Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition

The latest issue of African Aerospace is bursting with our report from Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition 2024, held in Johannesburg on 16-17 September. One of the big talking points was progress towards the Single African Air Transport Market - SAATM. I wrote this following the Summit in our editorial comment, with the headline: Sorry, we can't expect SAATM anytime soon. "Delivering SAATM is a hugely complicated step-by-step process needing subtle political manoeuvring and continuous stakeholder persuasion. There is no big bang for SAATM. It will take patience, application and skill. African air transport leaders say the players are in place to deliver but be ready for a long game." Your views are appreciated on this vital initiative for Africa. The issue also featured African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) chair Alcinda Pereria; Thierry de Bailleul of Madagascar Airlines; Belarnicio Muangala of FLY ANGOLA, the Qatar Airways stake in Airlink, The Bateleurs, Ghana Airports Company Limited and Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare. Free to read. Do it. Lydia-Claire Halliday Fanny JACQUET Femke Baudoin Alan Peaford, MBE Mark Brown Linden Birns Rodger Foster Sam Keddle Aaron Munetsi Vijay Poonoosamy Poppy Khoza Adefunke Adeyemi https://lnkd.in/enTV4UFK

The Post Show Report for the 8th edition of Aviation AFRICA is available now - please contact info@aviationafrica.aero if you haven't received your copy. Watch the highlights of the event, held in Sandton, 16-17 September 2024, here: https://lnkd.in/et2rZPEn #avaf24 #aviationafrica SACAA #afbaa24 #aviationevents #aviationindustry #mro #airlinesandairplanes #events #southafrica

As we close a fantastic Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition 2024, say thank you to our wonderful hosts in the SACAA, we are already planning for 2025 and delighted to announce Aviation AFRICA is going back to its home in Rwanda, 4th & 5th September 2025. Hosted by Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority and RwandAir Ltd, we have another exciting show on the horizon. #avaf24 #aviationafrica #rwanda

This was, by far, the best Aviation Africa we have attended. Many new airline and flight school introductions for CPaT. It was so busy, that when the show ended Tuesday at 5 pm, our team was still doing product demsntrations after the show closed. Thank you to Mark Brown and Alan Peaford, MBE for all of your efforts to put on a prefesssional and productive conference.

Safety: Panel & Presentation at Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition Led by: Tom Kok, Managing Director, AviAssist Foundation Speakers: Andy James FRAeS, Aviation Consulting Specialist, Marsh Advisory UK&I Sanjeeth Sewgolam, Aviation Safety Regional, Security & SHE Manager Aviation Safety & SHE Department Airbus Helicopters Megan Lord, Manager - Flight Safety, Solenta Aviation Aviation Matita Tshabalala, Managing Director, HumanErgoCoach During our talk we explored 3 topics. What must be done differently in safety promotion to create a lasting jump forward in safety excellence? What must be done differently to reduce runway excursions? What must be done differently to get the Next Generation Aviation Professionals on board and engaged on safety? Throughly enjoyed discussing these topics with the rest of the panel members who were all so knowledgeable. #safety #speaker #aviationafrica #aviassistfoundation

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Ridiculous to think a week has already passed since Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition threw open it's doors to welcome leaders from across the continent's aviation sector and beyond to the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng. So many takeaways from the packed conference sessions. 🎙 Highlights from my #airports panel on day one include: ✈ ACSA's planned infrastructure investments that include total capex spend of R21.7bn over the next five years and a focus on cargo and non-aeronautical revenue. ✈ Challenges that include protectionism, infrastructure constraints, high costs and compliance with international safety regulations. ✈ The wider need for collaboration, regulatory support and strategic partnerships to drive growth and address these challenges. ✈ The role of PPP and private investment in unlocking funding for infrastructure development and the adoption of new technologies. ✈ The huge growth potential of African airports, particularly in middle-income countries, like Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria. ✈ #AfCFTA as a significant opportunity for airport development and its potential to boost intra-African trade and connectivity. ✈ Rise of specialised tourism, such as safaris. ✈ How airport modernisation strategies should focus on efficiency and financial sustainability. ✈ The role of incentives and initiatives to attract airlines and promote route development. ✈ The potential that #Africa's airports have to unlock economic growth and generate job creation. 🎙 From the #groundhandling panel on day two key takeaways include: ✈ Meeting shifting customer expectations and balancing private aviation needs (and the limited associated infrastructure/ availability of luxury services for HNWIs) with commercial aviation requirements. ✈ Challenges with landing permits (which can take up to 20 days for more than 8 passengers) and how this can impact travel arrangements. ✈ Compliance with international safety, security and environmental standards. ✈ Advancements in technology such as AI and automation and how these are impacting ground handling ops. ✈ Wider need for more effective communication between all stakeholders and the ongoing need for training both when recruiting and retaining staff. ✈ Changing the perception of ground handling services for the next generation. ✈ Need for ongoing investment in eGSE and charging infrastructure to meet demand. ✈ Importance of relationships between ground handlers and FBOs/ airport operators. Massive thanks to the Regional Gateway team back in the office for pulling this short video together celebrating this year's summit. Bring on Aviation Africa 2025, which will return to #Kigali, Rwanda next September! And keep an eye on Times Aerospace too for plenty more coverage of the event.

