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noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:34:00 GMT

Ghana: Cecilia Dapaah heads newly created Aviation Ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 08:21:00 GMT

Former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Cecilia Dapaah has been nominated for the newly created Aviation ministry.

Her mandate involves working to develop Ghana’s aviation industry to make it very competitive within the sub-region. This also ties in with the government’s target to make Ghana a hub for West Africa to attract large volumes of traffic within and beyond the sub-region. Madam Dapaah is also expected to supervise the development of all various airports across the country to status befitting an aviation hub in the sub-region.

According to President Nana Addo, the Aviation ministry has become necessary because, “We want to make Ghana a hub for West Africa in the airline industry and every opportunity to do so. KIA is already one of the most patronized airports in West Africa but there are policy and structural reforms that we have to make in the way we handle that industry if indeed we are to succeed in making it a hub in WA for all of these large business that international airlines do.”

The President also justified his nomination of Madam Cececlia Dapaah for the aviation ministry. “For that we need a dedicated person within the government whose brief it will be to work to make the various airports that are being developed the airport of choice for the international community for their activities.”

Cecelia Dapaah was a deputy minister of Public Works and Housing under former President John Kufuor between 2005 and 2006 and subsequently the substantive Minister from 2007 to 2008. Whilst in parliament as Member of Parliament for Bantama, she served on various committees such as Works and Housing; Advisory Committee to the Speaker; Employment, Social Welfare and Youth; Foreign Affairs; and Special Budget.

Source
City Business News

Aviation Careers in Ghana - What's In It For Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 16:15:00 GMT

If you're here, chances are that you're probably interested in starting a career in aviation, or you have tried countless times to search for the right aviation course, or you're a fan of CharlieBay101 or you're fascinated by the world of aviation or you're just plain curious.

I often come across people who articulated their grievances by asking for answers to questions like 'what does it take to work at the airport', or 'which is the easiest aviation course' or 'which career path in aviation is more likely to fetch the most money'.(Yes.You'd be amazed at the questions).
Aviation on the global scene has seen tremendous growth. It is quite a fascinating and eye-catching industry. Unfortunately,(to a certain extent) the same cannot be said for Ghana. Sadly most airport jobs here are contingent on the 'who you know' factor .All hope is not lost though, although the current position reduces the aviation career options anyone may have. However there's no need to grin over that fact, I come bearing good news. Here's my view on the number of options available, job duties and occupational outlook, and some, if not all of what is required to thrive in this changing industry.

If I were to come up with a common ground for these disparate career options, it is this: Aviation is a way of life, and every branch is entrenched in the power of integrity & commitment. Aviation is an awfully narrow field, so one has to be certain that is what he or she wants , and then commit. Jobs in aviation are quite demanding. They require 101% dedication, hard-work and financial investment as well. That being said, it will be a complete waste of time and effort if you're just searching for a temporary hobby, or just any job to while away time.There are several factors that come to play when choosing a career in aviation. Especially if you come from Ghana, you have to be particular about career prospects (as it is with other countries). I believe nobody would enjoy spending hard cash on a course which will lead them to a dead end. Even the richest of all rich people wouldn't.

Before deciding on which of the following career paths you want to pursue,take some time to explore questions like I'm I genuinely interested? Do my strength and weaknesses compliment this career choice? Does this choice suit me? How long do I intend working in this field? Will there be opportunities for advancement? What do I do after the course? Where can I work? What other Career options are available? Is my choice a viable option? All this explains why I cannot stress enough on the fact that you have to be passionate and certain. Take note that there are a myriad of them, but the list sheds more light on the most practicable in Ghana's burgeoning aviation industry.In no particular order, careers include;

Flight Dispatch

Dispatchers are Popularly described as pilot hands on the ground. In as much as their roles are as critical as that of the pilot, there are a few distinctions. Dispatchers are jointly responsible for the flight operations with the pilot in command.To top it off, 7 out of 10 dispatchers I've met, disclosed that they are actually aspiring pilots who resorted to flight dispatch because it is the closest option to piloting, among other reasons which include financial restraints. I confirmed this finding after a sight visit to the Flight Operations Office of one of Ghana's leading regional airlines.Flight Dispatchers generally ensure that aircraft are made ready for departure as quickly and safely as possible. They make sure that all the different operations and services linked to the preparation of an aircraft for flight come together at the right time and in the right order so that the plane can take off at its allotted time. Flight dispatchers will oversee activities including cleaning, refuelling and baggage and cargo loading. One needs to be flexible because working as a Flight Dispatcher would require that you work in shifts (as with all airport jobs). That being said, you should be expected to work early mornings, late nights,on weekends, and holidays as well.(Yes. Holidays too). You need to be organised.You need to be able to work under pressure. You need to be able to manage more than one activity at a time. These are just a few of the core competences. Take note of the way I used the word need!

SEE ALSO ; Step by Step Traveller Guide

Cabin Crew

This is probably the most sought after career choice among ladies my age but sadly, searching for a job as Cabin Crew in Ghana can prove to be an endless and daunting task More often than not, people misconstrue the duties of flight attendants and box them with a definition based on glamour.Its a glamorous and classy profession and that there's nothing more to it. I must confess. Even I had that perception, growing up.
During my days at the airport, I overhead a gentleman make unsavoury remarks about cabin crew and he clearly was not in the position to do so. ' They're just paid to look pretty', he said, responding to another gentleman about his age.(I believe was his friend). The long and short of the matter is that Attending on Flights entails a lot.Although A career as a flight attendant offers a wide range of possibilities and the chance to travel the world and meet new people(Which is all people know), flight attendants are also responsible for safety . This safety is paramount in aviation and encompasses evacuation procedures and protocols,emergency response and first aid, among others .Besides the numerous physical limitations, fluency in English language is key.To become a successful flight attendant, you need to be able to respond quickly under pressure, understand the importance of teamwork, you need to have a tolerable attitude, among others. Now that you have the details, take this from me. It is very important.Do not pay for unnecessary training. Several institutions have sprang up and are blowing horns with no substance in them. I know of people, I have friends for that matter, who have attended schools that claimed they train cabin crew but in the end it leaves you nowhere. Unless an airline scouts or picks you to be trained as a flight attendant, do not invest your time and money.Do not invest your time and money unless employment as cabin crew (which is quite rare) after training is guarantee. If you are not ready to enrol in a recognized cabin crew training facility abroad, or directly with an airline within the confines of the country, I have a better option for you.I want the best for my followers and would advice you to start from the ground.Start small. It works. It did for me.Gather the most experience you can get from the ground by pursuing other options either at, or outside the airport, pertaining to the aviation industry. (See below for options)After all, the experience might give you a competitive edge over other applicants when an opportunity provides itself for actual cabin crew training.(As I've said, either directly with an airline or abroad)if this wouldn't change your perspective, I don't know what would.

Ticketing Agent

Unfortunately It is with regret that I have to admit, that a career in ticketing is currently the most viable option and safest for that matter,if we should consider the amount of monetary investment it demands. Pursuing a career as a Ticketing Sales Consultant can be a bit rewarding if you look at the bigger picture. Plus all the available systems or requirements aren't hefty or complicated in any way. Ticketing Agents or Consultants are responsible for planning routes through a centralised database system available and pick out the best bargain for seat allocation and preferences,vehicle rentals, hotel bookings, travel insurance, visa advisory services, and might also include all the other paper work involved in planning a trip abroad. The ticketing pathway almost guarantees 80% employment after training and leads you either issuing tickets directly with an airline, or with a Travel Agency. All it takes is to be trained in either of the world recognized Global Distribution Systems and you're good to go. These network operated Systems include Amadeus (Which I have taken), Galileo and Sabre.Even though training in Ticketing offers an impressively high margin of employment after training, or higher employment prospects, passion for the job and good people skills will always come in handy. As with every other job, one needs to have the right attitude and level of commitment and discipline to thrive in that career.

Profiler

Profiling has got to do with Security. Profiling is a big deal. My days as a Profiler took me through series of both excitement and surprise.There wasn't much to predict. Everyday was different.New challenges. New people. New experiences. Profiling is hardly ever talked about because it isn't widely known and the few who have had encounters with profilers have funny and sometimes frustrating tales to tell. Profilers work on behalf of Security Agencies subcontracted by Airlines or Ground Handling Agencies to handle Security at the airport.Allow me to take you back into time to elaborate on how Profiling at airports became a thing.Long story short, Profiling was birthed as a result of the perils surrounding the events of 9/11.One of the most popular functions (possibly the only one people are familiar with)of profilers is documents check.Before boarding any flight, Profilers check on all passenger travel documents to ascertain their authenticity. The main goal is to save airlines hefty fines in case illegal travellers travel with forged documents get repatriated. Profilers.Profilers are highly trained in passenger behavioural analysis and document checks, thereby placing passengers under scrutiny, when they fall within certain categories. Profiling also entails other Airport Security functions such as Aircraft Guarding and Access Control, Boarding Gate Security, Ramp Observation, Baggage Make-Up Handling and Security, an din some cases, Catering Security.The question about whether or not Profiling is discriminatory or effective can be tackled another time. To be a profiler, you must be Intuitive and Pay close attention to detail. Currently, no institution offers training in Profiling, or Airport Security for that matter. Training is done solely by Security Agencies that can be found at the airport. Notable of them include Aviation Profile and Security Services, Glory Heights Profile Consult,Pathfinders International Aviation Services, etc.. Mostly Prior knowledge isn't required to become at Profiler at the airport in Ghana. At the very least, solid high school grades might be just good enough.

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Passenger Handler

This should be pretty simple.Passenger Handlers or Passenger Service Agents take care of passenger needs at the airport before they embark on their trip.It's as simple as that.However it entails a great detail especially because you're dealing with humans and not easy,predictive,unchangeable products.Passenger Handlers operate within the Passenger Terminals or Land side of the airport.Some of the job duties include Check-in In of passengers,handling baggage issues, giving Boarding instructions,Customer services, porter services, wheelchair services,and the list goes on.There's no post-secondary education requirement for this career, but having a background in Customer Service and excellent soft skills can be a key to employment. Ground Handling Agencies here like Aviance and AHS Menzies do the hiring and training.

