Nigerian airlines’ scramble for IOSA
The International Air Transport Association has boosted its commitment to improving aviation safety in Africa. With three Nigerians already IOSA-certified and more on the line, the sector could witness enhanced safety, WOLE SHADARE writes
Heeding the call
Nigeria may have heeded the call by IATA for African governments to focus on adoption and adherence to global standards to assure a safe, efficient and integrated air transport system.
Connectivity is critical for African growth and development, supporting some 6.7 million jobs and $68 billion in economic activity. Aviation’s economic and social benefits, however, can be undermined by the unintended consequences of government action which are not aligned with the established framework of global standards.
“Global standards are the foundation upon which a safe, secure, and integrated global air transport system are built. The system is so reliable that we don’t often think about the enormous coordination that makes it possible. That is why we need to remind governments of the value of global standards that support aviation and the vibrancy of their economies,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Raising the bar
Safety is the prime example of what can be achieved with a consistent, global approach. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the global standard for airline operational safety management. Over the decade since it was established, there is a clear trend that the aggregate safety performance of airlines on the registry is superior to those airlines that are not on the registry. African airlines on the IOSA registry are performing in line with global averages. And in 2013, there was not a single Western-built jet hull loss by any of IATA’s 25 African member airlines.
Tyler noted that, “Improving safety is the biggest issue on the African agenda, and global standards play a crucial role in this area. Penultimate year, nearly half of the fatalities on Western-built jets occurred in Africa. This informed African governments including Nigeria’s decision to recognise the need to improve safety in the Abuja Declaration’s goal of reaching world-class safety levels by 2015.
To be in compliant with high airlines safety regulations, three Nigerian carriers have successfully obtained International Air Transport Association, IATA, Operational Safety Audit Certification.
Key elements of the Abuja declaration include the establishment of independent and sufficiently funded civil aviation authorities, implementation of effective and transparent safety oversight systems by all African states, completion of IOSA by all African carriers, implementation of accident prevention measures focused on runway safety and loss of control, implementation of flight data analysis and implementation of safety management systems by all service providers.
IOSA is a standard that is constantly evolving. By September 2015, IATA implemented enhanced IOSA which includes a component of constant quality management.
Airlines set example
In this region, South African Express, Kenya Airways and EgyptAir have completed a trial Enhanced IOSA audit. The global airline clearing house is developing an audit program for airlines that are outside of the IOSA criteria—either because of aircraft types operated or the nature and scale of their operations.
The Basic Safety Audit Program (BSAP) was rolled-out by the end of 2014. This is not an IOSA alternative.
“I stress that it is only for airlines that cannot be audited under IOSA. The goal is to give such airlines an opportunity to also benefit from a core of global safety standards,” he added.
To broaden the base of IOSA carriers (outside of IATA’s membership), IATA is working with the International Airlines Training Fund to provide in-house training for ten African airlines.
The IOTA chief stated that governments must also up their game with more effective safety oversight.
As of the end of 2012 only 11 African states had achieved 60 per cent implementation of ICAO’s safety-related standards and recommended practices (SARPS) according to the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP). There has been some significant progress. But, to be very frank, overall, Tyler said he was yet to see sufficient urgency in dealing with this fundamental issue, adding that meeting the Abuja Declaration’s 2015 commitment would require a major acceleration in the pace of implementation.
Nigerian carriers join the league
The successful airlines are Arik Air, Aero Contractors and FirstNation Airways. Those on the verge of attaining IOSA certification include Allied Air and Cargo services, Overland Airways and Dana Air. Air Peace has done its last workshop but is about to be audited.
The IOSA Safety Audit, the instrument for measuring safety among airlines of the world, is not criteria to end safety related issues or prevent air accidents all over the world, but is an audit that helps airlines appreciate the importance of airlines operational safety procedures and following said safety procedures to run an efficient airline.
Over the last century, global standards transformed air travel from a high risk adventure into a routine part of daily life. And when it comes to operational safety management, the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the gold standard. IOSA will not eliminate all accidents, as shown by the recent tragedy in Russia. The first airline was audited a decade ago. In 2009 it became a condition of IATA membership. And the numbers on safety performance clearly show that airlines on the registry perform better.
Africa is no exception. None of the 25 IATA members here (17 in Sub-Saharan Africa and 8 in North Africa) had an accident in 2012. That aligns with that of all airlines on the registry. But the overall safety record for Africa remains a problem that we must fix. African aviation—including non-IOSA carriers—accounts for about three per cent of global airline traffic. And last year it accounted for nearly half of the fatalities on Western-built jets.
Conclusion
Africa is the second most populous continent and home to an estimated one-seventh of the world’s population. Yet it represents just three per cent of global airline traffic. This in many peoples view is seen as a tremendous opportunity. Other air markets have matured or are in the process of maturing; for Africa, the future of aviation is still being created. The message today is that IATA is keeping and defending global standards at the core of the amazing industry. Experts said there is no reason why the next 100 years of commercial aviation cannot become Africa’s century of flight.
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