The international Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for a renewed focus on aviation safety to help Africa reap the benefits of aviation connectivity. The organisation also called for a strong partnership to drive innovative solutions to the other challenges facing aviation in the region: security, environmental sustainability and infrastructure. "Aviation's connectivity has turned our planet into a global community. With two or three kilometres of runway, even the most remote outpost has access to the world through air transport. This is particularly important in Africa where there are often no land transport alternatives," said Tony Tyler, IATA's director general and CEO, in a speech to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). Speaking at their Annual General Assembly in Marrakech, Tyler outlined a vision for supporting the growth of African aviation through partnership and innovation. "We must work together to ensure that every government in the continent understands aviation as an engine for sustainable development and a key pillar of economic strategy. Africa will benefit greatly by harnessing the power of a successful aviation industry. To ensure that aviation delivers on its potential, we must work together--industry and government--to ensure that aviation is safe secure, environmentally sustainable and well supported with efficient infrastructure," said Tyler. IATA noted concern over safety levels in Africa. In 2005 Africa recorded nearly 10 hull losses per million flights with Western built jets. By 2008 that had been reduced to two. "The trend is once again in the right direction. And there have been no hull losses this year with IATA carriers. But aviation must be safe for all airlines and in all regions. And that means we have much work to do in Africa," said Tyler. IATA urged support across the continent for its Checkpoint of the Future concept, noting that Nigeria joined INTERPOL and over 12 countries in signing a statement of principles supporting the concept. Tyler also pointed out the improvements needed in cargo security, and expressed concern at the development of a red list of banned countries by Europe. With COP-17 opening next week in Durban South Africa, Tyler repeated aviation's commitment to "environmental sustainability, through its targets of fuel efficiency improvements of 1.5 per cent per year to 2020, carbon neutral growth from 2020, and a cut in net emissions of 50 per cent by 2050 compared to 2005". He also noted the great opportunities for sustainable biofuels. "With the potential to reduce aviation's carbon footprint by up to 80 per cent, sustainable biofuels are an innovation that is a potential game changer," he said. He also made clear the industry's opposition to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which will distort markets and open the door to a patchwork approach of conflicting, competing or layered measures including taxation. "I urge all AFRAA members to stay engaged on the issue. It is important that you continue to communicate to your governments the importance of a global solution though the International Civil Aviation Organisation," said Tyler.