Ramp Handler /Service Personnel

Unlike Passenger Handlers, ramp handlers operate within the air-side of the airport which is often not visible to the passengers till they board the aircraft. Ramp service personnel also deal with equipment and hardly passengers. The industry is labour intensive and needs people working in many different areas.You can call them the 'background people'. Don't get me wrong, their work is equally important as any other airport job. Ramp Handlers do a lot of technical work so you might want to quickly scribble that on top of your list if you have an eye for technical stuff. Over here, you can find the Engineers, Tractor operators, Marshallers or Batsmen,Co-bus Drivers,Maintenance Technicians, to mention but a few.The duties also include Aircraft ground handling, cabin appearance, unloading and loading of cargo, aircraft towing, etc. Most.Most.Most jobs on the ramp require a valid drivers license, physical and background checks and at least a high school certificate.Ground Handling Agencies here like Aviance and AHS Menzies do the hiring and training.

ATC

ATC stands for Air Traffic Control/Controller. Air Traffic Controllers manage the flow of aircraft into and out of a county's airspace, monitor flights mid-air as well as while on the ground. They communicate to pilots before take-off, during flight and on landing. They mainly give instructions and advice pilots on the right course of action since they have a better view and a large pool of resource.They keep pilots updated on changing whether patterns as the aircraft moves into different altitudes, and help keep a considerable amount of space between moving and static aircraft. Their duties are quite lengthy and very very crucial to the safety of people, the airline and the entire industry at large. Air Traffic Controllers operate from a Control Tower, which is usually the tallest building within the vicinity of an airport. ATC must generally be very keen, must have very good memory and a very good understanding of communication. ATC is no joke. It is one hell of a deal. ATC Training is quite intensive and can be done at the recognized Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy. An ATC career in Ghana can be promising and rewarding as well.

- Irene Geraldo
(Founder, CharlieBay101)
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Ethiopia set on building Africa's Largest Airport

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 06:30:00 GMT

Ethiopia's infrastructure binge shows no signs of slowing down, with plans being made to build a $4 billion second international airport in the Addis Ababa area, one that could serve as many as 120 million passengers per year when it opens in about a decade’s time.

But a new report by risk analysts PGI Intelligence warns that the airport mega-project is at risk of delays due to challenges securing finance, while the huge costs entailed threaten to worsen foreign exchange shortages in the coming years.

The planned airport would make it Africa’s biggest airport by far, and even larger than London’s Heathrow, which handled 73.4 million passengers last year, with a capacity of 90 million.

Africa’s busiest airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg, South Africa; about 18 million passengers passed through its terminals last year and ongoing expansion work will raise capacity to 28 million.

The planned giant airport in Ethiopia is set to be one of the country’s most ambitious projects, surpassed only by the $4.8 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to state-led development through investment in huge infrastructure projects.

Already, Ethiopian Airlines is the only major African carrier that is reporting healthy profits, in the region of $175 million in 2014/15, while the other big three – South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Royal Air Maroc – are facing financial headwinds, bleeding cash badly and/ or reporting virtually no growth as reported earlier by Mail & Guardian Africa.

The project reflects the scale of Ethiopia’s economic ambitions and will form an important component in developing the country’s tourism and light manufacturing sectors, as well as putting Ethiopian Airlines in pole position to consolidate its market share and comprehensively overtake Nairobi as East Africa’s aviation hub.

Separate from Bole

The new project is separate from the ongoing $350 million expansion of the current Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, illustrating the importance the government has attributed to planned aviation sector growth. The current airport expansion is set to increase capacity from 6 million passengers annually to 22 million by 2018.

The two developments combined aim to transform Addis Ababa into one of the largest aviation hubs in Africa, with the new airport consisting of four runways, several passenger terminals and an airport city on the outskirts of the capital.

But it also raises the question whether Ethiopia can command those kind of passenger numbers to make the investment worthwhile.

A decade ago, Bole handled fewer than a million passengers a year, by last year that had risen to 7 million. Passenger numbers are expected to continue increasing by about 10% a year – which means it could take more than two decades for the airport to reach full capacity.

But Ethiopia’s state-driven capitalist model aims to line up all the ducks in a neat row, looking to deliver passenger numbers not just through bolstering Ethiopian Airlines’ position as an aviation leader in Africa, but also through growth in tourism and light manufacturing sectors, as part of the country’s second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II).

The GTP-II will cover the period 2015-2020, and is set to be launched officially in the next few weeks with the airport as its flagship project. It is also expected to include the $1.8 billion Gilgel Gibe 3 dam, a raft of geothermal, solar and wind projects, and a vast house building programme.

Tourism currently generates $2.9 billion for the economy and several international hotel chains have set up operations in the country in recent years; in August the culture and tourism ministry announced it planned to triple Ethiopia’s annual foreign visitors to 2.5 million by 2020.

Increases to freight capacity will likewise support the light manufacturing sector, for which the government has already attracted several global brands and Unilever, General Electric and GlaxoSmithKline are all planning investments that will supply international markets.

Industrial parks

Ethiopia is targeting $1 billion of annual investment in industrial parks over the next decade to boost exports and make it Africa’s top manufacturer. The government may invest half of the $10 billion needed for zones across the country that will house textile, leather, agro-processing and other labour-intensive factories, a special advisor to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in May.

But analysts are warning that Ethiopia’s mega-infrastructure binge will put enormous pressure on Ethiopia’s public finances, which are already strained following the first growth and infrastructure plan that expires this year (GTP I 2010-2015).

In September, the IMF reported Ethiopia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio was already at 50%, and GTP II would see this increase further.

Concerns around the sustainability of these debts could create challenges in securing finance for the new airport; without an immediate demand for its services, Ethiopian officials could struggle to secure finance from foreign lenders at concessional rates, the PGI Intelligence report states.

As with GTP I, both the new airport and GTP II are likely to depend heavily on domestic funds to finance projects. The absorption of funds by large infrastructure projects has created huge liquidity problems in Ethiopia over the past five years, resulting in delays to imports and difficulties for the private sector to access finance.

These restraints have been compounded by banking regulations that require banks to pay an additional 27% of each loan to private companies into state bonds that fund the government’s growth plans, a requirement that “frequently deters banks from lending to the private sector,” PGI Intelligence says.

With little sign the government is willing to ease restrictions on the banking sector, access to finance and liquidity will remain among the major barriers to success as the government presses ahead with its growth plans over the next five years, the analysts warn.

Crumbs

Not to be deterred, however, regional banks are all lurking on the streets of Addis Ababa, looking to set themselves up for even the crumbs of Ethiopia’s still very tightly regulated banking sector.

Foreign lenders are not allowed to own banks in Ethiopia, and the financial sector is dominated by the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

But last month, South Africa’s Standard Bank opened an office in Ethiopia, “to gain a foothold in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies”, it said in a statement, and this week, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) announced it had received a licence to open a representative office in Ethiopia.

Other banking institutions with representative offices in Addis Ababa include the European Investment Bank, Germany’s Commerzbank, pan-African lender Ecobank, Export-Import Bank of India, National Bank of Egypt and Bank of Africa.

Korean Tourist arrested and fined $44,000 for threatening crew and doing yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 05:57:00 GMT

A Korean tourist who was arrested after he became violent when he wasn't allowed to do yoga on a plane leaving Hawaii won't get additional jail time. But he must pay United Airlines more than $44,000.

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday sentenced Hyongtae Pae to time served, which was about 13 days. He'll be under court supervision for three years, which is the amount of time he has to pay the restitution.

Pae and his wife were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary with a Hawaii vacation and the couple was headed home when he was arrested.

According to court records, Pae didn't want to sit in his seat during the meal service on the March flight from Honolulu to Tokyo, so he went to the back of the plane to do yoga and meditate. Authorities say he refused to return to his seat, threatened crew members and passengers and shoved his wife. The pilot turned the plane around and returned to Honolulu. Pae told authorities after his arrest that he hadn't slept in 11 days.

Court records say he threatened to kill passengers and was yelling that there is no god. Pae went into a rage because he felt the flight crew was ordering him around, prosecutors said.

He pleaded guilty in April to interfering with a flight crew and was allowed to return home to South Korea, even though prosecutors warned he might not return for his sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor said she agrees with prosecutors that Pae's actions constituted a violent felony. Because of that, it's possible he may never be allowed to return to the United States. That's fine by Pae, who is in his 70s and doesn't intend to travel to the United States in the future, said his defense attorney, Jin Tae "J.T." Kim.

"I think your client is getting off very easy" with the $44,235 restitution amount considering the costs of turning the plane around, including jet fuel and all the passengers who had to return to Honolulu, Gillmor said.

"I take this very seriously and I have a great deal of concern about this behavior," she said.

It was a traumatic experience for the passengers and the flight crew, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Otake, adding that it's fortunate there were Marines on board who helped restrain him.

Pae tried to bite and head-butt the two Marines, prosecutors said.

Gillmor said Pae may return to home to Korea, but before he leaves must meet with a probation officer to work out restitution payments.

Pae declined to speak in court. "He didn't say it but he does apologize for what happened," Kim said outside of court. "This is a truly isolated incident." Kim noted that Pae flew to Korea and back without incident.

Source

Fox News

GCAA STAFF EMBARK ON STRIKE OVER ENCROACHED AIRPORT LANDS

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Wed, 6 Jul 2016 11:26:00 GMT

Staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), began a four-day strike from yesterday, Tuesday July 5, to July 8, in protest for the release of some encroached aviation lands.

According to the staff, their action could result in flight disruptions at the Kotoka International Airport.

The strike may result in some disruptions to services of the GCAA from the following sections as part of the road map toward securing the La Nkwantanang lands:

Audit and Finance – no issuance of some cheques;
AIS – no circulation of domestic NOTAM and flight plans;
Drivers – no transport services after picking and dropping staff;
Safety Regulations – no inspections;
Exit and Procurement – no services to external clients

The staff served notice of the intended strike on June 21, over the encroachment and warned that the appropriation of lands reserved for aviation traffic purposes by private developers and politicians risked compromising aviation security and safety in Ghana.

In a statement, the staff said lands at Adenta (La Nkwantanang) and Labadi (La Wireless) meant to be developed into receiving and transmitting stations, respectively, have been appropriated for residential purposes, thus, exposing Ghana’s air transport safety and security to vulnerability.

“For months, HF equipment, purchased by GCAA, worth over 600,000 Euros for installation at La Nkwantanang to enhance communication are still in GCAA’s stores. Our engineers have been denied access to the site to make a preliminary preparation ahead of the arrival of their foreign counterparts due in the country on the 1st of July, 2016,” the statement said.

