President Bill Clinton’s ‘Safe Skies for Africa’ initiative provides a unique window of opportunity to mobilise the significant political will and financial resources required to properly address some of the pressing challenges facing the African aviation industry. It is unique because never before has a United States President made such a direct commitment to help improve African aviation.
Similarly, as Sassy N’Diaye, IATA’s experienced Director of Government and Industry Affairs, Africa, has observed, there has never been a US Secretary of Transportation as committed to assisting African air transport development as the present incumbent, Rodney E. Slater.
According to ICAO, priority projects for improving aviation safety and efficiency, and airport security in Africa include the installation and maintenance of modern air navigation systems; the implementation of safety oversight standards and recommended practices; the co-ordinated planning and implementation of CNS/ATM systems; human resources development, utilisation and retention; and airport expansion and modernisation, etc. All of these need to be adequately funded to achieve the desired results.
We have always contended that aviation, if properly harnessed, can be a vital catalyst for Africa’s economic and social development. This vision is shared by many both within and outside Africa. With US President Clinton and Secretary Slater expressing a similar theme and proposing a plan of action, it is possible that tremendous progress can be made. However, in addition to finding the funds, perhaps the greatest challenge will be translating the ‘Safe Skies’ initiative from rhetoric into tangible results.