributors to runway excursion.

IATA and ICAO in conjunction with other industry partners have developed Runway Excursion Risk Reduction (RERR) toolkit. The implementation of this toolkit will improve safety in Africa.

The Action Plan therefore includes:
Short term:
• State Regulators to undertake to comply with ICAO SARPs, runway safety program and other guidance material pertaining to runway safety.
• Increase level of awareness on runway excursions incidents and accidents, by providing training on RERR Toolkit to all technical staff:
       - RERR toolkit practices and recommendations to be included as requirements during crew and Approach/Tower Air Traffic Controllers initial and refresher training, as well for all Aerodrome Operational Managers and aerodrome landing surfaces maintenance staff.
• Conduct workshops for stakeholders (Regulators, airline operators, ANSPs and Aerodrome officials) on the runway safety toolkit and runway excursion prevention system.
• PBN approaches to be developed in the Terminal Management Areas (TMAs) in line with AFI Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Regional Roadmap, and Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) to be consistently implemented.

Long term
• ANSPs to continue developing PBN procedures at airports.
• Airlines to continue CDOs as part of PBN procedures in TMAs.

3) Training on preventing Loss of Control (LOC)

Loss of control has been the most significant fatality risk in aircraft accidents for many years in AFI region as well as worldwide.

Almost 30 % of fatalities involving 111 Africa hull loss/fatal accidents were due to loss of control. This situation calls for rigorous actions from manufacturers, regulators and operators to mitigate the risk associated with Loss of Control.

Procedures, training and development of practical and cost effective technology is required to mitigate LOC risks.

Regional Aviation Safety Group AFI (RASG-AFI) has been established for AFI Region last March, 2012 in Kampala,

The Action Plan therefore includes:
Short term:
• RASG AFI establishes a LOC Team that would review all the relevant initiatives, and develop for each one a Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).
• RASG implements the LOC DIP with specific Key Results Area with a very specific time frame.

4) Implementation of Flight Data Analysis (FDA)

ICAO has mandated FDA for all operators.

IATA requires that all it members comply with the FDA requirements through IOSA and therefore all IATA members are 100% compliant with ICAO requirements. This is not the same with non-IATA members.

There is a need to have AFI regulators ensure all other operators in the region fully comply with ICAO requirements to improve the safety culture. The experience from IATA's Implementation Program for Safe Operations in Africa (IPSOA) and lessons learned would immensely benefit the region.

The Action Plan therefore includes:
Short term:
• All State enforce FDA requirement across all their AOC holders
• All AFI carriers effectively implement FDA to enhance safety culture development in operations.

Long term:
• All AFI carriers shall participate in safety data sharing.

5) Implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS)

ICAO safety management requirements include those calling for implementation of the State Safety Programme (SSP) as well as safety management systems (SMS).

The adoption of Annex 19, anticipated in 2013, will facilitate implementation by providing States and industry stakeholders with a consolidated reference of safety management provisions.

A revised version of the ICAO Safety Management Manual (SMM) will provide more detailed guidance on the phased SSP and SMS implementation.

SMS On-Site Assistance by IATA has resulted in SMS implementation in operations of 15 airlines in three (3) steps program:
• Step one, conduct in-house SMS workshop;
• Step two, perform SMS gap analysis;
• Step three, implement the required programs to bridge the gaps.

The Action Plan therefore includes:
Short term:
• Regulators to ensure SMS requirements for operators are embedded in State regulations and that a regulatory framework is established for aerodrome certification:
        - Identify suitable qualified inspectors for the assessment of SMS implementation;
        - Launch a program to assess compliance and effectiveness of SMS by its Operators.
• On-site assistance for SMS implementation through various associations (AFRAA, AASA, Professional Committee of Air Operators in DR Congo – CPTA, Kenya Association of Air Operators – KAAO, etc.) air navigation service associations such as CANSO and airport operators associations such as ACI Africa with the APEX Program.

Long term:
• All CAAs should follow the SSP implementation plan, as per ICAO Annexes and guidance material.

IATA, ICAO, AFRAA, ASECNA, AASA, AFCAC, ACI Africa, CANSO, IFALPA, NCAA, Boeing and Airbus agreed and concurred with the above recommendations.

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2012 Suppliers and Stakehonders's Convention

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