Software to improve air safety

Johannesburg, 09 Apr 2008

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is campaigning to improve air safety over Africa and is punting software as part of the solution.

"African safety has improved, but the accident rate is still nearly six times the global average. This must change. IATA is serious about delivering results that will raise the bar on aviation safety," says IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani. He was speaking yesterday at the opening of a two-day IATA event in Lagos, Nigeria.

Under a new multimillion-dollar programme, IATA will give up to 30 African airlines access to IATA's Flight Data Analysis (FDA) tool over a three-year period.

FDA offers airlines the capability to statistically analyse flight data to improve procedures and monitor compliance. It also brings critical insight to aircraft maintainers by using data to monitor engine condition trends and aircraft fuel usage, Bisignani says.

"This is a $3.7 million programme that follows on the $5.4 million that we have already committed to improve safety in this region," says Bisignani of the Implementation Programme for Safe Operations in Africa (IPSOA).

"IPSOA is a partnership to improve both safety and efficiency. IATA will provide access to the data, but the airlines must invest to ensure their organisations can take advantage of the programme," adds Bisignani.

Previous measures announced by IATA to safeguard flying over Africa include:

* Improving auditing: Bisignani says several African airlines are still not part of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry, which becomes compulsory at year-end. "Our goal is to have all of our members on board to raise the bar on safety. We will be working with our African members in a special Partnership for Safety Plus programme to bring our members into compliance with IOSA standards by the end of the year," promises Bisignani. He also urged governments to make use of IOSA. "Already Egypt and Madagascar are mandating IOSA as part of their safety oversight programmes. I want to see more African governments follow their lead - including Nigeria."

* Fixing infrastructure: Bisignani highlights two areas of concern. "Despite high user charges, in many parts of Africa infrastructure is poorly funded and not up to international standards. Lack of transparency is a critical issue that is costing lives. IATA supports the creation of special infrastructure fund mechanisms to ensure the money that airlines pay in charges stays in the industry."

* Alleviating the aviation skills shortage: "Airlines are competing in a global market that has a shortage of licensed personnel. To meet projected demand in 2026, we must train 19 000 pilots a year," says Bisignani.

The event, still under way today, also marks the opening of a sub-regional office in the city serving Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia and Cape Verde. With the new office, IATA will expand its Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) to the Nigerian market.

The Nigerian BSP operation will be among the first to be entirely digital in IATA's $220 billion settlement system in that it will use e-ticketing from inception. IATA is phasing out paper tickets at the end of next month.