13 April
2000
The CAA
hosted a workshop for SADC Civil Aviation Authorities in Midrand from 3 - 5
March. The workshop was held in recognition of the importance of working within
a framework of partnerships.
The workshop
was attended by 16 participants from six SADC CAAs - Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Representatives from Air Traffic
Navigation Services (ATNS) and the National Department of Transport (NDOT) also
attended. The workshop created a platform on which SADC CAAs could identify areas
for regional co-operation and agree on appropriate action. Some of the areas
which were identified are the harmonisation of regulations and standards, integration
of airspace, flight calibration and co-operation in accident investigation.
It was acknowledged
that for most technical areas of co-operation, harmonisation of regulations and
standards is inevitable. Joint Aviation Regulations (JARs) were identified as
the solution to harmonised regulations and standards. Another area of concern
was the slow progress in the development of a joint Upper Airspace Control
Center (UACC). It was agreed that the UACC project document would be finalised
in time for adoption at the SADC Civil Aviation Committee meeting in April.
A hotline
for CEOs of the Authorities as well as a regional accident database were
highlighted as critical success factors for improved co-operation in accident
and incident investigations reporting. The CAA agreed to host an accident
investigation seminar in August which will focus on increasing understanding of
accident and incident investigations. The workshop was also appraised of the
CAA flight calibration services available to the SADC region Civil Aviation
Authorities.
"Civil
Aviation Authorities within the SADC region need to work within a framework of
partnerships and to be action oriented, if we are to sustain our participation
in global development of civil aviation," said Mr Trevor Abrahams, CAA
commissioner for ci vil aviation.
Future
meetings will be held annually in November. The Zimbabwe CAA will host the
first meeting in November of this year.
Enquries:
Communications Manager
Jackie Mfeka
telephone number (012) 426 0083 or
cell number 083 635 0019