“Our inability to install the HF equipment, as well as other navigational equipment at the site, will have a dire consequence on aviation safety in Accra airspace. The control of aircraft over the Oceanic is seriously being hampered by this unfortunate situation.

“We are aware that the management of GCAA, as well as the Ministry of Transport, has made several appeals and has justified the need to, at least, give about 250 acres of the land back to GCAA, but all to no avail.

“We want to reiterate that if the said land is not released for the installation of this vital equipment, the system can shut down and we may not be able to provide Air Traffic Services over the ocean and other portions of the airspace. This will have safety and security implications for the country and the industry in general,” the staff warned.

African Govts Urged To Review Airport Charges ~ IATA

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sat, 2 Jul 2016 09:22:00 GMT

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to review their airport taxes and charges to attract more airlines into the continent.

It said airport charges and taxes in Africa were the highest in the world.

A reduction of the charges would attract more players into sector, create jobs and enhance its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the countries.

An IATA study of 12 African countries two years ago showed that a downward review of the charges could create about 155,000 additional jobs in the countries surveyed, and add $1.3billion to the GDP of 12 countries. It was for these reasons that IATA had engaged some African governments for a review.

The list of charges to include: ground rent, landing and parking fees, service recovery charge, navigation charges, fuel surcharge; but a need to review the levy on aviation fuel, which has bee a negative impact on airlines’ operating costs.

The price of aviation fuel is higher in Africa – above the global average of $1.3, that it is between $2 and $3.7 more than twice the global average.

Some African governments were raising revenues from their aviation sector through charges, and advised them to imbibe the model of the developed world, where governments were building new airports to accelerate the growth of air transportation.

“It is actually to let African governments realise that aviation is not a preserve of the rich or famous or those who can afford it. It is for this reason that two years ago in 2014, we did the study on the benefits of aviation."

“A study on the benefit of aviation in Africa and a select of 12 countries, three from Southern African region. The outcome of the study indicated that 155,000 jobs would be created and $1.3 billion will be added to the Gross Domestic Products of the 12 countries’ economies.

“The Five million passengers who are not able to travel by air will be able to because of increased competition.“This would bring down airfares by up to 35 per cent. This was a significant diversion from the previous mentality that air travel is for the affluent only.

“Governments will see the benefits in terms of employment generation, in terms of GDP contribution and in terms of business facilitation. Use this as a tool to engage with governments to ask them ‘why are you over taxing aviation instead of making it more competitive.” He also spoke of plans to engage the governments to see how aviation could be utilised for economic development.

“We have been engaging with governments, especially in countries where taxes are higher. Today,fuel prices globally average per litre is $1.3. In Africa, it ranges between $2 and $3.77. In some places, more than twice is globally.

“On the average, we notice that fuel price is 21 per cent more expensive in Africa than the world average and the addition of taxes therein. Africa is not a rich continent, then why must we be paying the most? “ It is unacceptable that aviation fuel price is higher in oil producing country like Nigeria.

“We are asking governments to review these taxes.”

“If the airport taxes or charges are reduced, you tend to attract a lot more passenger traffic. More airlines would find it more competitive to come. In the case of Africa, " I always tell the airport operators. One thing we do is that we forget that airports next door are competing against each order",

“If Johannesburg Airport becomes too expensive, an airline would rather operate to another airport. A need to be careful to make airports more attractive. If they are attractive, many airlines would come in. " If the cost of flying there is cheaper, many airlines will come; if the taxes are less and there is more attractive destination.

IATA was worried over the poor financial performance of African carriers, but the body has projected 2017 as possible date for the airlines to return to profitability. “I don’t know how long it is going to take, we estimate that African airlines will be back to profitability.

“ If you look at last year, for instance, Ethiopian Airlines made $200 million profit, but if you take their profit, plus the loss of other airlines, you get a bigger loss.”

The low cost carrier model may not be workable for some countries in the continent because of existing barriers and other considerations. “Low cost airlines, wherever they exist, play a very critical role contrary to thinking by some legacy carriers that low cost carriers have come to take over their market.

“Low cost carriers have a tendency to stimulate additional demand and come up with a new market segment that in most cases has not been seen before. “Unfortunately, in Africa, you are seeing a concentration of low cost carrier still in a few markets.

“This is because the low cost business is based on low price and high volumes and, many markets in Africa, we don’t have the volumes. There are volumes in South African domestic market. “To an extent, Nigeria might eventually come up with low cost model in the future.

“You see that in North Africa, we have low cost model in Egyptian market, in Morocco because of the volumes there. Within Africa, it is a huge challenge because the volumes are not there.

“The other limitation in the growth of the low cost carriers is the limited Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Such is the case with Fastjet, and its efforts to get into neighbouring countries and the challenges it is having. I am sure you have been reading about it.

“Those limitations are crippling and we are not likely to see a lot of them coming up any time soon.

“However, in the future, if the market is liberalised, if these 22 countries that signed a declaration open up their markets, we could see many more.”

The regulatory framework for aircraft insurance in Africa is below the global standards, and said many airlines do not posses valid insurance policy.

“I don’t know if IATA plays any role in insurance. In Africa, many airlines don’t do proper insurance. We don’t oversee the implementation or validity of insurance programme.

“What we do and encourage airlines to do is that we know that in Africa, the insurance scheme is much higher than elsewhere, so insurance premiums are much higher for African operators. Once you become International Operations Safety Audit airline, you are given certain consideration because your risk exposure is lesser.”

An exclusive online interview of IATA’s Vice President, Africa, Mr Raphael Kuuchi.

Source - Aviation News

Tapping Into the Potential of Africa's Airline Industry in Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 15:15:00 GMT

As it is said in Africa, it is often easier, faster and more reliable to get from one country to another by connecting through an airport out of the continent.

For instance, the quickest route from Nairobi to Bangui in the Central African Republic, a distance roughly equal to that between Chicago and Miami, is to fly eight hours north to Paris, change planes and fly eight hours south.

Getting from Africa to Europe is relatively simple, thanks to lingering ties from colonial days, but hopping across the length and breadth of Africa can be a nightmare. You cannot compare this with flying from Nairobi to Entebbe which was once mentioned as one of the most expensive routes in the aviation industry.

Flying from London's Heathrow to Istanbul is not a difficult undertaking. It is given that the journey will be direct and will take four hours or so

Some of the notable factors for these and that stop African airports from becoming international hubs are lack of cooperation among countries and stifling air connectivity, growth and development are misaligned government policies. Consequently, this has since discouraged the middle class who would wish to use airline between two neighbouring countries, and instead opt for road transport which is so tedious.

Nonetheless, once African countries open up their policies to ease air traffic, as it looks, given recent endeavours, ramping up consumer demand will become paramount.

As it stands, passengers have reason to avoid African carriers; the continent is home to some of the most expensive airfares on planet earth. They are subject to excessive levies in the form of airport fees, jet fuel taxes, excise duties and more. There is also strained connectivity due to un-relaxed Visas.

Meanwhile, the problems caused by an unconnected Africa are not limited to inconvenient travel schedules and exorbitant air tickets. Far bigger are the opportunity costs to the economies of the African nations.

Trade and tourism is hindered and investment opportunities lost. And it is not just about economics. Aviation connects people. Africa would be a less fragmented continent with greater air connectivity. It is time to demystify air transport!

The continent cannot take off economically while its runway is incomplete. Governments in Africa need to treat aviation as a strategic asset and not as an instrument of foreign policy.

Africa's past has long been defined by national insularity; its future lies in liberalization. There is an urgent need to open up the aviation industry and promote it as core sector in economic development.

Air travel is no longer a luxury but a necessity, it is not like those days when flying across the continent was a trip back in time for Americans and the Europeans, to the days when passengers brought their own food, when missing a flight meant a three-day wait for the next one and when a seat was not truly confirmed until you were sitting in it and the plane was airborne aftermath.

Despite a notable growing awareness of the role of the aviation industry could play in the development of the continent, the industry is still not meeting this expectation.

As we advocate for increased understanding of the African aviation industry and the growing presence of foreign companies, African governments must all be willing to open their skies and stop fearing that foreign competition would outshine national airlines, some of which have long ceased to operate. It is important that a National Airline is established, it is a recognition to the country and the nation as a whole.

Today, Africa has some of the world's fastest-growing cities and is renowned for its indomitable entrepreneurial spirit, people have a greater need to move goods and services between markets, and when they have disposable income, they want to travel.

Making flights affordable will unlock the dreams that are often blocked by inability to fly across the globe. Air travel is imperatively essential to the prosperity of Africa as it opens up opportunities that did not exist before.

Talk about East African Community; fostering the African aviation industry may be one of the driving forces of integration in the region. Better connected African countries and regions through a viable air transport industry could be the vehicle that can boost intra-African business, trade, tourism as well as cultural exchanges.

Developing the aviation industry may also represent an opportunity to ease constant transport problems facing African countries.

Just like Rwanda's national airline, RwandAir, on its heels of expanding rapidly into Africa, this is a recipe for more achievements considering that Rwanda is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Adding to this is the well-established Ethiopian Airline who has survived the thaws of corruption and political bureaucracy.

Connecting Rwanda to its neighbouring countries and to the rest of the world will not only bring vast economic gains, but also presents a chance for Rwandans to access other opportunities that would have otherwise gone untapped.

Source - Airline & Aviation News

Gulf News Update : India on the verge of becoming 3rd largest Aviation Market

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:29:00 GMT

Hyderabad: With over 20 per cent growth in domestic aviation market in 2015, India is well on its way to becoming the third-largest aviation market by 2020, says a Ficci-KPMG report.

According to the report released on Thursday at the India Aviation 2016 here, with 81 million trips, the domestic aviation market grew at over 20.3 per cent during January-December 2015, the highest growth rate recorded in the world.

The total passenger throughput grew by 17.1 per cent in 2015-16, standing at 184 million till January 2016. Passenger throughput is expected to reach around 370 million by 2020, with domestic traffic constituting around 80 per cent of the total throughput.

The report suggests that aspects such as increasing disposable incomes, fall in prices of Aircraft Turbine Fuel (ATF), increase in tourism, visa reforms, have placed India in a unique position. “This is bringing the country closer to achieving its vision of becoming the largest aviation market by 2030,” says the India Aviation 2016 report.

