IATA Launches Collaborative Program to Enhance Aviation Safety in Africa

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP), a new initiative aimed at reducing accidents and serious incidents in the African aviation sector. CASIP is part of the broader Focus Africa campaign.

The launch partners of CASIP include The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing, and The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA).

The collaborative effort between these partners will prioritize the most critical safety concerns in Africa and mobilize the necessary resources to address them. Improving aviation safety in Africa will have far-reaching benefits for the continent’s economies and societies.

“Enhancing aviation safety will play a crucial role in Africa’s overall development. Safe, efficient, and reliable air connectivity contributes significantly to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. CASIP will emphasize to governments across the continent that aviation should be a priority in national development strategies. With such extensive benefits at stake, we hope to inspire other stakeholders to join the CASIP initiative,” stated Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA.

The starting point for safety improvement is the effective implementation of global safety standards. Governments’ adoption of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) is a key indicator. However, data from 2022 indicates significant room for improvement, as only 28 out of 54 African states achieved an effective implementation rate of 60% or higher for ICAO SARPS.

In tandem, the CASIP partners will:

• Identify operational safety deficiencies and implement action plans to address them.
• Provide safety training and workshops across the continent.
• Promote a data-driven approach to safety performance, ensuring that safety data is accessible to decision-makers and facilitating efficient accident/incident reporting.

“Improving safety performance is a top priority for Africa, and we can leverage existing successful models. Collaborative safety teams in Latin America have shown that safety improves when governments and industry work together to implement global standards. Through this partnership, resources will be pooled to achieve greater impact in reducing risks and delivering measurable safety improvements,” added Walsh.