INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES ARE PRESSURING 10-AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE AIR SAFETY. THE AIRLINES HAVE JOINED FORCES AND ARE THREATENING TO WITHHOLD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEES.DURING THE PAST SIX-YEARS, AIR TRAFFIC OVER AFRICA HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. IN 1991, ONLY 17 AIRLINES FLEW TO SOUTH AFRICA -- SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER HAS JUMPED TO MORE THAN 80. SOUTH AFRICA AIRWAYS OFFICIAL LEON ELS SAYS THE INCREASE IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUTDATED AIR-TRAFFIC-CONTROL SYSTEMS.
WE, AS SOUTH AFRICA AIRWAYS, AND ALSO THE OTHER MAJOR AIRLINES THAT FLY OVER AFRICA, HAVE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW BEEN PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITIES, THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORT, AND DIRECTLY WITH SOME OF THE COUNTRIES -- SAYING TO THEM THAT THE AIR NAVIGATIONAL CHARGES THAT WE PAY YOUR COUNTRY TO FLY OVER YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE USED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UPGRADING OF YOUR FACILITIES AND THE TRAINING OF YOUR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
MR. ELS SAYS THE 10-AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WHICH HE WOULD NOT IDENTIFY, HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION. SO, HE SAYS THE AIRLINE COALITION HAS PUT TOGETHER AN OFFER.
WE WILL ASSIST YOU IN OBTAINING THE NECESSARY FACILITIES AND ASSIST WITH THE TRAINING OF THE PEOPLE. AND WE WILL THEN DEDUCT THAT FROM THE AIR NAVIGATIONAL CHARGES. JUST AN EXAMPLE, SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS, ON A MONTHLY BASIS, PAYS NEARLY ONE-MILLION U-S DOLLARS FOR AIR NAVIGATIONAL CHARGES.
HE SAYS FOR ALL THE AIRLINES INVOLVED, THE FEES PROBABLY EXCEED 40-MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH. THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS OFFICIAL BELIEVES MOST OF THE COUNTRIES IN QUESTION WILL AGREE TO THE PLAN. THOSE WHO REFUSE MAY LOSE THE NAVIGATIONAL CHARGES ALTOGETHER WHEN CARRIERS RE-ROUTE THEIR FLIGHTS.
THE PLAN TO IMPROVE AFRICA'S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS IS EXPECTED TO BE FORMALLY PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENTS BEFORE JULY.
13-May-97
Source: Voice of America