Aviation sector ready for the upcoming AU summit – Committee

Addis Ababa, February 3, 2024 (FBC) – The National Aviation Security Committee has affirmed the culmination of its preparations to guarantee the provision of secure accommodations for attendees of the 37th African Union Summit scheduled for this month.

Ethiopia’s National Aviation Security Committee, inaugurated in July of the preceding year. It was instituted with the objective of administering the aviation industry with efficacy through meticulous coordination and collaboration, thereby ensuring the seamless execution of the 37th AU Summit.

It is underscored that the implementation of security measures and preparedness in the aviation sector remains an ongoing and proactive endeavor. Nevertheless, specific measures are currently underway in anticipation of the inaugural national audit to be conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in June 2024, after a 12-year hiatus.

All constituent institutions within the committee are committed to fulfilling their respective responsibilities by actively participating in and providing the necessary support and cooperation for the impending audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization, it is mentioned.

During a consultation hosted by the committee, Mr. Sisay Tola, the Chairperson of the Committee and Deputy Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service, expounded on the scrutinization of service and airspace governance concerning Ethiopia’s international and domestic airports. He highlighted that, in addition to ten other international aviation security evaluations from countries such as the United States, England, France, Canada, and Israel, the security clearance for these facilities had been successfully secured.

The inception of the National Aviation Security Committee within the dynamic realm of the Ethiopian aviation sector is perceived as a commendable stride towards contemporization and bolstering international competitiveness.

Mr. Sisay underscores that the endeavors to revamp the aviation sector, steered by the National Intelligence and Security Service, have borne palpable fruits. The envisaged role of the committee is to furnish strategic guidance and decisions, facilitating cohesive management practices and thereby amplifying the efficacy and global stature of the industry.

The National Aviation Security Committee includes 10 pertinent institutions that have direct relations with aviation security, including the National Intelligence and Security Service, Civil Aviation Authority, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Federal Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Citizenship Service.

National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), via a statement sent to FBC, indicated that the half-day consultative meeting of the Committee concluded by approving its guidelines and setting various directions.