Globally, the aviation sector is undergoing rapid transformation accelerated by artificial intelligence, remote sensing technologies, and increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Aviation engineers across Africa have called for collaboration and the embracing of digital transformation in the sector. This was one of
the major outcomes of the 15th IFATSEA
Africa Region Meeting in Kampala.
Hosted by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority
(UCAA) and the Uganda Air Transport Safety Engineers Association (UGATSEA), the
meeting brought
together technical experts, regional leaders, and global partners from 15
African countries for a week of intensive deliberations on how Africa can take
greater ownership of aviation innovation and safety.
Recognising the continent's diverse levels of
technical capacity, participants agreed on the formation of regional technical
committees tasked with developing clear frameworks for implementing AI tools
while safeguarding aviation infrastructure from cyber threats. “We are facing a
new era where technology outpaces regulation,” said Isaac Kamugo, President of UGATSEA
and Principal Technical Officer for R&D at UCAA. “This meeting gives us a
roadmap to act regionally, standardise our responses, and lead with innovation,
not just react to it.”
The other major resolution was the endorsement of drone-based solutions for air
navigation calibration, a costly but essential process
traditionally handled by foreign aircraft at great expense.
Delegates supported
a regional plan to test and eventually deploy unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as a cost-saving,
locally controlled alternative.
“This is a transformational step,” Kamugo
explained. “Instead of relying on expensive aircraft from Europe to check our
navigation systems, we can use drones developed and managed within Africa.”
According to UCAA Executive Director Fred Bamwesigye, Uganda has already
implemented innovations in billing and air navigation services that surpass
those of several countries globally. “We are not waiting for the world to lead
us,” Bamwesigye said. “In some areas, Uganda is already ahead. And it’s not
about competition, it’s about ensuring that Africa plays a global role in
shaping the aviation systems of tomorrow.”
He added that the IFATSEA regional meeting
had recognised Uganda’s progress, with delegates urging the country to
contribute to continent-wide technical
leadership in aviation transformation.
The meeting tackled emerging risks around cybersecurity and the ethical use of AI in aviation
issues that have grown in urgency as African aviation systems become
increasingly digitised. “Instead of waiting to be overtaken by technology, we
are putting our heads together to lead responsibly,” said Bamwesigye.
Delegates agreed that proactive research,
joint training programs, and harmonised regulations would be vital to turning
these technologies into assets for safety and efficiency.
Sam Malango, IFATSEA Regional
Director for Africa, said that Uganda’s research leadership,
particularly in AI, is pushing the entire region forward. He said that there is a need to support
such efforts with structured technical documents and working papers that shape
regional and international aviation policy.”
Eng. Frank Kofi, the
IFATSEA President, urged states to recommit to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)
and eliminate restrictive practices that prevent affordable, seamless air
connectivity across borders.
“There is still too much protectionism in our
skies,” Kofi said. “We must stop paying lip service to liberalisation and truly
implement SAATM. That’s how we unlock the full potential of our aviation
industry.”
He further challenged aviation ministries and
political leaders to see SAATM as a strategic tool not only for boosting
economic growth but also for asserting Africa’s negotiating power globally,
particularly amid trade tensions and rising protectionism from major economies.