According to the report, the Indian civil aviation industry has exhibited tremendous resilience to the global economic slowdown and ranks ninth in the global civil aviation market. This is attributed largely to the growing economy, increased competition among airlines, especially among low cost carriers, modern airports, greater use of technology, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and increased emphasis on regional connectivity.Global connectivity

The report highlights that the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) is likely to provide a significant fillip to the industry. The various fiscal and monetary incentives, liberal policies focused on “ease of doing business” and enhanced push for regional and global connectivity are extremely positive.

Steps taken to revive and operationalise around 160 airports in India, if chosen carefully, will improve air connectivity to regional and remote areas. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sector will get substantial support from the state in terms of financing, concessional land allotment, tax holidays and other incentives.

“Enormous growth in domestic passenger traffic, substantial strengthening through government initiatives, decrease in global crude oil prices and airlines showing profits indicates a significantly positive transformation for the Indian civil aviation market,” said Harshavardhan Neotia, president, FICCI.

“The positive impact of NCAP 2016, rise in disposable incomes and the fall in ATF prices are likely to help India leapfrog into the top three of the world,” said Amber Dubey, Partner and India Head of Aerospace and Defence, KPMGA.

International routes

He hoped that the government can match domestic ATF prices with global levels for a three year experimental period. “MRO is likely to see a huge revival if the service tax is zero-rated. Growth of aviation and tourism can create a huge multiplier in terms of GDP growth and jobs,” he added.

The report quoted International Air Transport Association (IATA) that passenger traffic on international routes showed an increase of 6.5 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014.

During April-December 2015, international passenger throughput at Indian airports grew at 7.7 per cent. Middle East continues to lead in the growth of revenue passenger kilometre (RPKM) followed by Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe. North America and Africa showed sluggish growth. By 2034, it is expected that Asia-Pacific will be the biggest market for global aviation.

The report strongly suggests that in order to ensure high-geared growth, it is imperative to broaden the base of domestic flyers through greater air connectivity in tier 2/3 cities.

Nigerian's Dare To Dream Solo Flight Set To Change The Global Perception About Africa ~ Inspiring

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 16:00:00 GMT

Pilot Lola Odujinrin with Project Director Ladi Ani-Mumuney

This April, Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world will witness a historical event that took about ten years to piece together. It is being organised by a group of individuals whose mission is to inspire Africans everywhere to dream big, achieve those dreams in a truly unique way and shatter stereotypes built around the African continent. This event is The Transcend Project. It will use ground-breaking inspirational and educational events with unique brand promotion and product marketing opportunities to generate revenue and support carefully selected charities which are transforming lives on the African continent.

And it all begins with one man, Nigerian pilot Ademilola Odujinrin, who is set to use one plane to take Africa on its very first round-the-world solo flight in April 2016 in the promotion of one world. The solo expedition is set to take off from Lagos then continue through central Africa, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Australia, the USA, Canada, the UK, Iceland and then return to Lagos via Algeria and Niger Republic.

Nigeria was chosen as the launch pad for the solo flight because of the country’s potential to lead Africa – whose people are capable of achieving extraordinary feats creatively and fearlessly – into a new era of global recognition for notable achievements. The expedition will offer a host of activities including educational opportunities for students concentrated around the 6-week solo excursion before, during and after the flight.

One of the key objectives of the Transcend project is to help people overcome limitations. Since 1933, only 114 people have appeared to be successful in a solo round the world flight, and these include flights made using helicopters and balloons. Lola, as the pilot is fondly called by friends, will be the 115th person to accomplish this feat in the entire world upon its completion, with the help of his team led by Project Director, Ladi Ani-Mumuney. He would also be among the top 100 in the category of pilots who used aeroplanes.

Lola Odujinrin, “One man, One plane, One world”.

When asked what being No. 115 would mean for him, Lola exhaled, and it sounded like he was subconsciously rehearsing for when he disembarks the plane at the end of the expedition. Then he replied, “A huge sense of achievement. It’s been something that I have chased for too long. I will definitely feel elated at being able to accomplish that and leave a legacy for my kids…ultimately, I will inspire their tenacious character. There’s going to be a huge sigh of relief like ‘thank God this is done’. I really can’t wait. I have put too much into it.”

Lola qualified as a commercial pilot in 2010 and since then, he has clocked over 4000 hours flying as an airline pilot on both short and long-haul journeys. However, Lola has had a far more adventurous past significantly influenced by ‘sky-high’ dreams. From accompanying his pilot uncle on many trips seated in the cockpit as a seven-year-old (which inspired him to get where he is today), to participating in aerobatic flights and air races.

Team Transcend

This enthusiasm and passion displayed by Lola, in addition to his dedication, professional background and physical and mental capabilities to endure the project’s requirements made Lola a perfect fit for the project, according to Mr. Ani-Mumuney who is also an aviation and extreme sports enthusiast. Embarking on an around-the-world trip entails flying an aeroplane all by yourself for about 14 hours nonstop and dealing with high altitudes and less oxygen availability. Hence, physical training is imperative.

But this particular mission is not just another ordinary flight or adventure. A number of notable pilots such as Amelia Earhart (1937) and Steve Fossett (2007) among others have undertaken a similar mission in the past with unfortunate endings. In July of last year,Russian pilot Sergey Ananov was found in Canada weeks after he attempted to make the trip in a one-ton helicopter. This poses questions around what concerns Lola and his team had in undertaking the mission which is Project Transcend.

“I have been flying aeroplanes for 17 years and I know that with aeroplanes of 1937 or 1930s and those of 2010 there is a huge statistical difference. You have one million chances of being hit riding a motorcycle or bicycle on the road every five minutes. But with aeroplanes it’s like one in every one million chances. It’s very much to stress that there has been some tremendous amount of technological advancement between 1937 and today and the greatest advantage is the GPS technology. I’m not really scared at all.”

Mr. Ani-Mumuney commented that while there were definitely some apprehensions in putting the project together on his part, the major fears have been allayed, including whether or not they could get a plane or get approved to execute the project. “The dream to conquer allows us to go on”, he says. “The project appears herculean, but when broken down into small sections it becomes achievable.” However, he mentions that The Transcend Project still struggles with a funding gap which it hopes to close by getting support from crowdfunding, companies and individuals through persistence and hard work.

“The Transcend Project is definitely the biggest one that I’ve ever worked on. We’re travelling across five continents, to 20 countries and 29 destinations, and we also have to organise the project and promote it in those places.”

Yet, it wasn’t easy for the project and its team to receive support in the West. Lola and his team had to work through racial stereotypes to get to the point where they are today. A crucial example involved getting the plane. Lola emphasise that it makes up most of the preparation as it has to be done right. Generally, most of the individuals that undertake such a mission lease their aeroplanes on trust, but “no one on the planet” was willing to take the chance with the Transcend team.

Lola and his family.

Instead, the people who reluctantly gave them audience made outrageous financial demands. Worse still, they received emails describing them as scammers. It took raising the $800,000 necessary to procure the aeroplane and depositing in a seller’s account to adjust the negative narrative surrounding Nigeria and garner support. And this is one of the most rewarding aspects of organising the project for Mr. Ani-Mumuney. Through his experience, also in seeking support, he has come across individuals and companies outside of aviation whose sceptical perception of Africa is changing, although it’s not an easy task. He has also been in touch with the aviation industry and more enthusiasts like him around the world.

The planned solo expedition with the aircraft Cirrus SR22 which has a total payload of about 439kg and has been specifically modified for the journey. It is also fitted with additional long range tanks and an HF radio installed for longer stretches of the journey, such as the leg from Australia to San Diego, as well as some parts of Africa. The aircraft has also been equipped with onboard cameras to provide live feed for the entire journey thus granting thousands of people the opportunity to view and share in Lola’s experience.

On a personal note, when asked how he managed to raise a family with his daredevil nature and profession, and in fact convince them – especially his wife – about this particular project, also given the amount of time and energy required to be a pilot, Lola gushes that he got lucky.

“I met Cynthia when I was quite young and she accepted me as a dare devil. We kind of complemented each other in that way because she was never scared to try anything, and I shared my dream with her right from the beginning. In fact, I’m worried that she doesn’t try to stop me enough”, he laughs. “I have had to sacrifice a lot, a lot of family time and finances, but I think that is what goes with anyone chasing a dream. When you chase a dream, you almost seem selfish as nothing else matters to you. For Cynthia to be around me and also to look after the kids is great.”

Concerning the plans for the future after Project Transcend, both Lola and Mr. Ani-Mumuney agree that all of the focus is currently on the present task at hand. However, as Transcend has no plans to be static, there will be other projects and activities to keep on inspiring the African youth once the current mission is completed round June.

According to Mr. Ani-Mumuney, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. And I want to thank the Tolaram Group for their wholehearted support and for having 100 percent faith in us, the Lagos State Government, Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, and the Cross River State Government. They helped us to take that first step. We wouldn’t be here today without them.”

Nigeria's falling economy forces major airlines to pull out.

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 15:40:00 GMT

Major international airlines are deserting Nigeria citing the free-falling local currency and an economic crisis that has seen government introducing tighter foreign currency exchange controls.

United Airlines, the third largest United States based carrier by revenue, has become the latest airline to pull out of the West African economic giant with its flights ceasing by June 30.

The airliner cited reduced revenue, which has been blamed on the deteriorating value of the naira and tight currency controls by the government as some of the reasons for the decision to stop flying to Nigeria.

United Airlines followed on the footsteps of British Airways, Spanish national airline Iberia, Air France-KLM, Qatar Air, and Etihad, who were also unsettled by the Nigerian government's given restrictions on the repatriation of revenues on tickets sold in naira.

Nigeria has struggled with dwindling foreign reserves due to the downturn in the energy sector as oil prices dropped globally.

The government, in a bid to manage foreign exchange outflows, placed restrictions after it limited money transfers out of Nigeria. The policy has hit international carriers hard as their funds have been trapped funds at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), international are owed about $575 million by the central bank.

Sources have also revealed that the international airlines have been going through a hard time as they were not able to record a "high load factor".

This was brought about by the economic problems bedevilling the West African country, which has depleted the finances of those who otherwise would travel out of the country on business or holiday.

Airlines recently adjusted their fares and stripped off all promotional tickets, making it more expensive for ordinary travellers to fly.

United Airlines' daily route from Houston to Lagos had been experiencing some downturn for years but stayed relevant because of its importance to Texas based customers, United Continental Holdings Inc, reports say.

Passengers can still fly to Nigeria on United Trans-Atlantic business partner, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, through a connecting flight to Frankfurt.

