Introduction
A single African sky as a common vision of AFI air navigation
service providers started way back in 2002, in Senegal and was
known as Almadies Declaration. This was followed by Gauteng
Declaration in 2004; this was held in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South
Africa. The third meeting was held in Cotonou, Benin, 2010, known
as Cotonou Declaration. The meetings had two main objectives.
Long-term objective: To pave way toward the single sky for
Africa.
Medium-term objective: To roadmap
the harmonized, cooperative and integrated air navigation services
provision in the AFI Region.
The concepts in achieving the
medium-term objective is to: Harmonize regulation in air navigation
services (and achieve) homogeneous airspace structure and reduce
the number of Area Control Centre for upper airspace in order to
achieve African sky seamless airspace, and more usage of new
technologies for better efficiency in Communication, Navigation and
Surveillance. This will enable the industry to achieve efficient
and safe air navigation services.
Institution And
Regulations
Civil Aviation Authorities of the
States being Regulatory bodies with vested power to regulate the
provision of Air Navigation Services of the States have embarked on
the streamlining and harmonizing of Air Navigation Regulations with
adjacent States. More States have given more leeway to their
State CAA with legal, administrative and financial autonomy to
enable them to have independence in the implementation of aviation
activities.
The exercise of harmonizing the air
navigation, flight safety and economic regulations in
adopting and implementing rules with legislative power is being
carried out through Africa, initially within bloc like SADC, EAC
and ASECNA, etc. The essence is to harmonize blocs by bloc
eventually to achieve the vision of having regulations which will
be for the whole of Africa. The exercise is ongoing and great
achievements have been realized within these blocs. MoU between
States have been signed regarding regulations in the AFI Region.
The more challenging, however, is the harmonization of Economic
Regulation which depends on political climate prevailing at the
States. The obstacle being the tariff to be charged and collection
and allocation of the accruing funds. African States have different
views on the air navigation charges imposed by States. The view,
however, is in identifying and defining the best practice that will
ensure sustainability of the provision of adequate air navigation
services regardless of the differences in the air traffic mix
regarding aircraft weight in charging formula.
More efforts need to be put in the
realization of a continental harmonized system of charges and
taxes. The realization of the above will pave way for appropriate
funding of safety and security activities in air navigation.
Seamless And Efficient AFI
Airspace
The objective is to provide
coverage beyond territorial boundaries of States in the contiguous
airspace (FIRs).
Harmonization of airspace
organization and management will facilitate seamless handling of
flights along optimum flight trajectories from gate to gate without
undue restriction or delay. Demand and capacity balancing will
minimize the effects of ATM systems constraints by a collaborative
process to allow for the efficient management of air traffic flow.
Conflict management limits challenges to an acceptable level,
including the risk of collision between aircraft and hazards e.g.
terrain, weather and incompatible airspace activity. ATM service
delivery management will enable airlines to operate seamlessly from
gate to gate for all phases of flights and across all service
providers. Information services are to achieve a seamless transfer
for relevant aeronautical information between parties
in a flexible, real time and scalable manner.
East Africa Community and SADC have
two projects for harmonization of upper airspace, one being the
SADC Upper Airspace Control Centre; a study is being done by SADC
Secretariat and EAC Unified Flight Information Region. All these
are efforts being done to realize a Single African Sky.
Interoperable And
Modernized AFI ATM/CNS Systems
Air navigation is achieved by the
provision of integrated Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and
Air Traffic Management activities. African States need to
fast-track the upgrade of air navigation infrastructure/airspace to
world-class levels in tandem with Vision of A Single African Sky.
However, the main question has and will always be the availability
of funds.
A way forward is to have a total
VHF coverage of each State airspace and beyond into contiguous
Flight Information Regions. This has been achieved in most States
and those who have not achieved total coverage are in the process
of implementing.
Air Traffic Service-Direct Speech
circuits (ATS-DS) ground controller-ground controller communication
for intra and inter FIR coordination have been implemented using
VSAT (NAFISAT, SADCNET 2) technology. Within the AFI Region
virtually every state is now interconnected to adjacent state.
