The available traffic forecast shows that the volume of air traffic worldwide is expected to double between now and 2030. There is therefore a need to develop strategies to ensure sufficient availability of qualified professionals to meet the demand created by the growth of civil aviation from now until the year 2030.

The Special Africa-Indian Ocean Regional Air Navigation meeting (Special AFI RAN 08) held in Durban, South Africa, 24-29 November 2008 discussed among other issues the training strategies for aviation safety in Africa. It identified the harmonization of aviation training framework in Africa as one of the tools to address the challenges related to potential skills shortage in aviation in Africa. The Special AFI RAN 08 recommendation on training strategies for aviation safety in Africa (Recommendation 5/8) called for the organization of Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conferences to serve as the framework for closer cooperation and harmonization of training requirements.

The first Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference was held in Niamey, Niger, in February 2009 and initiated the process of implementing Recommendation 5/8 of Special AFI RAN 08. It also laid the foundation for the development of a framework for closer cooperation and harmonization of training requirements as well as standardization and quality assurance. A follow-up meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa in May 2009 and established the Training Experts Working Group (TEWG). The TEWG conducted a survey on the needs for training from African aviation organizations and the capabilities of African Aviation Training Institutions. It consisted of two separate questionnaires. A first questionnaire was developed to assess the needs for training from civil aviation authorities, airlines, maintenance organizations, airports, air navigation services providers and all other AFI aviation services providers. A second questionnaire requested aviation training institutions to provide information on their capabilities in terms of learning facilities, training aids, instructors and logistic support for students. In addition to the data collected through the questionnaires, on-site missions were conducted to selected key training centres and stakeholders in order to elicit qualitative information relating to training needs and provision (including quality control system and applicable regulatory requirements) and hence, enhance the data already gathered from the questionnaires. By December 2009, the TEWG gathered and analyzed data from 100 aviation organizations and training institutions.

The data collected has shown that the increase in demand for training has not been matched by the availability of classroom facilities, training aids and   qualified instructors at par with the advancements in civil aviation and training technology.

The TEWG also reviewed the existing barriers for harmonization of aviation training in Africa and proposed actions to be taken by States, Training Institutions in Africa and other stakeholders for the harmonization as well as standardization and quality assurance of aviation training in Africa. The TEWG submitted its report to the Second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference, which was held in Cairo, Egypt in June 2010.

The Second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference reviewed the TEWG report and formulated the way forward for a coordinated approach of aviation training in Africa through a closer co-operation between aviation training organizations; harmonization of competency requirements and approval processes of training organizations; and establishment of criteria for mutual recognition of credits, certificates, diplomas, or degrees. The Conference further adopted an action plan detailing the required steps for the implementation of harmonized and standardized training in Africa.

The actions adopted by the Second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference include the creation of an Association of Aviation Training Organizations, the establishment of a Training Advisory Board, the designation of centers of excellence and the adoption of common criteria for mutual recognition of credits, certificates, diplomas, or degrees delivered by aviation training organizations in Africa. The TEWG was mandated by the Second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference to pursue the implementation of the action plan adopted in June 2010.  Since then, the TEWG held its fifth meeting, 07-08 December 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya where it finalized its programme of activities for the implementation of the action plan from the second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference. During the same meeting, the group also identified the tasks (see figure 1)  to  be  carried  for  the implementation of the successful implementation of the action plan of the second Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference and assigned them to sub-groups.

Figure 1: List of tasks to be completed by the TEWG for the implementation of the action plan from the second Pan-African Aviation coordination Conference

The Sixth Meeting of the TEWG is scheduled to be held 01-03 June 2011, in Douala, Cameroon and where the Group is expected to consolidate the reports of the activities of the sub-groups and finalize its preparation of the third Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference. The TEWG will report progress during the Third Pan-African Aviation Training Coordination Conference scheduled to be held in South Africa, 27-29 July 2011. It will then be up to States and Training Institutions to remain involved in the development and continued maintenance of harmonized and high quality training system for aviation in Africa. It is at that price that we can raise up to the challenge of ensure we get the required personnel to sustain the expected air traffic growth.