Gunship
7th Dec 2002, 21:04
News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,1113,2-7-1442_1295062,00.html)
Pretoria - The International Civil Aviation Authority should help the developing world to achieve the new global standards set for the industry, Transport Minister Dullah Omar said on Saturday.
The developing world did not have the resources necessary for the upgrade, he said at the Zwartkop air force base at an International Civil Aviation Day celebration.
"Africa is often cited for its poor air safety."
Air transport on the continent is also generally known for being uneconomical, unreliable and infrequent, the minister said.
"Unquestionably... we need to address this to meet the challenge of adherence to internationally accepted standards," he said.
"As a continent we need to consolidate our capacities so we can deliver aviation safety that meets these standards."
The development of transport was one of the major areas that needed to be tackled through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), Omar said.
"Africa's economic recovery will not happen if we fail in that regard."
South Africa, with its distinguished aviation record, was expected to play a leading role to revitalise Africa's air transport network.
"We urge the aviation community to help to fully develop Africa's potential."
Outreach programmes
A group of grade 11 pupils who participate in the Aviation Training and Development Foundation's outreach programmes attended Saturday's function. Along with Omar and other dignitaries they were taken for a flight in the DC4 Lebombo.
Omar said he hoped the programme would help them to develop an appetite to become part of the aviation industry.
"I am optimistic that this industry will become properly representative over the next few years.
"I call on the industry to ensure that it becomes fully representative, not only in terms of colour, but also in terms of gender."
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Trevor Davids told reporters that some of those who had gone through the programme in the past five years were now employed by the local airlines SA Airlink and SA Express.
Pretoria - The International Civil Aviation Authority should help the developing world to achieve the new global standards set for the industry, Transport Minister Dullah Omar said on Saturday.
The developing world did not have the resources necessary for the upgrade, he said at the Zwartkop air force base at an International Civil Aviation Day celebration.
"Africa is often cited for its poor air safety."
Air transport on the continent is also generally known for being uneconomical, unreliable and infrequent, the minister said.
"Unquestionably... we need to address this to meet the challenge of adherence to internationally accepted standards," he said.
"As a continent we need to consolidate our capacities so we can deliver aviation safety that meets these standards."
The development of transport was one of the major areas that needed to be tackled through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), Omar said.
"Africa's economic recovery will not happen if we fail in that regard."
South Africa, with its distinguished aviation record, was expected to play a leading role to revitalise Africa's air transport network.
"We urge the aviation community to help to fully develop Africa's potential."
Outreach programmes
A group of grade 11 pupils who participate in the Aviation Training and Development Foundation's outreach programmes attended Saturday's function. Along with Omar and other dignitaries they were taken for a flight in the DC4 Lebombo.
Omar said he hoped the programme would help them to develop an appetite to become part of the aviation industry.
"I am optimistic that this industry will become properly representative over the next few years.
"I call on the industry to ensure that it becomes fully representative, not only in terms of colour, but also in terms of gender."
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Trevor Davids told reporters that some of those who had gone through the programme in the past five years were now employed by the local airlines SA Airlink and SA Express.