In the June issue of AeroSafety World, I addressed the twin tragedies that had befallen African aviation earlier that month, with fatal accidents in Accra, Ghana, and, more famously, in Lagos, Nigeria. I said it was important to recognize that, despite those two accidents, progress was being made in aviation safety in Africa. Since then, another important step has been taken.
In July, the ministers of aviation, or their equivalents, and the directors general of civil aviation authorities (CAAs) from 35 African nations met in Abuja, Nigeria, for the African Union Ministerial Conference on Aviation Safety. During the five-day meeting, the delegates heard presentations from a variety of organizations, including Flight Safety Foundation, and discussed and debated a range of topics. But most importantly, the delegates approved the Abuja Declaration, which reaffirms the region’s commitment to aviation safety.
Specifically, in the Abuja Declaration, the region’s aviation mi…
