Montreal, Canada October Transport Month was boosted yesterday when Minister of Transport Mr Sibusiso Ndebele signed an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which will see the training of a new crop of aviation workers for South Africa and the continent. The training agreement, which Ndebele signed with ICAO Secretary-General Mr Raymond Benjamin in Montreal, Canada is expected to produce much needed new pilots, aircraft engineers, air navigation officers and all related aviation sector practitioners.
Minister Ndebele is currently leading a South African delegation to the 37th Assembly of ICAO being held in Montreal, Canada over the next 10 days.
The agreement recognises that safety, security, efficiency in air navigation and international civil aviation rely on the continuous training of aviation personnel. The agreement will ensure increased assistance and cooperation in the field of specialised aviation training between ICAO and the Department of Transport (DOT).
ICAO and the Department of Transport have agreed to jointly develop and implement an aviation training plan for South Africa. This would be implemented from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2015. DOT and ICAO would agree on the areas of training and identify training centres around South Africa.
Mr Benjamin said in Montreal the agreement would provide training in aviation disciplines and “assist South Africa to mobilise resources for training through trilateral arrangements with willing partners”.
“It would also ensure that the training provided augments South Africa’s capabilities in building skills in aviation disciplines which are conducive to the promotion of the safety, security and development of civil aviation. The training centres will after completion of each training programme file course reports to South Africa and to ICAO,” said Mr Benjamin.
Minister Ndebele said South Africa would bear the costs of travel as well the local expenses including the training and course fees; living allowances; and the cost of accommodation for the selected candidates. ICAO would provide the technical and expert support.
Minister Ndebele said all of Africa would benefit from this agreement. He said the development of aviation services was “paramount for the future of Africa as we embark on closer integration with the world economy and increase our efforts to improve living standards”.”Aviation in Africa or anywhere else cannot be developed in isolation from other regions. We are therefore called upon to provide and maintain world class standards at every turn.
“We are here to promote Africa’s role as an integral part of the governance of aviation worldwide. We are ready become global competitors while our airport infrastructure meets economic growth and socio-economic goals of our country and continent,” said Ndebele.
Minister Ndebele said this was a welcome development “especially as we host October Transport Month activities around the country. We also hosted an aviation heavy 2010 FIFA World Cup which was incident free. As part of our legacy from the World Cup we continue to share experiences with the world. In preparation for Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) 2012 the Ukrainian aviation authorities have visited South Africa. In preparation for FIFA World Cup in 2014 Brazilian aviation authorities have also visited us. We are also working closely with our counterparts in the rest of Africa to share our experiences with them and them with us, in order to develop aviation in Africa and the world”.
Contact:
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 082 888 0852
Statement on Minister Sibusiso Ndebele signing aviation training agreement with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada
