Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, recently underscored the importance of investing in technology, research, and training in aviation meteorology, particularly in light of the challenges posed by climate change.
Mutorwa made these remarks at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF) Aeronautical Meteorological Workshop. He explained that the workshop aimed to bring together experts, regulators, meteorological service providers, regional partners, and stakeholders in aviation meteorology to share knowledge, best practices, and the latest advancements.
“Through collaboration and the exchange of ideas, we aim to enhance our understanding of weather phenomena, improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, and ultimately strengthen the safety and efficiency of air travel,” Mutorwa added.
He pointed out that Namibia, like many other African countries, is grappling with the harsh realities of drought and climate change.
“By harnessing the power of data, technology, and collaboration, we can better equip ourselves to address these challenges and ensure the reliability of weather information crucial to aviation operations,” he said.
According to him, Namibia is committed to enhancing aviation safety and efficiency. He emphasized that Namibia has already significantly advanced its meteorological capabilities in aviation, including the deployment of automatic weather stations, training programs for meteorological staff, and expansion of observation networks. He added that capacity building is also evident in the strides Namibia has taken.
“Namibia underwent a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach in March 2024 and achieved a remarkable effective implementation. This performance exceeds the average Effective Implementation (EI) of Eastern and Southern Africa, which stands at 60%, as well as the global average, which stands at 69.3%,” Mutorwa added.
Furthermore, he said, Namibia has achieved notable progress, including the successful certification of the Air Navigation Services service provider, implementation of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) systems, development of Point in Space Navigation (PIN) technology, and infrastructure enhancements aligned to enhance safety measures.
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