For The Win-Win
The reassuring clime of recovery and renewed growth post-recession is pervasive in the aviation industry. And more than ever, as some are now wont to say, the industry in Africa currently requires vibrant leadership to drive a corresponding growth in all the aviation sub-sectors. And achieving this is a key challenge.

Thus, when Ministers, leaders, experts and other delegates gathered in Gaborone, Botswana, from August 29 to 31, 2010, for the 16th edition of the annual Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference, many could already foretell the outcome of the customarily exhaustive and catalytic deliberations, having been primed by the declarative bearing of the Conference theme, Air Transport In Africa: The Challenge Of Leadership. In other words, delegates beforehand tacitly acquiesced to the need for leadership improvement for the industry on the continent and, therefore, were enthusiastic to inject new verve in L-R: Hon. Erkki Nghimtina, Min. of Works & Transport, Namibia; Hon. Frank Ramsden, Min. of Transport & Communications, Botswana; Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe, Vice President, Botswana; Capt. Edward Boyo, Publisher, Aviation & Allied Business Journal and Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Hon. Min. of Aviation, Nigeria, at the 16th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference in Gaborone, Botswana, recentlythe leadership of the air transport industry in Africa, which regrettably has increasingly not been as efficient and effective as it should be over the years. Africa needs innovative leaders for now and the future. In this positive stance, however, little did most delegates anticipate that the Conference would come up with such other resolutions that could precipitate the needed watershed in Africa's more-than-twenty-year-quest for liberalization through the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), Africa's hallowed change agent, which has ironically been put in abeyance by big and small African States alike. But (not surprisingly), the 16th Leadership Conference produced yet what could be the best foot forward on the YD. Recognizing the lingering dismay which begot the general lip-service that at best describes the predominant response of Sates to implementation of the YD over the years, the Conference remarkably proposed a review of the YD with the aim of producing a New Yamoussoukro Decision (NYD) with an innovative approach to current issues, but with the same objective and benefits for Africa. This proposed re-synthesis of the YD, suggested to be driven by the African Union (AU) apparatus, would exscind the out-dated components of the YD put together about twenty years ago, and essentially reconcile the NYD with current industry realities, and perhaps, make the NYD future-based also. This is one monumental score-point for the 16th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference in Gaborone. States and industry partners may now articulate the drawbacks facing the current YD and sincerely harmonize an agreeable and practicable roadplan for the NYD, while the AU, nay other role player groups including African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), African Airlines Association (AFRAA), among others, would evince more effective leadership towards actualizing the NYD that re-connects with the prevalent issues in Africa's air transport industry at present. It has become essential that the YD be born again to be able to fulfill its objectives for air transport in Africa and this requires immediate action.

For Mr. Ceubah Guelpina, the President of AFCAC, the Executing Agency of the YD, AFCAC is striving to ensure that the aims of the YD are achieved in a short time. What he may want to also consider now is working with key African continental organizations to evolve a version of the YD (NYD) which would be more acceptable and which will largely address the discomforts that have held back even so-called large States from totally implementing the YD. And of course, the support of ICAO, Aviation & Allied Business, among other partners as was repeatedly sought at the Conference in Gaborone, can only run on the back of a well-founded and sincerely accepted (N)YD. Mr. Geoffery Moshabesha, Regional Director of ICAO for East and Southern Africa, says ICAO is willing to work with the leadership in Africa. On that score, the change in aviation leadership is an industry priority now for Africa.

But while effective liberalization of African skies is being vigorously pursued as a noble cause in Africa, it should also be realized that this would come with a huge safety demand, as more airline and aviation activities would ensue. Mr. Raymond Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General, emphasizes a proactive approach to managing safety in Africa. He says the Continuous Monitoring Approach is essential to drive safety going forward from the end of the Universal Safety Oversight Programme (USOAP) of ICAO. With all the efforts on safety, he says "we need to back these up with political will…" adding that "we must come together to get the leadership in Africa that can grow air transport." This is most agreeable as it is an effective way to achieve a sustainable improved safety regime in Africa's air transport system.

Political Will
Beyond safety, aviation policy frameworks, financing and infrastructure build-up, all require political support which the industry has earnestly asked for over the years. The Conference in Gaborone, helped open governments' perspectives to aviation development, using a Ministerial session in which ministers and leaders of African continental groupings including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Union (AU) and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) revealed current viewpoints of the various governments and organizations. This balanced up with the private sector viewpoints elaborately delivered by most of the seventeen speakers fitted out in six sessions divided among policy, airlines, airports, safety and security, capacity building as well as aviation financing. From the government angle, there appears to be a certain readiness to uplift air transport, from the relatively smaller landlocked States to the large and populous States which were all represented at the highest levels at the Conference.

