Speaking notes for Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. Lisa Mangcu at 2023 National Aviation Conference, Houghton Hotel, 09h30 Am. Theme: Reimagining The Future of Aviation Safety And Security
Dear Programme Director;
Chairperson and members of the SACAA Board;
Chairpersons and Board Members from State Owned Entities
The Director of Civil Aviation, Ms Poppy Khoza;
Regional Director from West and Central Africa Region, Mr Zoo Mintoó
Directors-General and Deputy Directors-General from ICAO Member States;
Distinguished Programme Presenters;
Captains of industry, CEOs, aviation stakeholders and enthusiasts;
Executives from various State and private entities;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Introduction
It is a privilege to address you at the National Aviation Conference of 2023, at a time when we are seeing the increasing return of air transport, which is good news to us all.
Aviation is back!
Ladies and gentlemen, aviation is back! On 8 February2023, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimated that air passenger demand in 2023 would recover rapidly to pre-pandemic levels on most routes by the first quarter of the year, and that growth of around 3% on 2019 figures is expected by year-end. The report stated that airlines are expected to return to operating profitability in the last quarter of 2023. After three consecutive years of losses, we now have a reason to smile for aviation is turning the corner.
The 8 March 2023 press release of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that ‘strong travel demand is continuing through the traditionally slower winter season in the Northern Hemisphere’, while stating that African airlines’ traffic rose 124.8% in January 2023 versus a year ago.
Looking at our recovery statistics as at the end March 2023, the passenger numbers have shown a sign of recovery in that we recorded about 75% recovery when compared to the pre-Covid passenger numbers and this is consistent with the projections of IATA and ICAO. The full recovery of South Africa is expected in the 2024/25 financial year.
SAATM
Looking at the continent, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project promises greater growth for the intra-African market, and I am delighted that the implementation of this project as it relates to air transport, will be discussed today. The common aviation area as envisaged, with flights by means of intra-African routes based on economic and financial considerations of the market, would be hugely beneficial to the continent and to our country.
Re-election of South Africa into the Council and USOAP audit findings
Since the previous National Aviation Conference organised by the SACAA in 2022, further good news was that South Africa was re-elected as a member of the governing council at the 41st International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly. South Africa received151 votes, the fourth highest in the second part of voting, to retain the council seat first gained in 2003. This is an achievement for South Africa and the Continent as well as the aviation industry, and I would like to reiterate that South Africa, as a signatory of the Chicago Convention since the inception of ICAO, will continue to lead, support, and execute the objectives and mandates set by the ICAO statutes.
As you would remember, South Africa made history at this assembly by the election of the Director of Civil Aviation, Ms Poppy Khoza, to preside over the assembly as the first-ever woman in this position.
I am also pleased to provide an update that the ICAO under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA), audited South Africa’s aviation oversight system, a process coordinated and led by the SACAA on behalf of the State.
This audit was concluded earlier this month on a positive note. In the preliminary results, having concluded an intensive 2-weekaudit process, South Africa did not attract a significant safety concern and received an overwhelming Effective Implementation (EI) score of around 92% -a significant improvement from the 87.39% that ICAO gave the country in their last audit, conducted over five years ago. The final report is awaited in less than 5 months as there are elaborate processes involved before the final outcome is announced. The minor findings contained in the preliminary report are now being attended to by the SACAA to close the gaps that were identified.
As signatories to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and a Member State of the ICAO since 1944, our country is obligated to continuously comply with prescribed international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
The UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development pertaining to aviation
Ladies and gentlemen, you would also recall that in 2015, through the agency of the United Nations, governments globally agreed on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This was done to ensure that all of society is included through the rapid pace of change. Seventeen (17) overarching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framed this agenda, which set priorities and provided guidance in the implementation of these critically important areas for the subsequent fifteen years.
It would be safe to say that transport is a crucial component with which to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by rendering safe, reliable, and cost-effective air transport. Aviation contributes greatly towards job creation, in fact, before the pandemic, globally air transport supported87.7 million jobs and $3.5 trillion in global economic activity, and I believe the entire global industry is working hard to achieve those figures again.