The Boeing CO. 787 serving Lagos will now be plying the San Francisco/Tel Aviv route, which has expanded to daily flights from three times weekly flights.

Industry experts say more airlines might also consider pulling out of Nigeria due to the worsening economic problems.

IATA on Monday said it had been engaged in talks with the government on how to repatriate airlines' funds trapped in CBN and said it was confident a solution would be found soon.

Source
-The Africa Report

About Me

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 14:28:00 GMT

There's Aviation and Travel &; Tourism. And there's CharlieBay101 right there sandwiched in between.

IRENE GERALDO

After graduating with specification in airport management and customer care, Irene set off her aviation career in airline ticketing and marketing when she interned with a reputable travel agency and later to Aviation Security where she gained hands on exposure to airport ground operations by working as a Profiler on Emirates Airline at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra,Ghana. After working at the airport for a while, Irene quickly gets her feet wet in the freelance world of blogging. It wasn't long before she started CharlieBay101 Aviation Broadcast Channel. Irene is currently in Ground School towards the acquisition of her Private Pilot License (PPL). Irene is also the Vice President of Runway Aviation Club Ghana. Included in Marsha Wrights' list of Awesome Bloggers, digital Wolfs by SERP Report, Aviation Fans by Rwandan Aviation, Aviation Pros by Gary Edwards, ATFCM by Bernard Arini and so on.You can find Irene in Accra, and on Twitter @ReneeGeraldo

Favorite Quote : Beautiful things happen when you distance yourself from
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This is CharlieBay101...You're welcome on board!

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Fri, 3 Jun 2016 02:04:00 GMT

In this day and age, Aviation in Ghana and Africa, on a whole seemingly appears as “a thing for the affluent”. Although such a sentiment is open to debate, CharlieBay101 is undoubtedly here to the rescue of despairing budding aviation enthusiasts and plane lovers. Are you intrigued by the complexities of air travel and not content in merely knowing your gate number or departure time whenever you travel? Do you usually track the developments of new aircrafts or are you always on the look out for new airline mergers? Professionals and enthusiasts now have an Aviation focused community which is openly accessible to all! If you fancy aircrafts of all sorts, whether powered or non powered, airliners, fighter jets, helicopters, balloons, an amateur or professional drone user, or simply an individual with an unflinching curiosity for the aviation industry, CharlieBay101 is definitely the place for you!

CharlieBay101 is keen on making fields of aviation a viable career option for many in this part of the world.

Whether you’re a student, a seasoned professional already in the industry or you belong to a different industry, join us for some new adventure! You're welcome on board.

CHARLIEBAY101, EXPLORING NEW PERSPECTIVES, REACHING NEW HEIGHTS!

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Windhoek Declaration of Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa " Moves to Implementation Stage "

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 16:00:00 GMT

Secretary General of AFCAC, Ms. Iyabo Osina

Ministers responsible for air transport in Africa on Friday, April 8 adopted the ‘Windhoek Declaration of Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa’ at the end of a four-day conference on aviation security and facilitation here.

The conference, organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) under the auspices of the African Union Commission brought together more than 20 ministers from AUC member states.

Speaking to the media when he and top officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and AFCAC paid a courtesy call on Namibia’s Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on April 8, Namibia’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Willem Goeieman, said the declaration requests commitment to aviation security.

He said this is because of increased terrorist threats and other challenges impacting the continental airlines’ safety and travel. “We had set targets to achieve in line with Agenda 2063 that was already adopted by our Heads of State,” said Goeieman.

Agreed upon at the AU Golden Jubilee of May 2013, Agenda 2063 encourages AU members to by that year rekindle the passion of Pan-Africanism and a sense of unity and self-reliance in highlighting the triumph of the 20th century, while incorporating the AU goal of integration and peace.

Agenda 2063, Goeieman said, makes note of one common passport for all Africans to be issued by 2018 and the abolishment of visas by all member states.

He said the Windhoek Declaration on Aviation Safety will be submitted to Parliament next week, and is expected to be endorsed by the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held in June/July 2016, to facilitate a systematic evaluation of the implementation of the plan.

During the meeting, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila described the declaration as an important document to Namibia, as the country is part of regional trade and welcomes new developments in the area of aviation security.

“This issue will have prominence in our development plans,” she said. The conference was held under the theme ‘Unbroken African Commitment and Collaboration for a Global Sustainable Aviation Security system and Passenger facilitation’.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said African countries must embrace the Aviation Security Strategy by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

“Namibia is committed towards air traffic safety and continental integration. Africa is fully integrated not just in terms of mining and streamlining our policies but also through fiscal connectivity through infrastructures and air transport infrastructures and regulations thereof is one of those important issues that we need to address,” she said.

Namibia is at an advanced stage to finalise the Aviation Bill, which is set to help the country conform to the required standards. The country has already achieved 67 percent air traffic safety rate, which surpasses the ICAO standard requirement of 65 percent.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has tasked Namibia to compile a ministerial declaration’s draft on aviation security to be submitted at the AU Heads of State meeting scheduled in July in Rwanda.

The draft, which is set to address the security shortcomings in the African aviation industry, is also expected to highlight the need to have a single African common market by 2017.

Windhoek Declaration of Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa is considered essential to effective implementation of the AU Agenda 2063, as far as the air transport is concerned. Countries are also expected to come up with plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The declaration was presented to the African ministers responsible for aviation for consideration and possible implementation in their respective countries.

Secretary General of AFCAC, Iyabo Osina, expressed hope that African countries make necessary inputs towards the enhancement of the regional approach being advocated at the meeting in order to address the common challenges through the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Security and Facilitation in Africa (AFI SECFAL Plan) and through the effectiveness of the Regional Aviation Security and Facilitation Group.

“We have the determination to ensure that decisions are implemented so that the single common African market can take off by 2017,” she said.

Osina added that the existence of the AFCAC AVSEC Working Group made up of African Aviation Security Experts from member states, some of whom are members of the ICAO AVSEC Panel, has in recent times assisted AFCA in promoting African common positions on security through their effective participation at meetings and in the development working papers.

“I am convinced that we will achieve this purpose for which we are gathered today, in order to assist our policy makers to adopt the report of this meeting and thereby take Africa one notch higher in the achievement of continental security,” she said.

Source ~ Aviation News

Abuse of Power: African Leaders And Their Flying Machines

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 09:03:00 GMT

An Airbus A319 used by Senegalese President Macky Sall for his official trips.

Presidential planes are one of the perks of holding a country’s top post. In Africa, the relationship between some leaders and their aerial fleets can serve as a manual on how power is wielded – and often abused.

The US president has “Air Force One” – or more specifically, two customised Boeing 747-200B aircraft fitted with secure communications equipment, a large office, a conference room and a medical suite that can function as an operating room. In Africa, the fleet of presidential planes is diverse, as one might expect. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, for instance, has no less than ten airplanes in his presidential fleet. On the other hand, some African leaders – such as Cameroon’s Paul Biya – prefer to charter luxury planes.

Behind a number of these presidential planes lie stories that provide insight into how power is wielded on the African continent.

In a recent cover story on African presidential planes, “La Lettre du Continent,” a respected French bimonthly, examines the relationship between some African leaders and their magnificent flying machines."The plane [is a] symbol of sovereignty, of power," noted the journal. “But not all presidents are traveling under the same flagship."

As the leader of the cocoa-rich, West African economic powerhouse Ivory Coast, Ouattara tops the regional list of presidential aerial dominance with his 10 aircraft. Chad’s Idriss Deby, in contrast, has only four presidential planes – a Boeing Business Jet, a Gulfstream II, a Beechcraft 1900 and a Fokker.

But it's not just the number of aircraft in a presidential fleet that matter. The real story often has more to do with how these multi-million dollar flying machines are acquired, abandoned or upgraded.

SA President Zuma’s ‘gravy plane’

The fracas around South African President Jacob Zuma’s bid to acquire a luxury presidential jet never seems to end.

Earlier this month, stories of the new presidential jet found their way into local news again after it emerged that around 800 South African peacekeeping troops in Darfur, Sudan, had been stranded as the military scrambled to bring them home. The problem, according to local reports, was the military’s “unoperational” C130 heavy-lift aircraft. As an editorial in South African daily “The Times”, noted, “Finding the money to replace the ageing C130 fleet has to take precedence over vanity projects such as buying a new presidential jet.”

Zuma’s predilection for luxury – including opulent private residential upgrades – is well known and comes at a time when budgets are being slashed and students have been protesting fee hikes.

Given the circumstances, his administration’s bid to acquire a new presidential jet with a long-haul fuel range of 13,800 kilometers complete with a luxury bedroom suite and a conference room was not about to go down well with the opposition.

Sure enough, the estimated bill of around $280 million sparked howls of protest and calls to scrap the new aerial acquisition plan.

South Africa’s Defense Department, however, argues that the current presidential plane – a Boeing 737 called “Inkwazi” after the Zulu word for the African fish eagle – is outdated and has been grounded a number of times due to mechanical problems.

The continuing furore has sometimes left South African authorities with a myriad of bad choices. When Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had to visit Japan in November, for instance, the military had to choose between chartering a plane from companies associated with corruption scandals, arms manufacturing or colonial-era exploitative mining.

It looks as though Zuma’s bid to get on a gravy plane does have some merit. But the problem seems to be the price of the fixtures.

President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger gets a ‘prestige purchase’
The opposition does not count for much in Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, which consistently ranks at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index. Earlier this year, President Mahamadou Issoufou was sworn in for a second term in office following an election boycotted by the opposition.

But back in 2014, when Issoufou announced the acquisition of a $40 million Boeing 737-700 to replace the existing presidential jet, it sparked howls of protest from the opposition.

"With our country facing a new famine and with further serious flooding this year, the state decides to spend billions [of CFA or Central African Francs] on a prestige purchase," Ousseini Salatou, spokesman for the Nigerien opposition coalition, told reporters.

By then of course, it was already too late.

Defending the purchase, then Defense Minister Karidjo Mahamadou said the new presidential jet would help improve “the influence of our illustrious republic”.

Meanwhile the old presidential jet – a Boeing 737 bought in the 1970s by former president Seyni Kountche – remains in service despite one aviation expert likening it to “a flying coffin”.

But that’s an analogy that was also used in Cameroon – to disastrous effect.

Cameroon’s tale of aerial greed and intrigue
The acquisition of pricey presidential planes in a continent dogged by poverty and corruption is bound to kick off an occasional stir. But few aerial controversies come close to the Cameroonian experience in terms of sheer intrigue, greed, paranoia and retribution.