Vice President Mompati Merafhe of Botswana believes a tranquil atmosphere is essential to produce innovative ideas for air transport growth, as he adds that a shared vision is vital among an equally re-orientated leadership for Africa's air transport. What this implies is that Africa needs to develop strong unified position on industry issues and work closely to address common problems in all areas in both public and private sectors of the aviation industry. The Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, thinks it vital for government to support African airlines currently under-going severe turbulence. She says Nigeria recently set aside a N300 billion bail-out fund to help Nigerian airlines shore up their operations. The coun-try, she says, had already set increased capital base for opera-tors in a marked policy inter-vention a few years ago, having equally re-viewed aviation laws to domesticate the Cape Town Convention in Nigeria's legal system and grant the CAA most needed autonomy. The political support enabled the Nigerian CAA led by Dr. Harold Demuren to clinch the coveted US FAA Category 1 in August 2010, thus projecting Nigeria as one of the safe countries in the world in terms of aviation by US nay ICAO standards. In line with Nigeria's support to airlines, Mozambique, whose Transport Minister, Mr. Paulo Zucula, was also in Gaborone for the Conference, is upbeat to renew fleet for the LAM Mozambique using the Embrears for regional efficiency. Moreover, Botswana, as one of the most vibrant economies in Africa, realizes the essence of aviation to its landlocked area, and is fast-tracking expansion of the Seretse Khama International Airport where Air Botswana, Kenya Airways, South African Express and South African Airways are looking forward to increased activities, to be joined, perhaps, by the likes of Ethiopian and other regional and international carriers. Hon. Frank Ramsden, Botswana Minister of Trans-port and Communi-cation, says the power of air transport must be exploited in Africa, and Botswana is beginning by liberalizing the local airline industry - a step towards the YD, as Botswana is already establishing open skies with a number of States in Africa. Some believe this is one of the several examples of gradual liberalization (cautious YD implementation) across Africa.

Hon. Mike Hammah, Ghana's Aviation Minister, wants transformational leadership for Africa. He says States need to achieve safety improvements, as he thinks seriously of re-capturing the US FAA Category 1 status to bolster Ghana's safety profile and enhance aviation-based interactions with the US. This was shared by many who opine even further that the renewed Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) is a platform to improve Africa-US business, economy and air transport exchanges.

For Hon. Erkki Nghimtina, the Namibian Transport Minister, "we need to build-up the critical mass of aviation experts" to drive the industry." While this is not disputable, the political will to revive and align training institutions in Africa with current industry needs can only be provided through innovative leadership that recognizes the import of strong political will in pushing air transport development for Africa. Hon. Sibusiso Ndebele, represented by Ms. Lerato Molebatsi, an Adviser to the Minister, wants infrastructure renewal for Africa, while saying that leaders must partner for industry growth. Leadership must bring regions in Africa together, he equally submits.

And in furtherance of such partnership, the United Nations Economic Commission fro Africa (UNECA), represented by Ms. Jennifer Kargbo, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNECA, says UNECA and AU will continue to facilitate travel within Africa, a view shared by Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the AU. Mr. Jonathan Majakwara, Safety & Development Manager of the Southern African Development Cooperation  (SADC), says visa restrictions need be removed within Africa to encourage growth  in trade and airline operation; while Mr. Meshesha Belayneh, CEO of CAA Botswana, wants the removal of lingering protectionist policies which have kept many regions in Africa under-serviced by air transport and thus retarded their economic growth. In order to identify the sources of resources for faster air transport development in Africa, and as a way of unblocking the blockages on the path of aviation growth and development in Africa, NEPAD is repositioning and creating new partnerships to reach its goals. Dr. Ibrahim Asane Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD, represented at the Conference in Gaborone by Dr. John Tambi, NEPAD's Infrastructure Expert, says Africa should understudy other regions that have successfully addressed the aviation challenges also facing Africa in order to adopt such measures that brought success in those regions. This is in addition to NEPAD's drive to catalyse infrastructure development in Africa.

As a mark of the new beginning of this cooperation and coordination in Africa, AFCAC and NEPAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing aviation training in the industry in Africa, among others. Denel Centre for Aviation Training is expected to play a key role in providing training under the new agreement. This is the sure way to gradually over-come man-power challenges in Africa, and should be replicated among more partners in Africa.

