may2022 - 30

International
of traffic, despite the potential that such
facilities may hold for the future, " say
UAS Africa officials. " At African airports,
FBOs or private terminals are not very
common. In fact, VIPs and business
travelers are often subject to the same
immigration and custom procedures as
regular airline passengers. This means
that most times it is not convenient for
VIPs and business travelers, and it erodes
the ideas and experience associated with
private or business travels. "
The exclusive facilities that FBOs
During the global COVID-19
pandemic, the business aviation
industry has experienced
significant growth.
offer include private meeting rooms and
lounges for VIPs who travel for short
meetings lasting only a few hours and
then returning, thereby avoiding chaotic
traffic situations common in African
urban cities, according to UAS Africa
representatives.
" Other FBO features that are attractive
to business aircraft include dedicated
fuel services (and) easy access to light
maintenance, " they say. " We have seen
the effects of these facilities in Nigeria
and South Africa on the exponential
growth of business traffic in these two
countries in the last decade. "
FBO features that are attractive to
business aviation travelers include
dedicated fuel services and easy
access to light maintenance.
Security Services
According to UAS Africa officials, aviation
security threat issues are quite similar
globally and exist in any region.
" Africa no doubt has its own share of
such threats, which are unique and peculiar
to Africa. The first threats are theft
and pilferage of baggage and cargo, " say
officials at UAS Africa. " Poor baggage surveillance
systems at some airports can
lead some people to take advantage and
steal valuable items and cargo. "
When aircraft are parked overnight,
for long periods in remote locations or at
parts of airports with limited security
surveillance, reports have been made
of fuel thefts and removal of minor
parts of an aircraft, according to UAS
Africa officials.
" The 'stowaway' issue is a phenomenon
often associated with Africa. People
often take chances with this extreme but
disastrous route, " they say.
" These are often airport staff who have
easy access to aircraft, or inhabitants of
neighboring residential areas to airports
who over time have discovered security
loopholes. "
Another threat for some airports that
are located in the heart of a city, or which
over time have been caught in developments
around the airport, is that they
could be compromised in terms of security,
especially if they have fences that
are not properly secured to completely
ward off intruders, according to UAS
Africa officials.
30 || Ground Support Worldwide || May 2022
" For airports that are at quite some
distance from a city and hotels and
require passengers to travel long distances
at night or odd hours, providing security
escorts becomes imperative especially
in areas with histories of insurgencies,
banditry, wars and general insecurity, "
say UAS Africa representatives.
In certain parts of Africa there is
also the need to prevent the infiltration
by insurgent groups that mean to
cause harm to passengers or airport
infrastructure.
" These include Al Shabab in Somalia,
Boko Haram in Nigeria Sahel region
and others. We have seen a recent
case in Kaduna, Nigeria where people
were allegedly attempting to overrun
and take over the airport but were
repelled by security forces, " say officials
at UAS Africa.
For what concerns the movement of
contraband, it is known that Africa is
rich in minerals and valuable resources,
observe UAS Africa representatives.
" Unscrupulous people move minerals
like gold from its source to more lucrative
markets by taking advantage of porous
borders and corrupt government systems.
Likewise, Asia is a ready market
for rare animal species and trophies,
and some people will use all means to
move these through our airports to the
markets, " they say. " All these threats can
easily be addressed by considering additional
aircraft security on the ground.
Operators may also want to consider
UAS INTERNATIONAL TRIP SUPPORT
UAS INTERNATIONAL TRIP SUPPORT
may2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of may2022