Just yesterday, the SACAA hosted the Directors-General of Civil Aviation programme on Aviation Resilience. The focus of the discussions revolved around creating a more resilient and future-ready aviation sector. Eighteen (18) countries were in attendance including the programme facilitators from ICAO and Singapore. These discussions were timely in that as the aviation sector recovers, we ought to ensure that we recover quickly but also prepare for the growth which is projected by many international organisations.
Global economy has been dampened
That said, although currently the recent reopening of China has paved the way for a faster-than-expected recovery, it is common knowledge that the global economy has been dampened by various factors, especially the increase in bank rates in response to inflation, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that global growth is projected to fall from an estimated 3.4 percent in 2022 to 2.9 percent in 2023, and then to rise to 3.1 percent in 2024. The IMF concedes that such estimates could be affected by health outcomes in China, inflation, and geopolitical fragmentation.
The country needs the catalytic effect of aviation.
Against this backdrop, with South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation at 7, 0% in February 2023, the country needs the catalytic effect of a thriving aviation industry more than ever. As you would all be aware, by creating connectivity between nations, aviation is a key driver of economic and social development.
However, a thriving aviation industry can only be achieved by means of a safe and secure air transport system, as this industry relies on passengers having confidence in air travel. That brings us to the business of the day: aviation safety and security. I am sure that you are all eager to know how we are doing in terms of aviation safety in South Africa.
We cannot relax our vigilance in maintaining aviation safety
Ladies and gentlemen, you will have to wait a little longer for the safety update, as I will not pre-empt the experts’ presentation on the aviation incident and accident tendencies at present. Suffice to say that our country still has the proud track record of more than thirty years without fatal accidents in the scheduled airline category.
I would, however, urge the forum here today, that we all caution operators not to relax in their vigilance regarding aviation safety and security protocols. The entire industry shares the communal use of airspace, including the airline sector, general aviation, and even remotely piloted aircraft. Safe conduct in sharing this airspace is central to aviation safety, and in the future will only become more crucial, as remotely piloted aircraft increase their entry into our world of air traffic at yet another altitude of airspace. Let us reimagine the future of aviation safety and security by ensuring increased compliance. Compliance is two-fold, the States continued compliance with international requirements and industry compliance with civil aviation regulations.
The General Aviation Safety Strategy is taking us forward
That said, it is encouraging that the SACAA steadfastly continues the implementation of its multifunctional approach and strategy to address the underlying factors leading to aviation accidents in general aviation. The five-year General Aviation Safety Strategy (GASS) that is aimed at reducing accidents in the GA sector focuses, amongst others, on the various facets of safely sharing the airspace that we share and addressing the underlying causes for accidents.
I would like to congratulate both the SACAA and the willing volunteers from the industry for your dynamic efforts towards encouraging a culture of aviation safety in general aviation, including the aviation safety outreach campaigns, seminars, research, and the newsletter, the SKYwatch whose aim is to continuously educate the flying community on how to avoid those accidents.
Security
In terms of aviation security, it is encouraging to learn that South Africa’s preliminary audit report reflected No Significant Security Concern, following the ICAO audit under the Universal Security Audit Programme, Continuous Monitoring Approach, which took place from 15 –26 August 2022. As we all know, aviation security does not normally receive the same attention given to safety, until the day that something goes wrong. The 9/11 attacks in New York illustrates this fact. The aviation industry’s participation in aviation security awareness and training programmes, is therefore reassuring.
In the past year, South Africa also hosted other aviation security entities who tested our aviation security cargo systems such as the United States Transport Security Administration (TSA). Not only did the TSA find our aviation cargo systems as commensurate to their own, but they also further decided to permanently recognise our systems with huge economic spinoffs for the cargo operators at home as they operate in that part of the world. This permanent recognition comes as South Africa still maintains the ACC3 recognition from the European Union on aviation cargo systems.
Transformation update
Programme Director, the aviation industry still has some catching up to do regarding the transformation of the aviation industry, in representing the various population groups of South Africa. For example, as of 28 February 2023, the licensing statistics indicate that female pilots’ licences in all categories stand at 847 being African, 86 Coloured, 72 Indian, and 1038 White.
