PHOTO CAPTION
National President of National Association of Airtraffic Engineers (NAAE) Engineer Ishaya Chuwang Dung (Second right), with some delegates at the just concluded 8TH IFATSEA REGION AFRICA MEETING, hosted by Kenyan Air Traffic Systems Engineering Association (KATSEA) and Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) recently at Boma Inn Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenyan Air Traffic Systems Engineering Association (KATSEA) and the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) hosted the 8th IFATSEA region Africa meeting in Kenya, at Boma Inn Hotel, Nairobi, recently.
The International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations IFATSEA Region Africa Affiliates congregated in Nairobi for a three-day regional meeting and conference with the theme “Aviation Safety and Security – ATSEPs Contributions”.
The meeting was aimed at bringing together ATSEPs in Africa and the aviation industry professionals to assess ATSEPs contributions to Aviation Safety and Security and discuss relevant topics necessary to enhancing ATSEPs and industry professional ethics in upholding safety and security at all levels.
The meeting witnessed an attendance of 128 countries, and the affiliate countries present were Nigeria National Association of Airtraffic Engineers (NAAE), Angola, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali (FACATEM), and Ethiopia.
It was also learnt that high-level presentations were made on various topics which include: Evolving Roles and Responsibilities of ATSEP, ATSEPs as Engineering Professionals, ATSEPs in Maintenance operations, ATSEPs Safety appraisals in Air Navigation Services, ATSEP recognition in ICAO Annex1, Regulating ATSEPs operational modality, Safety and security factors, ATSEPs in system development, ATSEP licensing implementation, legal and regulatory.
Confirming to Cliffsimeon Akalonu, of Transport Day Newspaper, the President of National Association of Airtraffic Engineers (NAAE), Engineer Ishaya Chuwang Dung, said a closed session with only the affiliates was held to discuss IFATSEA 2018 General Assembly, scheduled to take place for 5th- 9th November 2018 in Tunisia. This will help to formulate a strategy towards ICAO 39th General Assembly in 2019.
The meeting also considered ways of ensuring maximum attendance by all the registered affiliates in the region and also ways to increase the membership strength of the union. The meeting also accepted the apologies of Burkina Faso for their inability to participate in the meeting and conference.
Engnr. Dung said participants at the plenary of the IFATSEA Region Africa conference adopted –
(1) CAAs and ANSPs should as a matter of urgency, make use of ICAO doc 10057 and 1007 for ATSEPs and CNS inspectors respectively to invest and build their capacity through effective relevant training to the highest standard of their profession as a way of improving their competencies and service delivery to maintain safety and security.
(2) Recognize that some CAAs/ANSPs are already implementing ATSEP licensing to assure proof of competence, safety and security of the ATM/CNS systems, operations, monitoring and maintenance in accordance with 1.5 of ATSEP ICAO doc 10057. However, there still remain a number of ATSEPs in some ANSPs/CAAs yet to legitimize ICAO doc 10057 and article 32 of the Chicago Convention. Therefore, we call on such ANSPs/CAAs to give meaning to these important documents by implementing ATSEP licensing schemes in order for the Safety regulator to effectively audit and regulate the ATSEP ATM/ CNS job activities.
(3).The commission of ATSEP license in ICAO Annex1 does not veto states/ CAAs/ANSPs from establishing standards and requirement in their regulations to include ATSEP licensing and filing the differences with ICAO. Hence IFATSEA encourages states/CAAs/ANSPs to implement ATSEP license for the following reasons; (Safety and security reasons) (Proof of competency for both ANSP and regulator) (On-going and continuing automation of the ATC functions) (Technology and emerging trends) (Direct support and decision-making data to the aircraft/Pilots) (Cross border activities or state–to-state technical systems intervention) (Capacity building) (Standards harmonization).
(4). States should adopt best practices and liaise with IFATSEA to assist states/CAAs/ANSPs with ATSEP licensing implementation templates and promote safety and security within the aviation industry.
(5). ATSEP’s encourage States/CAAs in Africa to support IFATSEA to address the challenges regarding ATSEP recognition in ICAO Annex1 with paper presentations at ICAO 40th General Assembly in 2019.
(6).That the ATSEPs in Africa recognize the importance of a common African approach towards ATSEP recognition in ICAO Annex1 and therefore seek the support of AFCAC to present a common paper on ATSEP recognition in ICAO Annex1 at next year’s ICAO 40th General Assembly.
“Finally, ATSEPs are grateful to the conference/meeting organizers, the Director General -KCAA, Presenters, KCAA and KATSEA for their wonderful hospitality; as the NAAE remains grateful to the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; NAMA MD, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu; Rector, NCAT, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed and DG, NCAA, Capt. Muktar Usman for their support and encouragement towards the achievements of professionalism in the Aviation Industry”.
“NAAE also remains fully committed to the implementations of the adoptions of the 8th Africa regional Meeting.
The meeting which had in attendance the Director General of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Capt. Gilbert Kibe; the Deputy Director General (Technical) of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Engr. Charles Ebo Kraikue; the Interim IFATSEA President, Mr Thorsten Wehe; the IFATSEA Region Africa Director, Engr. Frank Kofi Apeagyei, and the President of the Kenyan Air Traffic Systems Engineering Association (KATSEA) Engr. Robert Jere Omusonga and the President, National Association of Airtraffic Engineers, Engineer Dung Chuwang.
