AFRAA teams with ACS to bring IOSA approvals closer to home

AFRAA has teamed up with Australia's Aviation Compliance Solutions (ACS), an IATA IOSA approved auditing firm, in a bid to develop IOSA auditors from within the continent and reduce costs which will make it more affordable for airlines to obtain and maintain IOSA registration.

The Secretary General of the African airline group, Elijah Chingoshu announced the tie up at the AFRAA annual assembly near Mombasa.
“Going forward, safety will continue to be the greatest challenge facing African aviation,” Chingoshu said. “We need to tackle safety issues seriously and head-on. AFRAA will strengthen collaboration with various organisations particularly IATA, AFCAC and ICAO to jointly facilitate the attainment of industry best practices in safety.”
Chingoshu said the link with ACS was one of the ways AFRAA is helping airlines to attain and maintain IOSA registration by providing training as well as facilitating cooperation and assistance among African Airlines.
The Secretary General also called for improvements in infrastructure and support for those developing human resource skills.
“Currently, infrastructure in many African States is deficient, dilapidated and not coping with the growing airline industry,” Chingoshu said. “There is need to develop and expand airports, runways and air navigation services facilities. Airports should be open 24 hours a day and not just during daylight hours. There is need for the relevant authorities to be proactive and plan for the expected rapid expansion of African aviation,” he said.
“The industry is behind the world in the adoption of cost effective technologies. It is important to take advantage of the latest information communication technologies including the use of mobile telephones, to minimise operating costs.”
Chingoshu said that AFRAA would be stepping up its training unit to increase the number of training programmes that benefit members.
“We will also continue to market the world class training facilities at member airlines including in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Kingdom of Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia,” he said as well as strengthening collaboration “with IATA, our partners and others to jointly hold courses and seminars to keep African airlines abreast with the latest developments in the industry.”

Pictured: Hans van Pelt (left) and Matthew Miller both from ACS. The Australian company will be helping grow the number of IOSA auditors in Africa