Air Safety Info Session in Zambia

In a first for Africa, the AviAssist Foundation held an information session on State
Safety Programs (SSP) in Zambia, providing a first introduction to the concept of SSP. More than 30 staff members from the Zambian Department of Civil Aviation attended the session. The information session is preparing Zambia for the ICAO audit at the end of January 2009. At the same time, the information session helps Zambia prepare for its work on implementing a SSP. The program is the equivalent of the Safety Management System (SMS). An SSP maps critical safety concerns. Safety data collection and analysis measures the aviation department’s effectiveness in dealing with the issues surrounding and supporting safety concerns. AviAssist Director Tom Kok said “a move towards a just culture in Africa simply requires that such critical sessions and workshops are not only available to senior management at workshops abroad but are also made available in country. The AviAssist Foundation is building a toolkit to assist in the implementation of State Safety Programs. The toolkit can be applied in other countries in the region through its regional representation in Zambia.” AviAssist Foundation is an independent, non-governmental organization, providing safety support to African countries and companies.