7 DECEMBER 2000
December 7 each year marks International Civil Aviation Day. Last year, South Africa like many other countries, celebrated the day under a cloud of public anxiety about Y2K readiness. The Department of Transport together with the entire aviation community were, however proud to announce on this day last year their readiness to enter the 21st Century without crises or hiccups. We were indeed ready and Y2K compliant.
This year, the Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar celebrated International Civil Aviation Day together with colleagues from the aviation industry including, ACSA, SACAA and the ATNS. Addressing a press conference to commemorate the day, Minister Omar said the celebrations emphasised government's continual commitment to safety and the "implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards and recommended practices", which underpins this year's theme. "What we are demonstrating today does not only recommit government and the aviation industry to better service and a clean environment but to establishing and reinforcing worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States", Omar said. "We have seen and realised the importance of aviation if regional and international economic developments are to be taken seriously. To all of us, efficient transport is central to the economic development of Africa", he added.
Omar assured the conference that the Department of Transport will be in a position to do more, following its restructuring to increase its monitoring, co-ordination and regulatory roles. "The Division Aviation and Maritime Regulation (AMR) is now more focused and responsible for facilitating the development of an aviation industry which is safe, efficient, internationally competitive, consumer orientated, cost effective, technologically advanced and environmentally friendly", Minister Omar confirmed.
In the regulatory environment, the Department of Transport has managed to maintain and promote South Africa's domestic and international aviation interests while fulfilling the States obligation toward the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), to which South Africa is a contracting state, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African regional organisations.
The secondary focus is on career seekers, training and capacity building in the industry The starting point is to use the existing and ongoing projects of the Aviation Training and Development Foundation and Siyandiza Projects to create a better awareness of the industry and aviation-related careers. With regard to development and training in the aerospace industry, Omar drew attention to the Aerospace Chamber, one of the eight Chambers of the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) established in April 2000 in terms of the Skills Development Act. The purpose has always been to promote training and development in the aerospace industry; this gives us more effective mechanisms for achieving this goal.
He concluded his address by reassuring the public that their safety is not open to negotiation, but will be enforced to all service providers without favour or prejudice. He reminded the conference that his key and major priority as Minister of Transport is safety - safety on air, on the road, at sea and rail. "It is no coincidence that we are now busy at work with our Arrive Alive Campaign for road safety and it was also not a mistake that we appointed a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the recent train accidents. This is how we demonstrate our commitment to safety", Omar concluded.
ISSUED BY
Mike Mabasa
Head of Communication
Ministry of Transport
Pretoria
Tel: 083 680 7048
06 November 2000