A three-day event held in Marrakech in October highlighted the importance of prioritizing global standards, fostering a strong safety culture and effectively leveraging data while keeping human oversight at the core of operations. was emphasized.
The event confirmed that more than 4.4 billion passengers flew safely in 2023, despite an increasingly complex operating environment. Africa accounts for about 161 million of those people, and while the continent's aviation safety record has historically lagged behind the global average, recent improvements are a sign of progress.
As the organizer of WSOC 2024, Royal Air Maroc CEO Abdelhamid Addou noted the event's platform to address security and environmental issues, and to support Africa in achieving the industry's safety goals. emphasized the extremely important role of Mr. Adu affirmed Royal Air Maroc's commitment to maintaining industry-leading safety practices, emphasizing emergency preparedness, human factors management and accident prevention. He said the airline's signing of the Safety Leadership Charter Declaration underlines the airline's support for fostering a positive safety culture at all levels.
Mesfin Taseu, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, emphasized the importance of implementing new technologies to increase efficiency and reduce costs. He noted that AI has become essential to airline operations, particularly in “aircraft maintenance, revenue management, and customer service.” AI is also benefitting weather forecasting and training, with Taseu stressing the need for cost-effective, quality-assured training to maintain safe operations. Adu echoed this sentiment, advocating the efficient use of AI and e-learning to streamline crew training without compromising quality or safety.
AI not only enhances operational benefits but also sustainability. Adu explains how Royal Air Maroc has improved its fuel efficiency program, “cutting carbon emissions by 20 percent and optimizing flight routes using AI for safer and greener operations.” I shared what I did.
Geopolitical risks were also a focus of the event, with IATA Director General Willie Walsh mentioning tensions in the Middle East and the impact of the war in Ukraine. “Airspace closures and GPS jamming due to unrest pose operational challenges,” he said, stressing the need for global cooperation to reduce risks.
A key development during the event was the launch of IATA Connect, a secure platform for aviation safety, security, compliance and information sharing. It includes tools to access the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry, facilitating real-time collaboration and efficient compliance efforts. It was also noted that the registry is recognized as an important tool for strengthening safety oversight, and IOSA-registered airlines in Africa consistently outperform non-IOSA airlines in safety indicators. Ta.
The conference also introduced five principles for aircraft operational data (AOD) management developed in collaboration with Airbus, Embraer and Rolls-Royce. These principles aim to align airlines, manufacturers and regulators under a common framework to optimize the use of AOD for safer and more efficient operations.
Walsh concluded that for IATA, safety is a continuous journey rather than a checkbox. By putting safety at the core of global aviation, the organization aims to enable passengers to travel with confidence while enabling the global aviation sector to thrive as a driver of economic growth.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy concluded the event by reaffirming that safety is fundamentally about people. “Our greatest asset is our workforce. Technology should complement, not replace, safety efforts,” she said, praising the industry's commitment to safety. She also highlighted that in 2023, there were only 1.87 accidents per million departures worldwide.
As Africa and the global aviation industry navigate ongoing challenges, WSOC 2024 says the future of the sector will depend on seamlessly integrating technological advances and human expertise to maintain and enhance safety. I concluded.
The next WSOC will be held in Xiamen, China from October 14th to 16th, 2025.
