AM EDITORIAL: Improving Airside Safety In Africa
The agency in charge of aviation safety in the United States of America said on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 that all of its airport vehicles would be equipped with technology to help air-traffic controllers track their movements. This move was expedited by the deadly crash in March involving an Air Canada jet at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the agency would spend US$16.5 million to add transponders, called Vehicle Movement Area Transmitters (VMATs), to its vehicles at airports nationwide.
This FAA response to the New York’s LaGuardia Airport incident is one of the numerous airside safety measures that airports in Africa may begin to consider for priority attention. Because of the changing and dynamic nature of the aviation industry, the needs created from regularly emerging new technology, hazards, and complexity of operations introduced to the industry, deliberate airside safety enhancement measures are have become extremely necessary.
Runway incursions and excursions represent two out of the top five high-risk categories identified in the Global Aviation Safety Plan by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to ACI World. This explains why ICAO and the Runway Safety Partners (ACI, IATA, The Flight Safety Foundation, CANSO, among others) jointly developed the Global Runway Safety Action Plan (GRSAP) and many other initiatives to improve runway safety, the Global Reporting Format (GRF) being the most recent. Stopping the chain of events that could lead to a runway incursion or excursion makes more sense.
Improving airfield safety requires a multi-layered approach combining modern tracking technologies, strict ground movement protocols, and a proactive safety culture. Among strategies for achieving this include installing Vehicle Movement Area Transmitters (VMATs) for real-time tracking and deploying Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS).
Evolving trends have made it even more important for airports across Africa to step up airside safety measures by deploying cutting-edge technologies, such as runway incursion warning systems, ground control radars, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and other relevant infrastructure.
It is noteworthy that on infrastructure, a number of African airports are doing quite a lot. This is why Egyptian airports are rolling out comprehensive airside and security modernizations, led by upgrades at Cairo International Airport. The authorities are deploying AI-driven smart baggage systems, installing advanced screening and biometric equipment, integrating smart control centers, and upgrading infrastructure like apron lighting. Specialized personnel training is equally conducted to align with technological modernization.
Among measures being taken by Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Airports at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) are continuous collaboration with Bridgestone to reduce Foreign Object Debris (FOD). The partnership intends to reduce Foreign Object Debris (FOD) on airport surfaces to enhance safe aircraft operations. There is also a frequent audit of airside safety programmes to enhance the standards.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is enhancing airside safety by modernizing airside infrastructure, implementing strict high-visibility/PPE protocols, and conducting regular emergency simulations. FAAN has also established strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) and continuously upgrade surveillance and access control technologies. There are equally rigorous inspections, provision of state-of-the-art safety aid, security systems and regular drills to prepare airside safety personnel for emergencies.
With the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) on the pilot’s seat, South Africa is aggressively enhancing airside safety through a massive R21.7 billion infrastructure upgrade, state-of-the-art baggage screening, and strict ICAO compliance.
According to South Africa’s Department of Transport, South Africa has been able to implement both international and its National Aviation Safety Plans, with the airports achieving impressive compliant safety records.
Collaboration, partnership, and safety risk management are critical to airside safety. Consequently, a Runway Safety Team (RST) becomes a fundamental pillar to building a comprehensive programme to effectively manage runway safety. This team is a multi-disciplinary team, led by the airport operator, that proactively manages runway safety, conducting hazard identification, safety risk assessments and implementing action plans to improve runway safety.
Airports in Africa must in times like these, follow their standard operating procedures (SOPs) and avoid having SOPs on paper only. In other words, it is what will be done that should be written and what is written must be done.
It is also time to give enough attention to human factors so as to minimize chances of human error. Now, more than ever, factors like stress, fatigue, pressure, distraction, and other depressants are present in people’s lives and, when combined, can complicate even the simplest task.
There is no one simple solution to airside safety. It is the job of multiple stakeholders working together and collaboratively, to identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, and implement mitigating measures to improve runway safety.AM