It all began in 2001, when longstanding Cameroonian President Paul Biya decided he wanted a new plane to replace the existing presidential plane – called “the Pelican” – for his personal and official trips. But the impoverished West African nation at that time was trying to reduce its debt under a World Bank and IMF programme. The bill for a Boeing Business Jet class aircraft was not going to pass muster with the international financial institutions.

So, the country’s elites came up with a strategy to appease their “Big Man”.

The aircraft would be bought by the country’s national carrier, Camair. A financial package was duly set up, with the money – $33 million – coming from the National Oil Corporation, known by its French acronym, SNH.

Three years later, with the jet duly delivered, Biya – along with First Lady Chantal and the couple’s children – boarded the new presidential plane for an inaugural flight bound for Geneva. But the aircraft developed technical problems and had to make an emergency landing in the Cameroonian port city of Douala.

The saga of the Albatross, as the plane was called, had just begun.

The plane Biya and his family had boarded turned out not to be new at all. Through a series of intermediaries and shady negotiations, the Cameroonian state had merely leased the Albatross, an old Boeing 767-212. And the $33 million coughed up for a spanking new presidential plane had disappeared.

A darker chapter began shortly after that doomed April 24, 2004 "inaugural" flight of the presidential plane. Was the acquisition – or rather non-acquisition – of the faulty aircraft part of a grand plot to overthrow or bump off the president?

“The Albatross Affair” – as the scandal came to be called – suddenly had all the elements of a high-profile murder plot. Ministers – who also happened to be threats to Biya’s grip on power – were arrested in succession and thrown into the high-security Kondengui prison in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde.

The senior officials in jail included a politician a 2007 WikiLeaks cable revealed to be the man favoured by the US, France, and other Western diplomats to lead the country. Some in Yaounde joked that there were enough top politicians in the country’s high security jail to form a parallel government in Kondengui.

Since then, La Lettre du Continent notes, Biya has "not dared" buy a presidential plane. The Cameroonian strongman instead relies on luxury private charter jets to ferry him back and forth from Cameroon to Europe. This happens alarmingly often since the octogenarian leader spends extended periods living in a Swiss hotel, which has earned him the moniker “the absentee landlord” in diplomatic circles.

A presidential plane waiting to be used
Sometimes intrigue and presidential planes go hand in hand and one of Africa’s newest leaders is apparently not above the fray.

Benin’s President Patrice Talon – a tycoon-turned-politician who was sworn into office on April 6 – is not enthusiastic about using the country’s new presidential plane, according to La Lettre du Continent.

The jet, a Boeing 737, was ordered by Talon’s predecessor and arch rival, Boni Yayi and delivered just 24 hours before the new president was sworn in.

According to the French bimonthly, Talon has requested a technical investigation of the aircraft.

But the paranoia between Talon and Yayi runs both ways. In 2013, the current Beninese president was accused of trying to poison his predecessor. Talon was forced to flee Benin for France, where he stayed until a presidential pardon was issued a year later.

Under the circumstances, Talon probably has good reason to be suspicious. Meanwhile, the spanking-new Boeing 737 lies waiting to be used.

Goodbye ‘La Pointe de Sangomar’
In Senegal, the saga of the presidential aircraft dubbed “La Pointe de Sangomar” [a narrow sandbar in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal] finally ended in June 2014, when President Macky Sall donated the plane to the country’s air force after failing to find a buyer.

A Boeing 727-2M1 fitted with a private bedroom, a shower as well as presidential and ministerial meeting rooms, “La Pointe de Sangomar” served three presidents – including Senegal’s founding father, Leopold Sedar Senghor, and his successors, Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade.

The controversy around “La Pointe de Sangomar” erupted during Wade’s last term in office, when the increasingly unpopular octogenarian leader announced his plan to buy a new presidential carrier, arguing that “La Pointe de Sangomar” was outdated and frequently ran into mechanical problems.

Wade replaced the presidential aircraft with a new Airbus 319 christened “La Pointe de Sahel” in 2011, sparking an outcry, with opposition leaders noting that the $43 million for the new acquisition was not authorised in the country’s budget.

Two years later, Wade’s successor Sall came to power. After several unsuccessful bids to sell the “La Pointe de Sangomar”, the aging presidential plane was finally donated to the Senegalese Air Force. The aircraft is expected to spend its last days in an army museum, where the exhibits include three presidential limousines.

Source - France24

IATA - African Airlines Record Highest Passenger Traffic Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 07:00:00 GMT

Local Airlines

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says African airlines posted the strongest demand growth globally with February traffic up by 12.7 per cent compared to same month in 2015.

This is contained in IATA’s global passenger traffic results for February which was issued by its Director General, Mr Tony Tyler, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the pick-up indicates that African carriers are regaining market share through efforts to rationalise networks and enhance revenue management systems, after several difficult years.

“It also aligns with a jump in exports from Africa. Capacity rose 13.4 per cent, and load factor slipped 0.4 percentage points to 63.7 per cent,” the statement said.

It further noted that there was a strong growth in air travel demand for both domestic and international traffic globally.

The statement said that the total Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) rose to 8.6 per cent, compared to the same month last year.

It added that monthly capacity (available seat kilometres or ASKs) increased by 9.6 per cent, and load factor declined 0.7 percentage points to 77.8 per cent.

“In the first two months of 2016, demand for passenger connectivity is off to its strongest start in eight years.

“However, February was the first month since the middle of 2015 in which capacity growth exceeded demand, which caused the global load factor to decline,” the statement said.

It also condemned the March 22 terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium, noting that it is a grim reminder that transportation, including aviation, remains a target for terrorism.

The statement reiterated further,“the attacks in Brussels were an attack on humanity, a terrible tragedy, that was met with resilience.

“The subway is back in operation. And the airport is working hard to return to normal operations that will reconnect Europe’s capital with the world.

“Aviation is a force for good. And we are once again proving that terrorists will never succeed in destroying the fundamental urge of people to travel, explore and learn about the world.”

How A Lagos Factory Worker Went Against All Odds To Breakthrough From A Business Everybody Thinks Is Only Meant For The Rich Read His Story Here...

Source ~ IATA News

South African Airline's ~ Serving Angels of Mercy

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:30:00 GMT

SAA cabin crew Ms. Khensani Nyembe, Lezanne Kgori and Sonja Muller " The Angels of Mercy "

As Lezanne Kgori made her way through the cabin of an aircraft to do a regular check up on her passengers during a flight earlier this year, she stopped at a male passenger who looked deathly ill.

Kgori was concerned the symptoms pointed to the Ebola virus. This would be a medical emergency unlike anything Kgori had dealt with in her 12 years as a flight attendant for SA Airways (SAA).

As the head of the cabin crew on that flight, Kgori had to take the lead and deal with the situation.

“I remained calm and made sure my team remained calm as they had had also never experienced such a medical emergency. I had to pay attention to the passengers so the situation would not get out of control,” she said.

Fortunately, it turned out to be an Ebola scare, nothing more, but Kgori and her team had managed to identify the problem, keep the passenger calm and comfortable and not create risk of spreading infection or undue panic among the rest of the passengers.

Being able to manage medical risks is essential for cabin crew members in all major airlines. For South Africa’s national airline it meant life or death when last year they managed to save the lives of five passengers who went into cardiac arrest during flights. On average, SAA experiences one death on board its planes each year.

Recently, a passenger was brought back to life after going into cardiac arrest during a flight to Frankfurt. With the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), which has been part of on-board medical equipment on every SAA plane since 2009, the man was brought back to life and stabilised by cabin crew by the time they landed at Frankfurt airport.

While all aircraft have to be equipped with a first-aid kit, a medical kit, and a universal precaution kit as a minimum requirement of the Civil Aviation Authority, SAA aircraft have opted to include a state-of-the-art automated external defibrillator on board all flights. This is in addition to extra medical kits to deal with almost any medical emergency.

In preparation, the carrier trains its cabin crew to deal with everything from minor headaches to strokes and heart attacks.

Cabin crew must also undergo intensive first-aid training to become certified flight attendants.

In fact, the first task that an SAA cabin crew trainee has to undergo is first aid and safety training.

SAA’s first-aid training is headed by Sister Linda Horn, who has been with the airline for 25 years.

The airline’s first-aid training centre, which is located at SAA Airways Park in Kempton Park, is registered with the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa Training Centre and follows its guidelines and protocols.

Horn said: “One has to understand that the cabin crew do far more than just serve food and drinks to passengers. They are actually lifesavers on board. They make sure you are safe and comfortable at all times.”

The first-aid training that all cabin crew members undergo is regulated by the CAA.

“All cabin crew must be trained in first aid, over and above all other safety aspects,” said Horn.

“Initially, when we recruit them, this is the first training they undergo.

“They cannot fly if they do not have first aid or safety training.”

Aside from learning how to deal with medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, and deep vein thromboses, cabin crew are also taught how to deliver babies.

In the national carrier’s history, two passengers gave birth while on board.

“We had a birth on board one of our flights to New York in 2013; that was our second birth in the history of SAA,” said Horn.

“As an airline we would not have allowed the woman to fly if we had known she was at an advanced stage. However, it was a case of her concealing her pregnancy. Safe to say, the cabin crew did a perfect job of delivering the baby.

“Sometimes really complicated medical emergencies arise, which require help. So if there is a doctor on board, they will get his or her help,” Horn added.

If there are no doctors on board and the cabin crew need assistance, they can make use of SAA’s chief medical officer, who is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Via a satellite communication call, the cabin crew can call our chief medical officer on ground to assist them with whatever advice they require.”

Sonja Muller, who has been a flight attendant with SAA for the last six years, said cabin crew members monitor passengers from the time they step on the plane till they land.

“As customers board we start assessing them, and if someone looks a bit ill or looks nervous about flying, we pay special attention to them throughout the flight.

“We also check the passenger list to see if any doctors are on board if we require any help from them.”

Khensani Nyembe, who has also been a cabin crew member for SAA for the past four years, said: “We don’t get signed off unless we have covered all our bases and know everything.”

They are also taught how to deal with drunk and disorderly passengers.

“We have a very tactful way of dealing with drunk people,” said Muller.

“We monitor how much alcohol we give our passengers, and if they have had too much we politely ask them if they would like a cup of coffee or water.

