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VOLUME 2 NUMBER 4, 2024

  • HORIZONS

DR. IFEANYI FRANK OGOCHUKWU: Promoting the Development and Sustainability of African Aviation

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Aviation Africa Platform (AAP) prides itself as a proudly African initiative dedicated to expanding the horizons of aviation in the African continent through innovative strategies and Africa-compliant operational overtures. Propelled by a wide array of activities, the AAP initiative thrives on a philosophical foundation that is constantly nurtured by holistic approaches to the maximization of the opportunities in the African aviation realm.

Dr. Ifeanyi Frank Ogochukwu, a CNS/ATM and Cybersecurity expert, is the Managing Director of AAP. In this interview with Air Traffic Safety Electronics International Managing Editor, Adeyinka Olumuyiwa Osunwusi, Dr. Ogochukwu shared his thoughts regarding a wide array of issues on the African aviation ecosystem.

           

Talking about Aviation Africa Plate-forme, just what is this remarkable initiative all about?

 

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Osunwusi for the opportunity to participate in this interview. Thank you for having me.

I will now respond to your question. Aviation Africa Platform, abbreviated as AAP, is a proudly African initiative dedicated to promoting the development and sustainability of the aviation sector throughout the African continent. This is in strategic alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063. The platform is designed to enhance and support the aviation industry, professions, and technical skills development in Africa. It serves as a convergence hub for industry stakeholders, including governments, airlines, regional organisations, regulators, airport operators, air navigation service providers, aviation training organisations, original equipment manufacturers, service providers, and professional bodies.

This initiative is fundamentally propelled by a range of programmes and events, including networking, collaboration and partnerships, conferences, exhibitions and webinars, capacity building and skills development, policy advocacy, aviation recognitions, emphasis on sustainability and innovation as well as Aviation Careers Africa.

 

And what would you say are the philosophies and motives driving this initiative?

 

The Aviation Africa Platform is motivated by numerous underlying philosophies and objectives that reflect the unique challenges and opportunities within the African aviation industry as well as the desire to shift the Africa aviation narrative by curating Africa-grown aviation solutions for Africa aviation.  The platform’s activities and engagement with stakeholders across the continent are guided by the need to tell wholesome African aviation stories across the entire aviation value chain, through insightful conversations, thought leadership discussions, collaborative engagements, interviews, interaction in relevant forums, and research, all with a distinct African aviation flair.

That said, the philosophies guiding this initiative include sustainable growth, empowering African talents and institutions, advocating for improved safety standards and regulatory compliance as well as fostering collaboration among African aviation stakeholders, while prioritising regional cooperation over competitiveness in line with the Ubuntu philosophy.

The Aviation Africa Platform’s goal is motivated by the desire to see a thriving, self-sufficient, and globally competitive African aviation sector that contributes to the continent’s broader economic and social development. We believe that investing in aviation infrastructure and other critical infrastructure can help Africa overcome its infrastructure challenges. We are also motivated by the need to promote the enhancement of aviation standards, infrastructure, and services in Africa to attract multinational airlines, investors, and collaborations and position Africa in the global aviation market.

 

What has been your biggest challenge piloting the affairs of Aviation Africa Plate-forme?

 

Managing an initiative as significant as the Aviation Africa Platform, like any worthy initiative, presents its own set of challenges. These include initial efforts in building and developing strategic partnerships and collaborations with various stakeholders, as well as funding and connection to appropriate resources, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders across the continent to address the unique challenges of the African aviation industry.

So far, with our great team, the journey has been inspirational and fulfilling. Some of our event guests have included past ICAO President, ICAO Country Representatives, DGs of Civil Aviation, CANSO Africa Director, Presidents of Aviation professional groups, and aviation professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including pilots, ATSEPs, ATCOs, and aviation trainers, as well as the academia.

 

From your perspective as a veteran in the global aviation landscape, how would you describe the African aviation landscape today?

 

I get really excited with questions about Africa aviation because from a global aviation perspective, the African aviation landscape today is characterized by both challenges and immense potential. While the industry faces significant hurdles, such as safety concerns, infrastructure deficits, and regulatory gaps, there are also promising growth prospects driven by increasing demand, regional initiatives like SAATM, and ongoing investments in infrastructure and technology. To unlock this potential, African States must address these challenges through enhanced regulatory oversight, infrastructure investment, and stronger collaboration across the continent. The future of African aviation is bright, but realizing this potential will require sustained effort from all stakeholders.

