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China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Photo by allafrica.com
By Bernard Momanyi
Arusha -- China has expressed interest in managing air traffic control in East African countries, with a pledge to employ new technology at a time airports in the region are improving their status to guarantee air safety.
This was the agenda at the EAC-China ATM High Level Forum held in Arusha, Tanzania last week.
The forum was convened by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and it brought together representatives from the regional countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The main functions of CAAC is to develop industry development strategy, and mid and long-term plan for civil aviation, as well as ad hoc proposals concerning the planning of comprehensive transport system; propose plans, and the annual plan for civil aviation as required, direct the implementation of the plans, and conduct inspection and examination. Draft civil aviation-related laws, rules, and regulations, as well as policies and standards; advance institutional reform of the civil aviation industry.
China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) is a large-scale state-owned enterprise approved by the State Council. As one of the Top 10 military industry groups controlled directly by the central government, CETC is mainly engaged in the engineering and construction of essential military/civil information system, as well as in the research and manufacturing of major electronics equipments, communication and electronics products, key components and software.
During the forum, the Political Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Yang Tong, said the People's Republic of China is ready to support the development of a "robust aviation sector in the EAC region" with new technology.
The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General was represented at the forum by Philip Wambugu who is in the Director for Infrastructure. A statement on the EAC website states that African civil aviation is five times riskier in terms of aviation accidents than the international average.
"This simply translates to the urgent need to address all those factors that precipitate such accidents and incidences including those related to air navigation and traffic management deficiencies," it states.
Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko acknowledged China's involvement in supporting EAC countries to improve their air traffic control management to meet the highest international standards.
"I wish to acknowledge the great support by the China Civil Aviation Administration during the MA 60 Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Procedures and the continued support to Burundi CAA in meeting its Safety and Airworthiness obligations to allow the commencement of MA 60 Operations in the region," he said, and noted that "The type, acceptance and certification of the MA 60 aircraft opens the doors for EAC and China to expand their cooperation in the aviation sector through various avenues including technology transfer, purchase/lease and operations of Chinese aircraft and parts among others.
