PROGRESS REPORT MAY – JULY 2006

A            Summary – Brief

The Agency completed the program & visits to PIT States in accordance with the instructions given at the 02^nd PIT meeting in Tripoli (Libya) in February 2006.

A summary of activities is given below:

B            Meetings

1.         Visit to Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority

a)                  Extensive discussions were held with the following personnel in Lagos:

-                      Dr. H.O Demuren – Director General and CEO

-                      A.A Famodimu – Director

-                      Capt. A.F (Kiddie) Dare – Director Operations & Training

-                      S.M Gaiya – Company Secretary/Legal Adviser

-                      Ms Iyabo O Sosina (General Manager (ATR)

b)                

                      i)             It was agreed that the MOUs were ready for Nigeria to sign after various   various sections were discussed, explained & modified.  It was   agreed    agreed that all participating States affirm the MOUs by August     19^th        19th 2006.

ii)         Nigeria expressed concern that States should be given some form of diplomatic status to AFRO-CAA employees by bilateral agreements.

iii)                The modalities of the 03^rd PIT meeting to be held in Lagos on 19^th August 2006 were also extensively discussed and concluded.

c)         Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation had been informed by Dr Demuren about the project and was fully supportive.  He also urged that it be handled as a priority project to commence by early 2007.

2)                 Visit to Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority

a)                  Conclusive discussion were held with the following personnel in Yaounde:

-                Ignatuis Sama Juma – Director General/General Manager

-                Antoine D Bidiassi Ntsogo – Director of Administration & Finance

-                Samuel Mandeng – Technical Advisor to Cameroon CAA

b)  

               i) Cameroon confirmed they had approved the MOUs and translated      translated them into French.  The French version was formally          formally presented to the company.

                ii) An extensive discussion on the funding of the AFRO-CAA concluded     concluded in an agreement to make this a priority agenda Item               Item at the Lagos PIT Meeting of 19^th August 2006.

c)         Cameroon’s Prime Minister has given his full support to the project and also urged that it be implemented with a minimum delay.

3.                  Visit to South Africa Civil Aviation Authority

a)        Two separate visits were made to the SACAA and discussions were held in Midrand with the following:

- Zakes Myeza – Chief Executive Office

- Gilbert Thwala – Executive Manager Safety & Occurences

                        b)           

                                     i)     The new CEO was sensitized and briefed on the project.

ii)                  Mr Thwala was detailed to be coordinator for South Africa and will be attending the Lagos PIT Meeting.  He has been briefed on the project since inception.

c)          The Minister of Transport has repeatedly lent his support to the project and the outcome of the Lagos meeting is eagerly          awaited.              awaited.

4.                     a) Libya announced that they have already approved the MOUs and                              and therefore a repeat visit to Tripoli was not necessary.

b)                  The MOUs have also been translated into Arabic by Libya

c)                  Dr. Mohammed Shlebik the Secretary General of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority delegated Board Member Eng. Suliman Mesallati to attend the Lagos PIT meeting.

5.                     The sponsoring State – Namibia will attend the Lagos PIT meeting.  The delegation will be led by Namibian Ministry of Transport.

6.                     a)            Uganda requested the company to visit Kampala just prior to the                                         the Lagos PIT meeting.

                        b)            This will be done in early August

                        c)            Uganda’s Ministry has expressed his support for the project.

7.                     a)            Arrangements for the inaugural signing ceremony by participating                                       participating State Ministers in Feb/Mar2007 have commenced.                                        commenced.

                        b)            The venue will be Windhoek, Namibia

C            Programme Follow-up/ Marketing

a)                  The Agency has advised all international aviation media about the project’s progress.

b)                  The website continues to be updated regularly for those wishing to follow progress online.

c)                  The Agency has proposed major international aviation bodies to attend the inauguration in 2007.

D         SADC, EAC, IATA, ECA, AFRAA

Outgoing ICAO President Dr. Assad Kotaite will play an active role in the implementation of the AFRO-CAA upon refining from ICAO.

E          MOUs Development

The MOUs have now been approved by the participating States.

F            AFCAC/NEPAD/ICAO

We participated in a joint Forum organized by the World Bank (WB).  The ICAO/ATAG/WB Development Forum:  Maximizing Civil Aviation’s Economic Contribution was held at ICAO Headquarters from 24 to 26 May 2006.  It followed a similar event jointly organized in June 2005 by ICAO, ATAG and the World Bank (report posted at http://www.icao.int/ATWorkshop/Docs.htm).  This year, the theme was Safe, Secure and Sustainable Air Transport in Open Skies – Challenges and Potential.

In the increasingly intertwined global economy, civil aviation ranks among the most innovative and rapidly evolving industries.  Civil Aviation has been recognized as an essential element to a robust sustainable economy that competes successfully in the global marketplace. 

In an interactive setting, this joint Forum aimed to promote a dialogue on strategies and measures pursued by the interdependent civil aviation industries and the supporting policy and regulatory frameworks enacted by civil aviation authorities.  All participants were invited to discuss the diverse and multiple challenges and constraints that they are facing in facilitating or operating safe, secure and efficient air transport on intra- and inter-regional route networks.  Government particularly from developing States and industry executives (aerospace manufacturers, airlines, airports, air navigation services providers and their respective affiliates) were invited.  Also were representatives of industry associations, international organizations and financial institutions.

The meeting was conducted in English only and participation was free-of-charge.  The program is attached.  Participants wishing to make specific contributions to certain agenda items were invited to submit information papers.  The ACAA agreed to make such a presentation during the 2007 forum.

A complete report on proceedings and conclusions will be mailed shortly by the        the conveners.

G         Legal

Nil

H            Funding

The World Bank invited the company for discussions in Montreal where they continued to express support for the project and encouraged an early signing of the MOUs.

I           Any other Business

     Nigeria confirmed that they would host the 03^rd PIT meeting in Lagos on 19^th                     19th August 2006.