But, for a clearer view, let’s look at some of these challenges via the lens of specific aviation indicators. In terms of market share, while Africa accounts for around 18% of the world’s population, it represents only about 3% of global air traffic, highlighting the untapped potential of the African market. In terms of passenger numbers, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) anticipated that Africa’s overall passenger traffic would expand by 5.4% each year over the following 20 years, prior to the epidemic. Despite setbacks from COVID-19, the recovery trend remains strong, with African airlines reporting a considerable increase in passenger numbers in 2022, up nearly 90% from 2021, though still below pre-pandemic levels.

Safety remains a critical concern in African aviation, and while there have been significant improvements in Africa safety standards as a result of intervention initiatives from the African Union, ICAO, and IATA, gaps remain, and certain regions continue to face challenges in meeting global safety and security benchmarks. Recent ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) results demonstrate that many African countries struggle to achieve international safety standards. The average Effective Implementation (EI) rate of ICAO safety requirements in Africa is approximately 58%, which is lower than the global average of 70%. The continent’s accident rate, while improving, is higher than the global norm.

 

 

And what would you say about issues bordering upon the safety, security and efficiency of aviation operations in Africa today?

 

Specifically focusing on safety, security and efficiency of aviation operations, it is important to note that aviation operations in Africa face a variety of challenges that affect safety, security, and efficiency. These issues are multifaceted and interconnected, ranging from regulatory and infrastructure deficiencies to operational and economic constraints.

On the safety dimension, the potential safety risks are harsh operating environment that includes aging fleet due to airlines financial constraints for the acquisition of fairly new aircrafts. We should have in place Africa-based leasing, financing and insurance companies with the establishment of more MROs in Africa.  Another issue is that of inadequate and ineffective regulatory frameworks, oversight and enforcement by national aviation authorities. Manpower deficiency and skill gaps can affect the overall safety, so adequate investments are needed to train pilots, air traffic controllers, air traffic safety electronics personnel, and maintenance personnel

On the security dimension, regional conflicts and potential security threats of terrorists and insurgents in certain parts of Africa that may target aviation infrastructure and flights – ongoing coordination between countries and regional bodies is essential to secure airspace and ensure safe passage. I think also that most African airports still struggle with implementing and maintaining robust physical security measures for passenger screening, cargo security, and perimeter control, which are critical to preventing unlawful interference.

On the operational efficiency dimension some measure of progress has been made based on industry reports. However, challenges that may impact efficiency still persist. Efficient air traffic management is crucial for reducing delays, optimizing flight paths, and ensuring safety. Africa’s airspace is often fragmented, with multiple Flight Information Regions (FIRs) managed by different countries with limited use of modern CNS/ATM technologies that further hamper efficiency.  This can be further exacerbated by airports, inadequate ground services, or infrastructure bottlenecks. Africa’s air connectivity index is 50% below the global average according to IATA Connectivity Index (2023), indicating poor interconnectivity within the continent resulting in long travel times and higher costs for passengers and cargo.

 

Safety issues revolving around runway incursions and excursions are becoming commonplace today not only in Africa but all over the world. Recently, Nigeria recorded a couple of incidents. What is your take on this growing threat and what should relevant authorities be doing?

 

Runway incursions and excursions are indeed significant safety issues globally, and their increasing frequency in Africa, including Nigeria, is a matter of concern. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), runway safety-related events, including incursions and excursions, account for a significant percentage of global aviation accidents, contributing to approximately 20-25% of all aviation accidents worldwide. ICAO Data from 2022 shows that Africa accounted for 20% of global runway-related incidents, despite representing a small fraction of global traffic. Nigeria as one of Africa’s busiest aviation markets with high passenger and cargo traffic volumes has recently experienced multiple runway incidents in Lagos and Abuja. These incidents highlight underlying challenges in infrastructure, runway conditions, air traffic management, training, and overall safety culture.

Addressing this issue requires a proactive multifaceted approach, combining infrastructure improvements, advanced technology, enhanced training, and stronger regulatory oversight such as regular runway inspections and maintenance, upgrading runway lighting and ensuring clear, visible signage, Implementing Runway Incursion Prevention Systems (RIPS), deploying SMGCS, continuous training and development for ATC personnel, standardized communication protocols between pilots and ATC, establishing a robust incident reporting and data analyzing system, conducting regular safety audits and inspections of airports.

 

What more, in your view, need to be done by stakeholders and government agencies in the African aviation sector in order to reposition the aviation industry in Africa?

 

Repositioning the African aviation industry to fully realize its potential requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including governments, airlines, regulatory bodies, and the private sector.

On the government side, there is urgent need for African governments to actively come on board to enable the full implementation of SAATM, a pivotal initiative aimed at liberalizing air transport across Africa by removing restrictive bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) and allowing airlines to operate freely across borders, which will enhance connectivity and competition. The harmonization of aviation regulations, safety standards, and certification processes to create a more unified and efficient aviation market is critical. Governments should also prioritize policies that facilitate the movement of people and goods across borders, such as harmonized visa policies and the development of regional air hubs.

