- As an ongoing concern, African states are being helped to beef up aviation safety and security for improved services and efficiency.
UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said it is seeking to boost air safety in Africa, by organising a series workshops and fine-tuning in-air flight separation regulations.
“The foundation for a much safer and efficient air transport system throughout Africa has been laid,” ICAO Council President Roberto Kobeh González told 281 participants from 19 African States and four international organisations at a two-week seminar in Addis Ababa.
“With completion of this first seminar and workshop, participating African States are in a much better position to successfully meet the very serious safety challenges that confront the region,” he said.
ICAO State Safety Programme/Safety Management Systems Seminar and Workshop from 22 September to 3 October was first in a planned series of safety-related activities for Africa under Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Comprehensive Implementation Programme.
Overall objective of programme is to enhance aviation safety through increased cooperative efforts by government and global industry stakeholders, under leadership of ICAO, to effectively address deficiencies identified through Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme.
Conference participants were introduced to recognised safety management concept – with its supporting programmes for service providers, including airlines, air traffic services and airports, and for civil aviation authorities – as a predictive approach to safety.
According to ICAO analysis, traditional safety strategies and initiatives focused on the outcomes of accidents and regulatory solutions to specific technical problems have begun to stall, saying in a related move, ICAO has halved minimum vertical distance between aircraft in AFI airspace, resulting in more efficient flight operations and related benefits for airlines, passengers and the environment.
"The reduction from 2000 to 1000 feet between 29,000 and 41,000 feet, provides access to more efficient cruising levels, leading to less fuel burn with related annual savings for the AFI region of an estimated $85 million," said UN's aviation organisation.
It also stated that adjustment would also result in an annual reduction of 250,000 tons of global warming carbon dioxide and create six additional flight levels, increasing overall efficiency of airspace management, better on-time performance, and fewer delays on the major air traffic routes between Africa and other regions.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.