Major global air traffic companies and aviation organisations representatives are meeting in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa for the second meeting of the Indian Ocean Strategic Partnerships to Reduce Emissions (INSPIRE/2). This is a three-day event, ending on Thursday 1 December 2011 and 30 major global air traffic companies and aviation organisations representatives will be attending.

These organisations include:

  • Airport Authority of India
  • Air-services Australia
  • Emirates Airlines
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Etihad Airways
  • Virgin Australia
  • Qantas Airlines
  • The Maldives Airport Company
  • Abu Dhabi Airport Company
  • Oman Civil Aviation Affairs
  • Maldives Airports Company
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA)

The objectives of INSPIRE is to promote recommended flight procedures, practices and services that have the potential to provide efficiencies in fuel and emissions reductions across all phases of flight, from gate to gate.

The seminar is hosted and chaired by the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS).

This event is meant to review the results of ‘the green demonstration flights’ undertaken during 2011 and thereafter develop a work programme for 2012. Also being discussed will be the INSPIRE strategic plan (available on request).

The first INSPIRE demonstration flight was coordinated by ATNS and the Australian Air Navigation Services Provider (AANSP) and took place between Perth and Johannesburg on 11 March 2011.

The aforementioned organisations are committed to working closely with airlines and other stakeholders in the region in among others, facilitating worldwide interoperability of environmentally friendly procedures and standards and provide a systematic approach to ensure appropriate mitigation actions with short, medium and long-term results.

On 4 December 2011, during the COP 17/CMP 7 (currently underway in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa) , an ‘INSPIRE Flight’ will land at the King Shaka Airport. This once again, will be a demonstration event that combines multiple elements of efficient operations.