“If they are disruptive we make them aware that it is affecting other passengers, and if they continue to act in a disruptive manner, we alert the captain, who then makes the decision on what steps to take and whether to hand the person over to authorities once we land.”

The cabin crew, including the pilots, undergo refresher courses on managing disruptive passengers and medical emergencies.

“Each year for five days the cabin crew attend safety and first-aid refresher courses to sharpen their skills,” said Horn. “We are aligned with the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa school, and when the council has their yearly meeting with nurses, doctors and paramedics, they use SAA crew members as examples of automated external defibrillator achievements.

“The airline has saved the most lives using AEDs.”

Source - IOL News

Flybubai FZ981 ~ The Reveals of an Argument and Panic in the Cockpit Before the Nosedive

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 3 Apr 2016 09:08:00 GMT

An unfortunate day in the history of Flydubai FZ981

The Flydubai FZ981 crash in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, could have been followed the pilots failure to manage the landing after taking control of the system, media reveal citing flight data. The final minutes are said to have been full of arguments and screams of terror.

Now that decoding of the flight data recorders of the crashed Boeing is complete, an unusual source told Russian daily Kommersant the investaigation as the probable cause.

it appears that while trying to gain altitude after an unsuccessful landing attempt in bad weather, one of the pilots pulled the control stick up too much, causing a stall break and an uncontrollable nosedive.

The Interstate Aviation Committee believes that the official results of the decoding will be made public within a week or two.
Meanwhile, according to Kommersant's sources, the recorder revealed that flight FZ981 had made two attempts to land in automatic mode, and since a veering squall wind hampered the second attempt, the pilot decided to make a third approach for landing in manual mode.

One of the pilots pressed the TOGA ( Take off, Go around) button and turned off the autopilot, as per source.
Anonymous experts Kommersant talked to beleive the pilot did not manage the diving rudder and horizontal stabilizer, which steers the plane in opposite dierctions - down and up, respectively.

When the pilot pulled up, he put both the rudder and stabilizer in a sharp climb mode, somewhat fighter-jet style, plus enacted the TOGA regime's retracted flaps, decreasing ascending force. As a result, the aircraft lost speed and got into the beyond-stall angle of approach. All this led to an uncontrollable dive, experts believe.

At the moment, the voice recorder is said to have registered a conflict between pilots. The pilot that tried to force the aircraft to gain altitude apparently turned the engines to powerful take-off mode, forcing the aircraft to continue its climb.

The other pilot believed the situation was dangerous and apparently did the opposite: he pushed his own control over to bring the Boeing's nose down and prevent the sweeping up, while yelling at his colleague to stop doing it that way.

" Wait! Where are you flying? Stop! Stop!" a voice on the recorder reportedly yelled.

The pilots' contrary actions caused the controls of the aircraft to " Split ": the Boeing 737's onboard computer was receiving mutually-exclusive commands from the two controls, which are usually operated synchronously. This rendered the plane out of control.

when they felt plummeting sensation, the crew coordinated their actions, but it was already too late. The Boeing 737 - 800 was roaring at 325kph downward at an angle of about 45 degrees. It burst into flames upon collision with the ground, killing all 62 people on board.

During the last seconds before the collision both were screaming with terror, Kommersant reports.

As per investigation reports of Russia's Investigative Committee, they have named pilot error or technical failure as the prime theories as the cause of Flydubai's Boeing 737-800 crash in Rostov-on-Don on March 19.
It is unclear from the recording which pilot was doing what, Kommersant notes. At first the investigators even believed that only one man was speaking the whole time. Now, to identify the voices of the deceased pilots, the expertise of their former colleagues and even relatives may be needed.

Source - Aerospace UK

Farai Sevenzo ~ How secure are Africa's airports? Letter from Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Sun, 3 Apr 2016 05:32:00 GMT

Waiting to check-in at the Airport

The age of anxiety is upon us: We may move across any metropolis in the 21st Century with that nagging feeling of doom, wondering where next a terror attack may come.

Africans are increasingly encountering this anxious age at home and abroad - what would Brussels and Paris be without their Africans?

Insane calculations have already concluded that small family hotels in Burkina Faso or beach fronts in Ivory Coast are legitimate terror targets because once upon a time, in the days of colonies, they were a part of France - and France, as we know, has found herself in the front line recently.

It is not just Francophone Africa that is a target - the random violence has hit universities, buses, football bars, markets, churches and mosques West and East Africa - everyday social situations where human beings thrive and interact.

These recurring incidents in African cities are a ringing alarm that all African states simply have to up their security game.

The African people live in a state of Vulnerability

In reality, every African capital may become a target, regardless of their religious affiliations.

Aeroplanes themselves, no matter how rigorous the security, can be hijacked by lone militants or pining lovers - as an Egyptian man so recently demonstrated when he took over a domestic flight to land in Cyprus.

And we know from recent history, that aeroplanes have been used as weapons of destruction.

There are several glittering new airports across Africa these days, and we long for the cost of inter-city connections to drop so we can holiday in Accra as easily as we fly to Atlanta.

Stamping out corruption

But the airport tragedy in Brussels raises questions on security for Africa's aviation ports, not least for Nigeria and Kenya, where Islamist insurgents are a constant presence.

The Nigerian newspaper This Day reported very recently how travellers thought placing mugshots of Boko Haram militant suspects around local airports was ineffective and that the underlying problem for a secure airport was about stamping out corruption amongst airport security.

You know the story at some African airports: You are a traveller who likes to live on the edge of the clock; you are late for your flight; you get rid of the last of your change in any currency by handing it over to a man or a woman in uniform, who in turn promises to get your suitcase on the plane and to wave you through the VIP check-in with minimum fuss.

You watch your luggage go through the carousel without hindrance from man or X-ray machine; you get to the departure lounge in time to purchase a duty-free single malt. You depart.

And for thousands of travellers who would not stoop so low as to bribe their way to a convenient and easy departure, the picture may be the same - with small but serious variations.

You are on time but cannot move past the throng of travellers caught up in a bottleneck in front of three or four security personnel, who, to supplement their meagre wages, are trying to extort the change you do not have.

You may have already made it to the check-in desk, but an official has seen fit to question the validity of your passport and simply disappeared with it, leaving the obvious implication that you must pay something in order to see it again.

You eventually see your luggage being carried through by a porter because the baggage carousel is not moving, nor is the X-ray machine blinking with its usual invasive intrusions because both machines are suffering from a lack of electricity in that part of the building.

You are afraid of dogs, but stand by as they sniff your case. Yet the sniffer dogs are trained for drugs, not explosives, and you may wonder which one of your fellow passengers knows this for a fact.

You hear a commotion behind you as a woman wails that her purse has been stolen and tell yourself that only a foolish thief would steal at an airport where close-circuit television catches your every move - and then notice that this particular airport is in the process of installing cameras and that the thief was lucky.

And so the anxiety rises.

Aviation security expert Adebayo Babatunde told This Day that the most potent weapon against terror was intelligence - and called for the sharing of intelligence across airports and across nations.

"We must follow international security procedures, there should be no compromises. If a bag is unattended, remove it and destroy it and governments should urgently acquire explosive detection systems," he added.

The world this year is already smaller than it was last year - we move around in greater numbers legally and illegally.

We must rely ever more on our instincts as travellers, and must embrace suspicion.

" There's many an African youth who has loads knowledge and talent and yet finds it difficult to get a job in the aviation industry. it is about time young talent is hired so that new ideas are thought about and put into effect. There so much potential in Africa, it is a pit to see the continent bleed ".

Am sure every African wants to be successful and have a good life.

The obvious question is : Who will take the step to bring about the changes to present scenario in African?

Source : BBC News

Sabre ~ The Evolution to Customer-Centric Airline Retailing

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 07:19:00 GMT

Sabre Airline Solutions ~ Brand differentiation and customer-centric sales and loyalty growth

Create Profitable Revenue While Earning True Loyalty

Sabre Airline Solutions has released a new whitepaper highlighting the business challenges faced by airlines in the areas of customer data, personalization, and retailing. Brand differentiation and customer-centric sales and service are becoming increasingly strategic areas for leading airlines due to their market share and profit potential. In the whitepaper, Sabre discusses the unique complexities in the industry, analyzes new findings about revenue potential and loyalty growth, and discusses possible solutions to these problems.

Carriers are in a highly transformative period in which they are migrating rapidly to airline retailing, which involves moving from a more operationally driven model to one of putting customer centricity in its rightful place as the key to sales and service success. To more fully realize the advantages of a customer-centric retailing approach (improved customer experience, increased product sales and greatly improved product margins), market leaders are emerging with a retailing maturity model and early proof points that a migration to a customer-centric retailing approach opens a wealth of opportunities.

The idea behind the customer-centric retailing platform is to help carriers successfully manage the complex data sets and integration of information, along with the numerous operational hurdles, such that airlines can quite properly focus on the customer, not on the technology platform. The optimal technology needs have been discussed throughout this piece, along with the business case for the value of the platform being greater than the sum of the parts. However, there is more to the story than simply the innovations in technology. Airlines must be prepared to define their strategy, empower their teams, evolve their culture and adopt best practices for Customer-Centric Retailing enable them to lead the market.

Foundational Steps to Customer-Centric Retailing includes the areas of data, analytics and personalization

A maturity model has been adopted that defines most of the core steps that an organization should achieve before they are able to move to the next echelon of retailing maturity. Many of the foundational steps to Customer-Centric Retailing are already within the current or future investment plans for many airlines. The new frontier, however, includes the areas of data, analytics and personalization. These are not only new technologies for some airlines, but new functional areas altogether. New roles under the CIO and CMO are forming in the areas of data science, omni-channel, mobile retailing, database analytics, consumer behavior and many others.

Customer data is the foundation but not the true value. Rather, customer data must be gleaned to produce true customer insights at the next level and then finally these customer insights are used to enhance the customer experience from not just a day-of-travel perspective but potentially over the life of the journey. The investment in customer data and personalization is a vital necessity in the process of moving forward in airline retailing. It sets up a mindset shift from revenue per seat to revenue per customer and is the foundational element upon which airlines will build their retailing business. Once the foundation is in place, airlines who have adopted Customer-Centric Retailing will begin to pull away from their competitors, taking with them more profitable, loyal customers with no interest in turning back.

Source - Sabre

IATA, Nigeria Partner on Air Safety in Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Wed, 2 Mar 2016 16:48:00 GMT

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Nigeria plan new measures to enhance air safety in Africa.

