AFCAC: Moving towards a better dynamic
The Directors General and Heads of African Civil Aviation Authorities met June 05 to 07 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania, for their annual meeting.
Leaders of African Civil Aviation Authorities gather for a group photo.
Forty-two (42) States responded to the call from the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC). The Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority in Arusha hosted the meeting, which allowed dialogue between the States and AFCAC. The seven sessions organised over the three days also addressed several pertinent African civil aviation issues.
During these proceedings, AFCAC presented the progress of the various activities, key information and the challenges encountered in these areas. During these exchanges, Cameroon particularly distinguished itself and was designated as a Champion State in environmental protection. Mrs ASSOUMOU KOKI Paule, Director General of the CCAA, took the floor to share the experience of Cameroon's civil aviation sector in terms of environmental protection.
In her speech, she pointed out that Cameroon has voluntarily joined the initiatives and projects launched by the ICAO, in particular the initiative on "National Action Plans for the Reduction of CO2 Emissions from Aviation" (SAP) launched in 2010, CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), which Cameroon joined in 2018, and more recently, the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Low Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) initiatives.
To this end, the emphasis is on training resource personnel on these varied environmental protection issues. The Director General pointed out that the CCAA's approach to environmental protection is aimed at complying with ICAO obligations and taking advantage of economic opportunities in this area, particularly regarding the production of SAF.
It is worth noting that Cameroon is one of ten (10) States selected by the ICAO to benefit from a feasibility study on the development and deployment of SAF to be financed by the European Union in 2025, with plans to create a research grant to encourage research and development in the field of SAF at a national level.
She added that all the progress made had only been possible thanks to political will, government support, close collaboration with the various stakeholders and capacity-building. Thus, she urged her peers to take an interest in environmental issues, given the commitment made by the aviation community to play its part in protecting the environment and because of the economic opportunities that could result.
The lanterns at the AFCAC experience-sharing meeting were put out with the leaders' firm determination to work together for the development of African civil aviation.
Trans: MKG- ARO/CRP