the official opening of the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Bonaero
Park
30 March 2006
Programme Director,
Chairperson of the ATNS Board and various agencies present here,
Chief Executive of ATNS and various agencies present here,
Chief of South African Rescue Operations and the former Head,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
About a month ago we met as the aviation sector to discuss challenges facing
aviation safety. On that occasion we highlighted that air transport is
increasingly becoming significant in Africa generating about 470 000 direct and
indirect jobs across Africa contributing over US$11.3 billion to African Growth
Development Programme (GDP). It is with this in mind that we place particular
attention on aviation safety.
We also know from estimations that although Africa accounts for about three
percent of the world's aircraft departures in 2004 Africa accounted for about
27 percent of all fatal accidents in the world. If we are to win the confidence
of travellers across the world that our airspace is safe, this trend has to
change.
The Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre (ARCC) is an operational
facility of the South African Search and Rescue Organisation (SARO) responsible
for promoting efficient organisation of search and rescue services and for
coordinating the conduct of aeronautical search and rescue operations. This is
a significant body in the industry in the efforts to improve coordination for
the safety of our airspace.
The Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) is responsible for the provision
of safe and efficient air traffic, navigational and associated services. As a
company responsible for approximately 10 percent of the worldâs airspace mainly
in the African continent the location of the ARRC within ATNS became a logical
thing to do. It is our objective to minimise the risk of occurrence of air
incidents in our promotion of safer skies not only in South Africa but also
across our borders as the operations of this centre extend to Namibia,
Swaziland and Lesotho. We believe this would be achieved best by ATNS working
with the South African Search and Rescue Organisation.
According to the South African Civil Aircraft Register (SACAR), there were
eight, 935 registered aircraft as at the end of March 2005. A total of 4 751
(53 percent) of these aircraft represented aeroplanes, helicopters and
agricultural aircraft. The other 4 184 (47 percent) represented LS1 or sport
and recreational aircraft. We have also seen and experienced recently an
increase in accidents involving the sport and recreational and the smaller
aircraft which is a matter of concern to us as well.
During the year 2004/05, the ARCC received 174 distress calls of which 150
were false alerts or distressed aircraft that were able to land safely at the
airport. In all the above cases the ARCC was activated to search for the
missing aircraft and the longest search was for 10 hours. It is our hope that
this number will not rise and where it is factors beyond our control, like
weather that we are able to respond timeously.
We attach great importance to the aviation industry as government. With
tourism being a key sector in our economy, aviation plays a critical role in
the transportation of foreign tourists. With the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the
Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA) it is anticipated
that the civil aviation sector will grow at even higher rates than it has in
the past which puts pressure on our search and rescue capability.
We commend the work done at the ARCC as the staff assigned to the ARCC in
performing the search and rescue functions with their Air Traffic Services
(ATS) responsibilities.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr Arthur Bradshaw, former Head of
Aeronautical SAR operations, Mr Charles Norval, the ARCC Chief and the current
Acting Head of SAROPS, Ms Santjie White, ARCC search mission coordinator and
all volunteers who have played a leading role in search and rescue and others
who always respond positively to any search and rescue callout.
Let me conclude by inviting the Chairperson of the ATNS Board, Mr Mike
Mabasa, to join in the unveiling of the plaque to declare the ARCC officially
opened.
Ladies and gentlemen, the newly refurbished South African Aeronautical
Rescue Coordination Centre (SAARCC) is hereby officially opened.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Transport
30 March 2006
