The nation’s foremost ground handler, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has been elected into the Council of the Association of African Aviation Training Organisations (AATO). The membership is for a first term of three years.
With the membership, NAHCO would, in conjunction with other council members, be in a position to make policies that would further the development of Aviation training and development in Africa.
The 2nd General Assembly of the Association of African Aviation Training Organizations which held from August 23 to 25, 2016, brought together experts from the leading African Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs) and Civil Aviation Authorities across the globe. NAHCO has and operates an IATA – certified state – of – the – art Learning and Development centre at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
In a keenly contested election at the 2nd General Assembly of the Association in Kampala, Uganda, nahco aviance, represented by Seyi Adewale, its Chief Commercial Officer was elected to represent the Nigerian State in the 13 – member Council.
The Council has as President, Niger and Vice President, South Africa.
NAHCO which was a panelist on Day 2 of the conference presented a paper on “Taking Aviation Training to the Next Level: Connecting the Dots. No ATO Left Behind.” The panel was required to discuss the concrete steps that ATOs and stakeholders need to take in order to ensure that aviation training and recent innovations are included in the development framework.
Other panelists at the session included the European Aviation Training Association, United ATS, AFCAC (HRDF) and Soroti Flying School, Uganda.
AATO President, Mr Tchagbele Sadamba disclosed at the start of the Conference that, “A special audit carried out on African aviation revealed many inefficiencies that we need to correct because aviation is a very standardised activity.” He therefore urged participants at the conference to come up with concrete steps that needed to be taken to reposition aviation training in the continent.
In her remarks at the Conference, the Ugandan Minister for Works and Transport, Ms Monica Azuba Ntege, said aviation training organisations are crucial in availing the industry the professionals it requires to thrive and grow, which is why regular consultations and interactions are necessary.
The Minister said while growth in the global air traffic is necessary, it presents greater challenges and also confers increased responsibility on aviation personnel and organisations.
AATO is an association under the AU Charter with the aim to standardize and harmonize aviation training in Africa, by designing and developing the criteria and procedures for accreditation of training centers; cross border diploma and certificate recognition; promoting cooperation and value sharing and; being the voice of African Aviation Training Organizations in relation with other industry stakeholders. It is established by a charter of the African Union.
The Association’s vision and mission is to promote the standardization and harmonization of aviation training through cooperation and sharing of expertise and resources for safer African skies.
In this regard it is fundamental that Advocacy is employed as a strategy to influence policy makers when they make laws and regulations, distribute resources, and make other decisions that affect the industry.