Regarding male pilots’ licences in all categories, even more work needs to be done, since 1 683 are African, 368 Coloured, 381 Indian, with 12 407 being White. In terms of total female representation, only 4 303 in all categories are women, while in the category that includes aircraft maintenance engineers, cabin crew and air traffic services, just 2 260are females.
Compared to some years ago, progress has been made in this arena, but there is much work to be done to achieve an aviation landscape that does justice to the potential of all our population groups. I would like to encourage everyone in the industry to throw their weight behind this cause, and to help towards the creation of a pipeline of aviation experts for the future, while assisting job creation for our talented youngsters.
I applaud the Regulator’s continuation with their external bursary programme, including assistance given with studies in Aeronautical Engineering, the Cadet Pilot programme, and the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering programme. The department of transport and the aviation entities are persisting in conducting regular outreaches to schools to enlighten learners about careers in aviation. As the Education department partners with the Transport department in efforts to introduce aviation early on in the life of a learner, we hope that this will boost the picture of representation of all racial groups in this industry.
Gender equity
Ladies and gentlemen, gender equality and the fair and just treatment of women remain a concern at governmental level. A2018 IATA global survey affirmed that women CEOs in aviation represent only 3% compared to 12% of women CEOs in other industries. As was noted in an African Airlines Association post of October 2021; ‘It is important to note that gender equality is not just about the large and obvious disparity in the absolute numbers of men versus women at the workplace. In line with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it also entails non-discrimination, guaranteeing equal pay for equal work and merit-based promotion’...‘aviation remains one of the professions where gender equality is far from being realised.’
However, our continent is doing comparatively well regarding women representation generally. The IATA global survey ranked Africa in third place alongside South America, with 8% of executive roles held by women. I would therefore urge the entire aviation industry to continue its strategic efforts to promote gender equity.
I believe that the annual National Gender Summits will bear fruit and keep South Africa at the forefront of global initiatives in this regard. The Regulator also continues to lead the way in the organisation’s gender distribution, with 51% female and 49% male employees.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead to the future, today’s topic of ‘Urban Air Mobility’ is likely to reveal as many challenges as it may open new vistas for us in terms of the future of unmanned air traffic. Words such as ‘vertiport’ and ‘air taxis’ will in the future become everyday language for us in aviation; and will expand the reach of air transport to an even greater extent as it affects everyday transport in urban areas.
As we refine and develop the concept of electronic-enabled aircraft and smart airports, I would like to encourage the industry’s vigilance going forward, including the crucial aspect of cyber security. We should have no security breaches to cripple the industry at this vital time of its recovery.
All key stakeholders in the aviation industry will need to keep their finger on the pulse to deal with security and safety issues regarding ground structures, the moving of passengers and cargo, and the safety and privacy issues of air transport at the new, possibly intrusive altitude of unmanned aircraft in the future. I believe that aviation security is on the agenda today, in the form of a panel discussion, which should be most interesting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to point out that it is human nature to sometimes question whether our plans and objectives, our audits and our safety strategies, make a difference to others.
In the business world, there are marketing campaigns and sales figures that spur companies on towards bettering their sales. In aviation, we look at accident and incident figures, which are subject to numerous factors, and we need to gauge whether we make a difference in terms of the number of safe landings.
I would like to use this opportunity today to encourage all the aviation safety and security experts by saying, ‘yes, your efforts are paying off’.
According to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the O.R. Tambo International Airport, for example, receives over 20million passengers and 110 286arriving air traffic movements every year. That is only one airport in South Africa. It is estimated that around the world, about six million people fly somewhere everyday.
If we look at the overwhelming numbers of safe take-offs that culminate in safe landings; the many people who surge through airport doors from other countries to our country and from city to city, and the many happy hours spent by weekend warriors flying around the country, we know that we are doing something right.
It is the industry’s safety and security compliance, assisted by the sustained efforts of the Regulator, that has resulted in the sterling results of airline aviation safety in South Africa. Let’s keep up the good work; and continue to help the flying public to be safe in the sky!I wish you many productive and enriching deliberations today and may we be deliberate in taking lessons that will keep our businesses safe and secure and more so the end users of our aviation services.
Thank you.
