European Union EASA Closes SIASA Project

Front row Left – Right: Mr. Jacques Kragbe Douka (Project COSCAP-UEMOA), Mr. Robert M. Nviiri (EAC CASSOA), Ms. Suzette Nieuwoudt (SADC iSASO), Ms. Caroline Beth (EASA), Ms. Irene Gnassou Seka (Project COSCAP-UEMOA), Ms. Anabel Miralles (EASA), Mr. Jean Appolinaire Mokoumbou (ASECNA), Mr. Sadou Marafa (AAMAC), Mr. Wendell Lynch (EASA) Back row Left – Right: Mr. Frank Steffens (EASA), Mr. Matthias Borgmeire (EASA), Mr. Yves Koning (EASA), Mr. Emmanuel Guali Yoro (Cabinet du Commissaire DATC/UEMOA), Mr. Herbert D.C. Jow (BAGASOO)

The European Union supports African States to improve on their aviation safety oversight. In 2013 they launched a project called SIASA – Support to the Improvement of Aviation Safety in Africa to be implemented by EASA – European Aviation Safety Agency, that was to last for three years. The EASA SIASA project was kick started in January 2013 in Dakar during a meeting with AFCAC, ASECNA, and ICAO WACAF. A mission to collect information on areas of required assistance was undertaken up to February 2013, ending in ESAF region, and thereafter a joint RSOO meeting was held in March 2013 in Cologne.

During the SIASA project, EASA worked with various Regional Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs) in Africa with a budget of Euro 2.5m for the period 2013 – 2016. This budget was meant to cover expenses for technical mission trips in order to Africa to carry out training, and technical assistance to RSOOs, for example the development of SOFIA software.

The EASA set a work plan covering the following activities:

1. Assistance to States for countries with SSC and sharing of one expert for one year for 6 countries i.e. Benin, Congo, Mozambique, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone (four 1-week mission per country, selection methodology, Partners’ RSOO involvement)
2. Development of regulations and TGMs (PANS OPS, FOPS inspectors, ANS regulations)
3. Workshops (AIR, ATO certification, ICF)
4. Training (OPS inspectors, AOC OPS specs for Francophone States, Human factors, ANSP oversight)
5. Organisational activities (SOFIA, ECCAIRS, RSOO assistance)

Front row Left – Right: Ms. Caroline Beth, Mr. Jean A. Mokoumbou, Ms. Suzette Nieuwoudt, Mr. Luc Tytgat, Ms. Irene Gnassou Seka, Mr. Sadou Marafa, Mr. Jacques Kragbe Back row Left – Right: Mr. Robert Nviiri, Mr. Herbert Jow, Mr. Yves Koning

Due to the EBOLA crisis of 2014, Sierra Leone was not covered and instead Chad, Gabon, and Swaziland were selected for technical assistance. There is now a request to extend the SIASA project in order to cover Sierra Leone and follow up on Benin.

The SIASA project came to an end in 2016 and was officially closed on 1^st September 2016 in Cologne, Germany, at the new EASA Headquarters. EASA invited the RSOOs who were beneficiaries of the project and these included, BAGASOO, CASSOA, COSCAP-UEMOA, AAMAC and iSASO. During the meeting which lasted 31^st August – 1^st September 2016, the RSOOs gave feedback on their experience with the SIASA project implementation. The meeting agreed that there is need to address the challenge of sustainable funding of the RSOOs i.e. the best funding mechanism option. The RSOOs which were present opted to go by the results of the study done by IATA for CASSOA on the proposed funding options rather than pay for individual consultancy studies on the same matter.
The meeting also proposed that flights within the RSOO States be treated like domestic flights in order to promote the regional market.

Download presentation:CASSOA Presentation to EASA SIASA Closure – Aug 2016