PROGRESS REPORT FEB 2006 – APRIL  2006

A            Summary – Brief

The company organized the second project implementation team meeting in Tripoli on the 26^th February 2006.

A summary of activities is given below:

B            Meetings

1.                   Welcome and opening of the meeting

a)  The  Head of the Libyan Delegation Dr. Mohammed Shlebik opened  the  meeting by 

welcoming all delegates present. He stressed the importance of the AFRO-CAA project in Africa and pointed out that the African Civil Aviation Authorities need to coordinate aviation safety activities continentally.

b)  Namibia de-briefed the meeting on the project history.

2.                   Attendance

The following Delegates represented their States (signed attendance list attached).

Cameroon       -  Samuel Mandeng (Technical Advisor Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority [CAA])

Libya     -  Dr. Mohamed Shlebik(Libyan CAA Secretary General)

Libya     -   Eng. Suliman Ali El-Mesallati (Committee Member Libyan CAA)

Libya     -   Eng. Naje Ramadan Daw (Flight Safety Director Libyan CAA)

Namibia    - Mwangi C wa Kamau (Advisor to Namibia on the AFRO-CAA)

Namibia    - Capt. Harry Eggerschwiler (Advisor to Namibia on the AFRO-CAA)

Nigeria          - Dr. H.O. Demuren (Director General/Chief Executive Nigeria CAA)

Nigeria         - A. A. Famodimu (Director Air Transport Regulation Nigeria CAA)

Nigeria         -  Capt. A. F. (Kiddie) Dare (Director Operations

3.                   Apologies

South Africa   - Levers Mabaso(Deputy. Director Multilateral Affairs Department of Transport)

Uganda            Mr. Ambrose Akandonda (Director General/Managing Director Uganda CAA)

Ethiopia            Mr. Tefera Makonnen (Ag. Director General Ethiopia CAA)

4.                   Matter arising from previous minutes

i) The following briefs were given by delegates on the progress made so far on the MoUs

Namibia                   -      MoUs have been approved by the Attorney General

Cameroon                      -      MoUs awaiting finalisation by  Ministry of Transport

Libya                    -      MoUs in the finalisation stage for approval

Nigeria                        -      MoUs awaiting finalisation by their legal team

South Africa                    MoUs with the Department of Transport

Uganda                            MoUs recently received and are being studied

ii) Cameroon has completed translating the MoUs into French

iii)Libya has completed translating the MoUs into Arabic.

iv) The translated MoUs are to be incorporated into the African Civil Aviation Agency website

5.                   Items for discussion

i) It was resolved that the proposal made at the first PIT meeting be accepted; that the AFRO-CAA  offices be situated as follows:-

Central African Regional Headquarters      -   Cameroon

                   Eastern African Regional Headquarters            -   Ethiopia

Northern African Regional Headquarters  -   Libya,

Western African Regional Headquarters  -   Nigeria

Southern African Regional Headquarters  -   South Africa

                  Continental Headquarters                           -   Namibia

                  It was further agreed that this decision be communicated to the AU and  AFCAC.     AFCAC.

ii) It was agreed that each of the other participating States should compliment the funding of the promotion financing being done by Namibia. Each of these States is to contribute USD 40000 annually until the MoUs are signed. States are to be consulted on this by the delegates.

A refund to States of promotion funds will only be discussed once the AFRO-CAA is established.

Libya stressed that funding is very crucial and requested that States persuade their Governments on the importance of the task being undertaken. Libya also asked for patience to be exercised as new States join the process.

Nigeria counselled that the AFRO-CAA must avoid pitfalls in funding from member States that have befallen other continental organisations in the past. It was agreed that a formula on funding should be carefully worked out once the MoUs are signed and before approaching donors.

Libya requested that States finalise the process of approving the MoUs so that the AFRO-CAA may commence fund raising activities as an authorised body.

iii) Documentation for future meetings should be submitted well in advance so that States may have sufficient time to prepare working papers for discussion.

iv) Nigeria requested that there be more closer and positive coordination of the project with ICAO. The regional approach in implementing the project was welcomed as positive and encouraging.

v) It was agreed that close coordination and cooperation should be kept with the ongoing African COSCAP projects which would benefit from a central coordinating body such as the AFRO-CAA.

vi) Namibia adviced the meeting on progress made so far in meetings with the World Bank, African Development Bank , European Union, AFCAC, NEPAD, US FAA and ICAO. Namibia further emphasized that, though these organizations have been enthusiastic about the project, offering to assist and endorsing the project; concrete inter-action would only commence once the MoUs are signed.

v) The delegates agreed that donors are to be approached once the MoUs are signed.

vi) The meeting resolved that the African Civil Aviation Agency visit the legal officers of each State – on written invitation from each State– in order to assist/coordinate the approval of the MoUs. The delegates gave the Agency a deadline of the 01^st of August to complete this process.

6.                   Any other Business

The African Flight Safety Agency made a presentation of their project for financing and installing radar control/separation equipment for African States (brochure attached).

Interested States indicated that they would study  the documentation and contact the African Flight Safety Agency.

This was seen as a good opportunity for African States to develop independent civil aviation radar systems.

7)                   Next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 19^th August 2006 in Lagos Nigeria.

Nigeria offered to host this meeting.

States hosting PIT meetings are responsible for providing the venue, delegates transport and payment of hotel accommodation for delegates.

Participating States are responsible for the air tickets and travel allowances for their delegates.

8)                   Closure

The meeting adjourned at 13.00 p.m.         

The delegates expressed their appreciation to Libya for a very well organized meeting

C            Programme Follow-up/ Marketing

The company was detailed to undertake follow-up trips to each of the participating States to assist in the signing of the MOUs. A program was subsequently drawn up for this.    

D         SADC, EAC, IATA, ECA, AFRAA

The Annual ATAG meeting in Geneva Switzerland was attended by ACAA Director Capt. Harry Eggerschwiler. The outgoing President of ICAO ( Dr Assad Kotaite ) accepted to role of advisor to the AFRO-CAA and in that capacity would endeavour to assist in all aspects of the project’s success.

E          MOUs Development

            As mentioned above, the following progress was made on the MOUs;

i)   Cameroon has completed translating the MoUs into French

ii)  Libya has completed translating the MoUs into Arabic.

iii) The translated MoUs are to be incorporated into the African Civil Aviation  Agency     Agency website

F            AFCAC/NEPAD/ICAO

            Status remains as per last Quarterly Report with the exception of the meeting with NEPAD above.

G         Legal

Nil

H            Funding

The World Bank invited our company to attend discussions on Maximizing Civil Aviation Economic Contribution.  We have accepted this invitation for 06^th to 08^th June 2005 to press the case for the AFRO-CAA funding. 

I           Any other Business

The next project implementation team meeting is to be held in Lagos Nigeria on 19^th August 2006.