African governments should encourage and promote private sector investments in aviation by creating the enabling environment for private investment in aviation infrastructure and services with simplified procedures for licensing, permits, and regulatory approvals. African governments should create the enabling environments for airlines to thrive by providing conducive access to financing such as aviation-specific funds, loan guarantees, insurance and partnerships with aircraft manufacturers and international financial institutions and reducing costs by lowering taxes on aviation fuel, revising airport charges, and implementing more efficient procurement processes.

On the side of stakeholders, there should be enhanced cooperation and collaboration amongst airlines to form alliances, codeshare agreements, and partnerships to increase their reach and efficiency. Airlines need support to modernize their fleets with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. The future of aviation will be shaped by technology, so Africa aviation needs to invest and rapidly adopt digital and satellite solutions with automations.

 

There has been much buzz regarding the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa. The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative, established on 28th January 2018 during the 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, represents just another initiative established to drive liberalisation.  How would you describe the level of commitment of African stakeholders today as far as this initiative is concerned?

 

The level of commitment among African stakeholders including governments toward the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is a mix of progress and challenges, reflecting both enthusiasm and caution. Though the SAATM implementation holds so much promise leaning from the Europe Single Sky experience, the pace of the implementation has been slow with only 35 of the 55 African Union (AU) member states signed up for SAATM as of 2023.

Some countries have made strides in liberalizing their air transport markets and aligning with SAATM’s goals of the open skies policy, while others have been slower to adopt the required reforms due to domestic concerns or economic challenges. These challenges include protectionism of their national markets and carriers seen as strategic assets; regulatory alignment, visa facilitation, the issue of economic disparities between African countries, lack of sustained political will. However, positive developments from AFCAC indicate that twenty countries are participating in the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) being orchestrated by AFCAC. 

 

What do you think African governments and industry stakeholders should be doing to unlock the opportunities accruing from both SAATM and the Yamoussoukro Declaration endorsed in Lome, Togo on 12th July 2000?

 

Unlocking the opportunities presented by both the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) requires African governments, industry stakeholders, and regional bodies to take coordinated and strategic actions.  Governments need to renew and reinforce their political commitment to SAATM and YD. This means prioritizing these initiatives at the highest levels of government, ensuring that they are integrated into national economic development strategies, and actively working to remove restrictions on market access, fifth freedom rights, and capacity constraints to their full implementation.

For genuine liberation to occur governments should gradually reduce subsidies and protection for national carriers and allow fair competition to thrive by fully liberalizing air service agreements (ASAs) and embracing open skies policies. Governments must balance the protection of their national carriers with the broader benefits of regional integration, for example through phased liberalization, where countries gradually open up their markets while establishing safety nets such as financial support, partnerships, or alliances with stronger airlines.

Massive aviation infrastructure upgrade and modernization are also needed across airport facilities, expanding runways, cargo facilities and airspace management technologies. Prioritizing investments in infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and attracting foreign investment to developing world-class airports and air navigation services. Governments should support the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and implement ICAO’s No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative to ensure that all African states meet safety and security standards.

Governments and industry stakeholders should actively promote the benefits of SAATM and YD to the public, businesses, airlines, airports, tourism boards, and local communities and policymakers highlighting the economic opportunities, job creation, and improved connectivity that these initiatives can bring.

Airlines across Africa should form strategic alliances, codeshare agreements, and partnerships which can help airlines expand their networks, improve efficiency, and compete more effectively against larger global carriers. Governments should create a conducive environment for LCCs by reducing barriers to entry and simplifying regulatory requirements. Governments should integrate aviation development into broader economic policies, such as those promoting trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and tourism through visa facilitation and infrastructure development.

 

Talking about the contemporary global aviation ecosystem, how significant do you find the increasing digitalization, virtualization and interoperability of aviation systems?

 

The increasing digitalization, virtualization, and interoperability of aviation systems are pivotal in transforming the global aviation ecosystem. They enhance operational efficiency, improve safety, reduce costs, and contribute to sustainability. Industry data underscores the substantial benefits these technologies offer, making them essential for the future growth and competitiveness of the aviation industry.

Digitalization in aviation involves the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize various aspects of operations, from flight planning and air traffic management to maintenance and customer service.  Adopting virtualization solutions according to a Boeing report, for training can reduce training costs by 30% and decrease the time required for training by 20%, while maintaining high safety and performance standards. Pilots and air traffic controllers for example can train using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) simulations, reducing the need for expensive physical simulators and increasing training flexibility.

