Civil Aviation Security: Satisfaction of ICAO Regional Office
The ICAO Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr. JALLOW MAM SAIT, made it known during his stay in Cameroon from 11 to 14 November 2018 for the inauguration of the Regional Center for Safety Training of Civil Aviation of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA).
On the sidelines of the actual inauguration ceremony of the CCAA Security Training Center which took place on 13 November 2018, the Director of this specialized UN organization had working sessions alternately with, the Director General of the CCAA and his collaborators, the Minister of Transport, the Governor of the Littoral Region and the Government Delegate to the Urban Council of Douala on 12 and 13 November 2018. Then he visited the construction site of the new headquarters of the CCAA, the Training School and the Yaoundé Secondary Search and Rescue Center, at the Nsimalen airport platform.
During the exchanges with the various parties, they overviewed important files of Civil Aviation in Cameroon (security, safety, air transport, the development of competencies, infrastructures and environmental protection environment), and major obstacles to the implementation of security measures were presented to him. In particular the illegal occupation of the airport domain.
The guest took the opportunity to thank the Government, administrations and municipal authorities for their continuous support to Civil Aviation- a driving force for development. Then, he invited everyone to manage this crucial and well-regulated sector, since air traffic is set to double by 2030 in Africa.
Subsequently, he congratulated Cameroon for exceeding the global compliance target of 70%. A score that ranks Cameroon today in 15th place in Africa in terms of aviation security. He also congratulated and encouraged Madam the Director General of the CCAA for the dedication to the task of supervision, for the recognition of the Security Training Center through its certification, for the progress made in security and for the high scores thus recorded.
According to him, "safety and facilitation are essential to the sustainability of Civil Aviation".
Returning to the role of the Regional Office which is to facilitate compliance with international standards for States and to assist in the harmonious application of the latter, he dwelt on the certification of airports and accident investigations which are requirements from ICAO to States. ICAO's concern is to increase the certification rate in Africa, which is currently 27% only.
A project has been set up to accelerate the certification process in Africa. Twenty states have been selected for this project, including Cameroon. Cameroon had already received a recognition from ICAO in 2016, during its Assembly at the time, the country was awarded certificate.
