Press Release
30 September 1999
AFRICAN STATES ADDRESS AIRSPACE SAFETY
Member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) are expected to endorse a memorandum of commitment in early October to invest jointly in communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM). The move follows a decision taken by COMESA members' respective transport authorities in late July to opt for a common approach to the issue of how best Africa can benefit from the new technology.
The proposed system is intended to give member states a seamless upper airspace system above 24,000ft above sea level. It will utilise satellite-based communication and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) equipment to minimise dependency on ground based aids. It will also support automatic dependent surveillance (ADS).
The move comes three years to the month after the International Federation of Airline Pilot Associations (IFALPA) took the unprecedented step of branding much of African airspace as inherently dangerous to fly in, and demanded that agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and African Civil Aviation Conference (AFCAC) take immediate action to address deficiencies before it was too late.
"This announcement comes not a moment too soon. African airspace users generally have for far too long been expected to tolerate poor standards of service from ATM providers," says Chris Yates, Editor, Airport & Aviation Development - Africa & Middle East Special Report. "Pilots flying in African airspace regularly report non-availability of air traffic control service, and out of service communications and navigational equipment. This has led to a continued number of incidents including potentially dangerous loss of separation between aircraft.
"African airspace problems in part stem from an acute lack of investment over many years in suitable infrastructure to support growth in air traffic in the region. The emergence of CNS/ATM technology offers airspace users increased safety while flying over the continent, and COMESA states a more cost effective path to providing technology to support an expected boom in air traffic over the coming years."
It is understood COMESA intends establishing an ATM company owned by member states and international investors to manage the project. The Safe African Skies Group (SASG), a consortium of US private sector companies including Lockheed Martin, will lead the venture. Other participants include South Africa's Africon, Edlow Resources, and financial advisor KPMG. SASG has completed a comprehensive study and concluded that the project would be technically feasible and financially viable with costs recovered from airspace user charges.
The project would bring a CNS/ATM capability to 60% of the African landmass and interface directly with similar technological developments being proposed for the French speaking ASECNA states and a separate South African proposed system.
Editor's note: If you would like to speak to Chris Yates about either this release or Jane's Airport & Aviation Development - Africa & Middle East Special Report, or if you require further information, please contact Jane's.