As digitalization and interoperability increase, so does the need for robust cybersecurity measures. The more connected aviation systems become, the more vulnerable they are to cyber threats. IATA’s 2023 Cybersecurity Survey indicated that 95% of airlines consider cybersecurity a major business risk. The aviation industry is expected to spend $3.9 billion on cybersecurity by 2026 to protect critical infrastructure and data.

Digitalization and interoperability contribute to improved safety through real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automated safety management systems. These technologies help identify potential risks and prevent accidents. The implementation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology has enhanced real-time tracking of aircraft, reducing the risk of mid-air collisions and enabling more efficient air traffic control.

 

From your perspective as a cybersecurity cum CNS/ATM expert, how significant is the much-talked-about vulnerability and susceptibility of aviation to activities within the cyberspace?

 

The vulnerability and susceptibility of aviation to activities within cyberspace are highly significant. The reason being that aviation used to be a closed environment and many aviation systems, particularly in CNS/ATM, still rely on legacy technologies that were not originally designed with cybersecurity in mind. This makes them vulnerable to cyberattacks, including data breaches, ransomware, and system disruptions. The potential consequences of cyberattacks on aviation safety, security, and operations are profound, and the financial impact can be substantial. Proactive cybersecurity measures, investment in advanced technologies, and a robust regulatory framework are essential to mitigating these risks and ensuring the continued safety and resilience of global aviation. Cybersecurity is both a management and technical issue.

The aviation industry has seen a significant increase in cyberattacks over the past decade. These attacks target a wide range of systems, including airline IT infrastructure, airport operations, and air traffic management systems. Disruption of CNS/ATM systems, tampering with flight data, or interfering with aircraft operations could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including accidents. These disruptions can result in financial losses, reputational damage, and a loss of customer trust. Accenture’s Cyber Threatscape Report (2023) estimates that the cumulative economic impact of cyberattacks on the aviation sector could exceed $10 billion by 2025.

 

What measures would you prescribe for strengthening the resilience of the global aviation ecosystem within the increasingly complex global cyberspace?

 

Strengthening the resilience of the global aviation ecosystem against cyber threats requires a holistic approach. By implementing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks, enhancing threat detection and response capabilities, fostering collaboration, investing in training, adopting zero-trust models, securing critical systems, conducting regular testing, and fostering innovation, the aviation sector can effectively mitigate cyber risks.

Aviation stakeholders should adopt and implement comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks and standards that provide structured approaches to managing cybersecurity risks, such as those recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, and ISO/IEC 27001. Establish robust cybersecurity policies and procedures that cover all aspects of aviation operations. Ensure that these policies are enforced consistently across all levels of the organization.

 

How would you describe the provision of air navigation services today by African service providers and regulatory authorities against the backdrop of recent ICAO safety audit reports, which paint a sad picture regarding many African States?

 

The provision of air navigation services in Africa is a complex and evolving landscape. An examination of the provision of air navigation services (ANS) by African service providers and regulatory authorities against the backdrop of recent ICAO safety audit reports reveals several critical areas of concern and opportunities begging for improvement. Achieving the goal of meeting global safety and efficiency standards will require concerted efforts from governments, regional bodies, and international partners to address the underlying issues and build a more resilient and capable air navigation system across Africa.

As an overview of the situation, the latest ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) results indicate that despite efforts to improve safety and efficiency in the region several African states continue to struggle with achieving compliance with ICAO’s safety standards, particularly in the area of air navigation services and airports. Compliance rates in key areas such as communication, navigation, surveillance (CNS), and air traffic management (ATM) are below global averages.

Many African countries continue to rely on outdated ANS infrastructure, which affects the safety and efficiency of their air traffic management systems. The lack of modern communication, navigation, and surveillance technologies is a critical issue. According to IATA, only 40% of African airports are equipped with modern CNS infrastructure, compared to a global average of 70%. Surveillance systems, particularly radar and ADS-B coverage, remain limited in many parts of Africa, leading to blind spots in air traffic monitoring.

 

Overall, how are you viewing the future of the African aviation industry?

 

The future of the African aviation industry is full of promise with strong growth prospects, driven by demographic trends, economic development, and initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), rising demand, increased connectivity, and expanding fleets. However, realizing this potential will require overcoming significant challenges, particularly in infrastructure, regulation, and operational efficiency. With strategic investments, enhanced regional cooperation, and a focus on sustainability and innovation, Africa’s aviation industry can play a pivotal role in the continent’s economic development and global integration.  Organizations like AAP will continue to push for the African aviation of our dreams. ◙

 

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