As is the normal trend, the summer season in Eastern/Southern Africa experiences the peak traffic usually associated with the festive season (November-January). During this period, the aviation industry encounters several threats that mainly affect airlines and the rest of the value chain. The associated threats must be merged properly to minimize risk and maintain a smooth air transport service.
SIRM 33 afforded the participants, particularly the air carriers, to share experiences on some of their operational challenges faced during the summer season (Southern Hemisphere).
Operational Issues Highlighted:
- Non-availability of TAF. Availability of accurate TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) is critical, and when it is lacking, this has often led to rescheduling as a safety measure
- Hurricanes. An issue for operations on the South-Eastern Coast can constitute a serious threat if not communicated effectively/timeously.
- Infrastructure degradation. This has been an issue due to contamination on runways with poor drainage systems. This calls for enforcement of the Global Reporting Format, which is still not fully implemented in some airports in the region.
- High summer temperatures. These have resulted in high demand for ground units, resulting in most shortages at some airports when air conditioning is needed.
- Bird migration. Some airports tend to get high bird migration due to flooding and swamps during the wet season, which increases the risk of bird strikes during the take-off and landing phases. Heightened measures on the part of the airline and the aerodromes operators would need to be implemented.
Call to Action - Industry
- Implement risk management when operating to destinations prone to the above challenges.
- Re-enforce better reporting culture and awareness of prevailing airport conditions threatening safe operations.
Call to Action – IATA
- Continue assessing new and emerging risks and bring awareness through the Safety Issue Hub.
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