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African airlines decry flight of aviation staff
2007-07-20 10:20:41
By Guardian Correspondent, Nairobi
African airlines have decried the rampant poaching of pilots and traffic controllers from the continent by Western carriers, saying the practice keeps ``intensifying``.
But they have also taken a swipe at African governments, charging them with taking a back seat and failing to protect their own airlines from unfair competition.
The African Airlines Association (Afraa) has promised to officially ask the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) and the International Air Transport Association (Iata) to come up with effective modalities of containing ``this haemorrhage of African pilots and air traffic controllers``.
Afraa has also expressed concern over the fact that European airlines are dominating Africa`s airspace at the expense of struggling local airlines.
Afraa Secretary General Christian Folly-Kossi told the 19th African Civil Aviation Commission (Afcac) conference, which is in progress here, that it was of utmost importance for African governments and civil aviation authorities to level the playing field.
He called on the African governments to monitor and regulate the imbalances so as to make sure that African operators share the continent`s airspace with ``the invading major Western carriers equally``.
``We regret the fact that our (African) ministers responsible for aviation failed to adopt in May a common continental position in response to the European Union’s single airspace concept and external air policy. We urge them to quickly conclude and approve an African position,`` observed Folly-Kossi.
Putting in place an African aviation database was another challenge that needs to be addressed jointly by Icao and continental aviation groups, he said.
Icao Secretary General Taieb Cherif, meanwhile noted that safety and security remain the main challenges facing the development of aviation in Africa.
He also spoke the need to improve air travel safety and bring the accident rate in line with the world average.
He explained that air traffic in Africa accounts for only five per cent of the global volume but accidents from the continent stood at 30 per cent of the world total recorded last year.
The Icao executive challenged transport ministers in Africa to provide the political support needed to improve aviation safety and security.
``Icao member states have the responsibility of implementing minimum operating standards, procedures and practices outlined in the Chicago Convention and its annexes, assembly standardisation and other prescriptive documents,`` he noted.
According to Cherif, safety and security audits conducted by Icao in African countries have clearly demonstrated significant shortcomings in the implementation of the said standards and procedures.
He cautioned that an air transport system not perceived to be safe and secure enough by other countries could effectively bar entry into lucrative global markets and stunt economic growth.
Prof Alpha Konare, representing the African Union, told the conference that harmonisation of air transport competition rules, elaboration of a continent dispute settlement mechanism and the conduct and evaluation of the implementation of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Declaration need to be finalised.
The conference is attended by African ministers in charge of air transport and aviation stakeholders, among them representatives of African airlines.
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