This is in line with decisions reached by African transport ministers in 2012 to improve safety in the continent’s skies.

Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director-General Captain Muhtar Usman and IATA’s Regional Director, Safety and Flight Operations, Africa and Middle East, Tanja Grobotek, made the promise after a meeting in Abuja last weekend.

Usman described the endorsement of the African Union’s Abuja Declaration as one of the most significant steps taken to boost safety and development of avaiation on the continent.

He said the industry would achieve much if all players contributed to sustain initiatives geared towards improving air safety.

“Nigeria is committed to supporting its implementation across the sub-Saharan Africa through developing new strategies that will see the recent gains on Africa’s safety record sustained and even improved,” he added.

Since the Abuja Declaration’s adoption in 2012, Africa’s safety performance, he said, had improved significantly.

Besides these important and valuable gains, Africa still accounts for the highest accident rate.

“African safety is moving in the right direction, thanks to the work done by a number of African nations, including Nigeria, who have worked hard to raise awareness of the importance of implementing the Abuja Declaration,” Grobotek said.

“In 2015, we saw safety on the continent improve compared to the five-year accident rate for both jet and turboprop hull losses. Nevertheless, the challenges of bringing Africa in line with global performance remain,” she explained.

He continued: ” IATA remains focused on its commitment to actively contribute its expertise and resources to help African nations implement the standards outlined in the Abuja Declaration.

‘’One such area is the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a proven tool for raising safety. IATA has worked with a number of airlines in Africa to bring them onto the IOSA registry. Eleven have joined since the Abuja Declaration was signed, which means 31 airlines from sub-Saharan Africa now benefit from this rigorous safety audit.”

Another issue that was discussed at the meeting was the need for African Governments to accelerate the implementation of ICAO’s safety-related standards and recommended practices (SARPS), according to the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP).

The NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to improve on the effective implementation of the SARPS by the end of the year. As at the end of January, only 21 African states had accomplished at least 60 per cent of implementation of the SARPS.

Source - IATA

Rwand Air ~ African Airline Spreads It's Wings... Again!! Pride of East Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:42:00 GMT

RwandAir Spreading It's Wings

RwandAir, one of Africa's fastest-growing airlines with the arguably youngest fleet on the continent, is set to spread its wings even further this year.

The Airline sources have confirmed that following the delivery of RwandAir's first Airbus A330-200 in September, a third Boeing B737-800NG will join the fleet in October.

A second Airbus A330, a larger -300 variant, is then expected to be delivered in November this year, before a fourth Boeing B737-800NG delivery in May 2017 will then complete the present orders.

At that stage, RwandAir's fleet will have grown to 12 aircraft, though knowing the airline, this will only be an intermediate stage for further growth.

Rwanda's national airline presently flies from its hub, Kigali - the airport is presently constructing a separate taxiway to allow for more flights - across the continent and beyond with destinations like Kamembe, its presently only domestic destination, Dubai, Lusaka and Johannesburg, Entebbe, Juba, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Brazzaville, Libreville, Douala, Lagos and Accra. Six more destinations are on the drawing board, led by Mumbai which is due to be served via Dar es Salaam but subject to traffic rights from the Tanzanian government being granted.

It is understood that the Rwandan government is exploring cooperation with the intent of creating a strategic partnership, and talks have been confirmed to go on with Ethiopian Airlines. RwandAir already works with Ethiopian in regard to pilot and engineering staff training at ET's aviation academy in Addis Ababa, and has maintenance agreements in place under which part of the RwandAir fleet is being serviced in Addis Ababa at the Ethiopian Airlines Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.

In a related development, it was also ascertained that the airline is due to have its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification renewed by February 29 which very likely will already include the enhanced audit version under International Air Transport Association’s (IATA's) e-IOSA certification scheme, which would make RwandAir one of the first African airlines to accomplish that milestone step.

Source ~ Airline News

African Air Trade Set to Double as Liberalisation Nears

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 09:35:00 GMT

African carriers, such as SAA Cargo stand to benefit from the liberalization deal.

After years of stagnation, it appears that liberalization of the skies over Africa may finally be within reach, perhaps as early as next year, according to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

The aviation lobbying group said that significant progress has been made on cross-border inter-connectivity among many African nations, which could have a profound impact on inter-regional air trade.

Mr. Elijah Chingosho, secretary general of AFRAA, said Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe had pledged to finally implement the Yamoussoukro Declaration, paving the way for other African states to follow suit.

The Yamoussoukro agreement would remove the web of bilateral restrictions on international air trade across the continent and establish a single air market in Africa. Yamoussoukro was passed back in 1999, but was never ratified by all member nations.

"We are likely to achieve the target of having a single African air transport market by the end of January 2017," Mr. Chingosho said. Should each of the nations follow through on the agreement, the Yamoussoukro Declaration would cover about 85 percent of Africa’s air traffic.

Full liberalization would mean that airlines based in Africa will be free to fly, without restrictions, to as many other African countries as they wish, achieving for air freight in Africa what Open Skies has done for passenger aviation globally.

Mr. Chingosho said implementation of the agreement could double the size of the air industry in the next five years.

The final hurdle will be to convince those nations with poorly performing airlines to stop the common practice of imposing highly restrictive tariffs on foreign carriers to protect their assets.

"Some of these inefficient airlines lobby their governments not to allow competition from other African airlines," Mr. Chingosho said.

AFRAA has stepped up its efforts to convince these governments that free competition is better for everyone because it encourages and rewards innovation.

Africa desperately needs fully liberalized skies to become competitive with the rest of the world.

According to AFRAA, there are a total of approximately 760 commercial aircraft currently being operated by all Africa-based carriers, representing less than 3 percent of global aviation revenue.

In essence then, Africa’s combined fleet is only about half the size of the fleet of the world’s largest airline by number of aircraft, American Airlines, which operates nearly 1,500 planes.

Source ~ Arabian Supply Chain

Enhancing Aviation Safety Throughout Africa With The Use of Solar Aviation Lighting ~ Avlite Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 11:46:00 GMT

AV 70 RF Taxiway Lights

Solar aviation lighting products are much cheaper compared to deploying traditional hardwire lighting products. Avlite’s solar powered lighting products don’t require cabling, and need minimal maintenance, thus lowering the total cost of ownership. " Said Mr. Victor Saenz Denis ".

Mr. Denis, Business Development Manager for Avlite Systems, an Australian based Navigational Aid company, told News Ghana in an interview if our lighting system were installed on a number of runways and taxiways across the continent it would enhance the safety of airport operations, providing access for night flight operations, supply drops or even medivacs in emergency situations.

He said, “There is a great lack of funding for the airports. Utilising solar airfield lighting can reduce overall project cost and allow for additional resources to be spent on further runway lighting or taxiways upgrades.”

The dangers of unreliable runway lighting poses major safety concerns to the aviation industry, Denis emphasized, and Avlite Systems is working hard to change that, we’re working with small airports operators to larger international airports to enhance the safety of their airside operations.

The Avlite Systems Business Development Manager emphasized modern trends in the industry required systems that depend less on human involvement.

He warned, “The more complex your system is, the more maintenance you need for your system,” and suggested “you either have a really reliable maintenance team to keep your things maintained or you look for equipment with low maintenance so you run less risk of human failure.”

Mr. Denis urged operators to look for solutions that will allow airports to lower operating costs and explains the benefits involved in deploying solar powered solutions in lighting runways.

AV 425 Threshold Lighting Dili TIMOR

Installing a solar powered lighting solution reduces installation time and the associated costs, our products are rapidly deployable and being powered by the earths most abundant energy source the sun so virtually eliminating energy bills.

We have an expert team that is available to provide planning advice and assist with airfield layout, design and consultation so we urge you to speak with our team for the right advice obligation free.
Avlite Systems is a technology leader in the design and production of solar-powered aviation lighting equipment.

The company is currently working in all continents and in Africa, Avlite has deployed their lights in Mauritania, Somalia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Avlite solution is a fully International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) compliant.

Source ~ News Ghana

Starbow and AWA receive IATA - IOSA Certification

noreply@blogger.com (Irene Geraldo) — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 14:41:00 GMT

Starbow Airline

Africa World Airline

The two operational domestic airlines in the country, Starbow and Africa World Airliners (AWA), have received the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate -- a measure of the sound safety, management and quality control systems of the two operators.

The IOSA is the benchmark for global safety management in airlines. All IATA members are registered and must remain registered in order to maintain IATA membership.

About 24 airlines operate within the West African sub-region with a relatively young population of about 300 million. However, though operational efficiency and safety is high among various airlines in Ghana and the sub-region, just five airlines are IATA-certified.

Aside from the two Ghanaian carriers, Nigerian airlines Arik and Aero, and Lomé-based Asky Airlines are the other IOSA certified airlines.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — the global trade association for the airline industry with over 250 member-airlines which comprise 84% of total air transport — the IOSA programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.

The attainment of IOSA certification means that indigenous carriers can now compete favourably with their peers in the sub-region for big-ticket international-organisation clients.

It will also make it possible for them — Starbow and AWA — to enter into commercial agreements with foreign carriers like KLM, Lufthansa, BA, Tap Portugal, Emirates and others to handle passengers travelling on itineraries that require multiple airlines.

For instance, passengers travelling from Frankfurt in Germany to Kumasi via Accra or from London to Takoradi through Accra. Domestic carriers can partner foreign airlines to operate the domestic end of such travellers’ itineraries.

“We intend to deepen our partnership with South African Airways (SAA) given the attainment of IOSA certification. One of the things that was preventing us from doing the code share was getting this IOSA certificate. So once we have it, we are working at deepening it so we have a better code share,” said Samuel Thompson, Chief Operations Officer of AWA.

“Our current fleet is not very suitable for the regional flights so we are looking at getting something bigger, like a medium-haul aircraft with a seat range of about 120-160, then we will start doing Lagos, Abuja, Monrovia and Freetown. We will still do what we are doing and improve on our safety, management systems, and our quality management systems,” he added.

Mr. Eric Antwi, the Chief Executive Officer of Starbow — whose company received its IOSA certificate in September 2015, noted that: “When this is through it will increase our business with other airline service providers who will give us passengers and vice versa.

“We are happy to be among the listed airlines which include major intercontinental and regional carriers that have successfully gone through this rigorous auditing process.”

The IOSA certification audit is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline, with emphasis on universally accepted best practices in the Airline industry.

IOSA uses internationally recognised audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner.

Source:Business and Financial Times