The Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), in conjunction with Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) Company of South Africa, is hosting the 2012 CANSO Air Traffic Management (ATM) Safety Conference in Cape Town, from 28 October to 2nd November 2012.
This is the first time ever – in the history of aviation in South Africa – that a conference of this magnitude is taking place on African soil. CANSO is currently divided into five regions, namely the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe and the Middle East. The sixth region, CANSO Africa Office will be launched at the said conference.
The development of programs and plans for cooperation in the regional development within the aviation sector; safety and ensuring global interoperability, are among critical issues to be discussed at the Conference. The world’s leading experts will exchange knowledge, information and best practices within the aviation environment.
Noting the Inaugural 2011 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) State of Global Aviation Safety Report, which provides the aviation community and the flying public with high level analysis of air traffic safety trends and indicators, it has been observed that aviation has achieved a remarkable safety record, with fewer than four accidents per million departures worldwide.
In line with ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and the Industry Safety Strategy Group (ISSG) Global Aviation Safety Roadmap (GASR) objectives, ICAO Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs) serve as a focal point to ensure effective harmonization and coordination of all efforts and programmes aimed at reducing aviation safety risks. This type of broad-based and coordinated approach significantly lessens the financial and human resources burden of countries/states in the affected regions, while delivering measurable improvements to benefit local aviation safety performance outcomes.
ATNS agrees that regional harmonization is the key to global participation for the African Continent. It is important for this Air Traffic and Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) to get closer to its African counterparts, without alienating its other global colleagues. It is for this reason that we are proud hosts of the CANSO Africa office
During the CANSO Air Traffic Management (ATM) Summit and 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Rome, Italy, from 23rd to 26th June 2012, the incumbent ATNS Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Patrick Dlamini, was unanimously elected as the inaugural Chairperson of the first-ever Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) Africa Region.
At the afore-mentioned AGM, Mr Nnamdi Udoh, MD/ CEO of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were elected as the Deputy Chairperson (Due to the departure of Mr Dlamini from ATNS to the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Mr Udoh has since been appointed Chairperson: Canso Region). Ms Boni Dibate, who was the CANSO Project Liaison Officer, was also appointed to the critical role of Director Africa Region.
The above-mentioned appointments are geared to ensure that Africa plays a critical role in the affairs of the association as well as the promotion of safe African skies. CANSO is the global voice of air navigation services providers and under this banner the CANSO Africa region becomes the voice of air navigation in Africa.
Aviation Safety in Africa has been a focal point during recent conferences held in South Africa, for example, The 2012 Aviation Safety Summit held in Sandton, South Africa on 15th May 2012 and the Airport Expansion and Development Africa 2012 held in November 2011.
ATNS is proud to host the 2012 CANSO GLOBAL ATM SAFETY CONFERENCE in Africa.