Delegates believe governments should be better informed by their air transport advisers on the critical needs of the industry to facilitate appropriate action, insisting that only competent professionals should occupy such key positions as help to determine government respon-siveness to aviation challenges. Importantly, the Conference provided the Platform for intimate synthesis and juxtaposition of viewpoints of public and private air transport sectors in a manner expected to have reduced the gap in understanding between government and the private sector on air transport.

Beyond this, what is also important is that the key aviation-based institutions in Africa need to strengthen their capacities and ably play the new tasking roles expected of them in the industry, including elimination of visa restrictions and facilitation of new technology-based security enhancements for easy travel.
What is expected now is the effect of these close interactions on Africa's air transport system in general. Essentially, the expected renewed leadership of government, continental institutions and the private sector should re-enforce one another to deliver improved aviation for Africa.

Personnel Gap
Another key development in Gaborone was the proposition for an African Aviation Professionals Association to check the worsening depletion of core personnel in the industry in Africa, and equally unstop the build-up of these professionals in Africa. Capt. Haile Belai, Chief, ACIP, who is lead proponent of this idea, insists that the Association is critical as an internal response to manpower challenge in Africa. US-based Dr. Sheryl Walters-Malcolm says a professional association would enhance networking and sharing of personnel information on a social platform especially online and this would link up the diaspora.

The proposal for this Association is part of renewed efforts to firm up training and personnel capacity for aviation in Africa. Already, ICAO'S AFI Plan Comprehensive Implementation Programme (ACIP) is leading aviation training renewal in Africa and is calling for States and all industry partners to join the fresh quest to revive Africa's air transport training framework. The consensus at the Conference that competent leadership drives every other aspects of the air transport industry including personnel development and technology only emphasizes the need to establish a robust stream of personnel inflow while renewed efforts should be made towards developing and empowering more leaders at various levels in the industry.

This is essential, for instance, as African airlines are at various stages of fleet renewal and other development programmes. Mr. Santos Miguel, Boeing's Sales VP for Africa, says renewed leadership is important to ensure airlines make necessary decisions concerning their fleet.

While Airbus' marketing Director for Africa, Mr. Joep Ellers, who encouraged airlines to leverage on new technology aircraft, hints that aircraft manufacturers are more disposed to doing business with even smaller airlines including those in Africa, this provides an opportunity to realign the leadership among African airlines to exploit such openings. Further, regional market players, Embraer and ATR, at the Conference, come up with strong and tempting propositions on the benefits of adopting the right aircraft on the right sectors. But what is essential is that these manufacturers have made commendable efforts to provide Africa with efficient airplanes; and airlines need the right leadership to drive innovative aircraft acquisition and fleet mix, while governments must come up with appropriate leadership to sustain stable and attractive environment for operators and their financiers to engage in reduced-risk businesses in Africa.

Besides the airlines and financiers, and in the quest for fleet and infrastructure renewal, it is important to step up financing support from within Africa, as Allan Boshwaen, CEO of Botswana IFSC, says. In fact, many agree that it is time to have home-grown financing capacity to bolster air transport development in Africa. Using Botswana as an example, he says a flourishing economy is certain to attract finance and aviation activities, adding that Botswana grew from a per capita of about $1000 at independence in 1966 to about $7500 in 2008 which is good for air transport development. This also empowers citizens to afford the choice of air travel. Building on collective strength, the aviation industry can overcome most of its current challenges. Working together is the greatest tact the industry can deploy in the face of leadership challenges, and this can be done on regional or other bases as deemed most impactful. In this light, Mr. Tsepo Peege, South Africa's representative on ICAO Council, adds that Africa should embrace such policies that have produced the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO) in West Africa.

Highlights Supporting Change
As a partner to Aviation & Allied Business Journal which organized the 16th Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, Grand Palm Resort, Gaborone, the Government of Botswana ensured that delegates produced innovative resolutions in Gaborone under a serene and pleasant environment.

Delegates also savoured the sights and sounds of Gaborone with its business openings. And as some say, repeat visits to the burgeoning city and economically vibrant, corruption-unfriendly Southern African country should be expected. As the industry awaits the announcement of the host for next year's Conference, Gaborone would be in history as one city that hosted high-level government and industry representatives who sought to create the watershed in aviation development in Africa by galvanizing change in leadership in air transport in Africa.

Ready For The Future
Just after the Conference, IATA announced a projected $8.5 billion profit for global airlines for 2010 up from a previous $2.5billion. Though IATA expects this figure to drop to $5.3billion in 2011, what this implies is that industry is maintaining its growth and, therefore, provides ample opportunity to be exploited by those that are ready with the right leadership. And, as Mr. Peege says: "It takes leadership for the aviation industry to advance appropriately."

End