I have been fortunate in my career to have met and talked privately with a great number of leaders from industry and government. Some I have gone away bemused as to how they achieved higher office – and others I greatly admired their wisdom and presence. One such person is Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda. I just read a transcript of a speech he gave while welcoming a new cabinet to his country’s government. Rwanda famously has a higher percentage of female parliamentarians than men which may explain its success – but words from the President that determine the culture within the government, make it is clear what is expected from them. I wish our own childish, sparring, elected representatives, would listen to the words from Kagame. “Your main duty as leaders is to serve the interest of all Rwandans, without exception. Leading also includes setting an example for others to follow, starting with those you lead, especially young people. How do they grow up? What are they focused on? How do they understand our way of working and how can it improve?” he said. “Similarly, when you are given responsibilities, you are expected to make decisions that are viable. A leader who is indecisive does not fulfil their responsibilities.” He reminded leaders in different positions that they have expectations to meet and whatever they should do, they should strive to do it fast and deliver results. “It does not require constant follow up or regular reminders to do what you should do,” he said, adding that sometimes leaders wait to be reminded all the time to fulfil their duties and when it gets to a point where they have to be accountable, they apologise and expect things to move on. President Kagame said that apologising in itself, is not enough because one has to factor in the time and resources wasted, which cannot be simply replaced by an apology. He reminded leaders to stop thinking about themselves only or putting their interests first, rather than those of citizens, and cautioned them against pride and self-importance, traits which he said stand in the way of development. I am looking forward to seeing President Kagame again when the Aviation Africa Summit moves back to Kigali in October again next year. There will be many leaders there from regulators, industry and government and hopefully some of this wisdom will rub off on them.

The aero-politics panel at Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition 2024 was a big talking point at this event with panellists calling for the African Civil Aviation Commission AFCAC to be given the "teeth" to make the African Union's Single African Air Traffic Market (SAATM) happen. The creation in Africa of a single, deregulated air transport market with open competition is a dream of many liberalists keen to see this vast continent unlock its potential. But for many countries and airlines, open competition is scary, offering the real prospect of many being crushed by the bigger and richer. So, hearing Poppy Khoza, DG of SACAA, Capt. Gilbert M Kibe, Barry Kashambo, and moderator Vijay Poonoosamy offering a route forward to unlock SAATM was a breath of fresh air. Alan Peaford, MBE Mark Brown Clare B. Adefunke Adeyemi Claudette Vianello Sam Keddle Chloe Greenbank Kamil Al-Awadhi Aaron Munetsi Abderahmane Berthe Palesa Malwandla Sanjeev Gadhia Marcelle Nethersole Katherine Kaczynska Rodger Foster Linden Birns Dillon Birns Lydia-Claire Halliday James Crichton-Smith Stephan Hannemann Hussein Dabbas Fanny JACQUET Femke Baudoin Rasebotsa Lulu Poppy Khoza, DG of South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority

Great meeting the guys from C&L at Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition and to hear about their plans to expand support across the continent

Aviation Africa 2024 Exceeded all expectations We thank our main sponsor SACAA along with Co-location parner AfBAA Can’t wait to see what 2025 will look like in Kigali, Rwanda.