ADS-B or ADS-C and CPDLC used to
enhance Oceanic and Vast airspace coverage are being implemented
with some States in the implementation stage while others are on
the planning phase. The prospects of more States implementing are
bright with States contemplating on joint venture to reduce
costs.
VSAT Technology is more adapted in
African States to enhance the ATN Backbone, this will speed up
coverage of VHF Voice Communication, Radar data transfer, ATS-DS,
AFTN/AMHS and internet.
Performance Based Navigation (PBN)
Concept implementation and operation as a shift from sensor-based
to Performance-based navigation requirements will enhance
performance in the AFI Region.
Integrated AFI Information
Management Capability
The transition from Aeronautical
Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management
into System Wide Information Management (AIS to AIM into SWIM) for
which AFI States have already begun implementation will enable the
system to have Quality, Timely, Digital, Secured, Standardized,
Interoperable and Shared Information/data. AIM into SWIM will
enable seamless services in collaboration with all parties and
provide accurate information at the right time with the right
systems for interoperable data exchange. SWIM is possible for
Africa because people are eager for new technology.
The implementation of Air
Traffic Service Message Handling System (AMHS)
The need for information exchange
between countries sharing flight is paramount. This collaborative
effort has for many years been carried out using Aeronautical Fixed
Telecommunication Network (AFTN). ICAO is recommending this
technology be replaced by ATS Message Handling System and its
transition be carried out in the shortest time possible. There are
many advantages for this transition, it is up-to-date technology
with improved security, digital signature, new ICAO Flight Plan
format implementation possible, improved robustness and removal of
restrictions on message size.
AFI States have already started
implementing this system with Ethiopia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and
Tunisia taking a leading role.
The prospect of implementation is
good since ICAO is conducting workshop and task force to accelerate
the implementation process.
AFI Air Navigation Safety
Management /Quality Management System
Implementation of Safety Management
System as per ICAO requirement is being processed to identify
safety hazards, remedial action to maintain safety performance,
continuous monitoring and regular assessment.
The implementation of safety
management system has reached an advanced stage with documented
Safety Management System in place, independent management desk in
place and corporate safety plan instituted. It is more challenging
on the implementation of Safety Management System since it needs to
be implemented from Regulatory body to ANS Provider. The
implementation of Quality Management System for both sections of
ANSP has already been done to AFI States up to ISO2001-2008
Certification.
Human Factors
In realizing the African vision of
a single sky, human resources is the main factor; the recruitment
of the next generation of experts who will be able to cope with the
fast changing technology has started being implemented by
recruiting university level personnel majoring in specialized
section of expertise. Training being the focal point has been
enhanced and cross training from training centres using same
curriculum is being promoted by States' CAA.
Systems And
Solution
Automation is a key strategy to
meet the ANSPs objectives, ANSPs seek to improve operational
safety, increase operational efficiency and system capacity to also
reduce operational cost for themselves and their customers, and
equally reduce environmental impact. AFI states have been embarking
on implementing new technology systems which will enhance safety
and be more productive. The long-term objective will be achieved
only after implementation and managing the development in the field
of technologies (CNS). The Global ATM concept will be realized only
after maintaining safety and implementing quality requirements
(SMS/QMS). To achieve a formal framework for promotion of common
African policy in civil aviation matters requires harmonization of
national policies in the field of civil aviation, strengthening of
sectoral integration at the regional and continental levels in the
areas of civil aviation and formal promotion of proper integration
of air transport in Africa.
The challenges ahead are enormous
but they can be met to realize a Single African Sky concept. The
prospects of accomplishing this task and realizing the African
vision of a single sky can be accomplished in this generation only
if politicians have the will of their people.
The above article does not represent my state
realization but my own views on the
MANAGING THE TRANSITION TO SINGLE AFRICAN SKY-REGIONAL CHALLENGES
AND PROSPECTS