African countries this week launched an aviation safety agency modelled on the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency and the United States Federal Aviation Agency.
The African Civil Aviation Authority (AFRO-CAA) was launched in the Namibian capital by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Nahas Angula in a speech on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba in the presence of senior transport and aviation officials from several African countries.

Pohamba said the launch of the agency comes at a time when Africa is regarded as having some of the most unsafe aviation standards in the world. He cited the recent crash of a Kenya Airways plane in Cameroon and the banning of 62 African airlines from flying into Europe as examples of Africa's poor aviation record.
“This is a worrisome development, which needs our urgent attention,” said Pohamba.
The agency will have headquarters in Windhoek with region offices in South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Libya.
“Sixteen African countries have signed up for membership and we hope to have the rest of the countries sign up later. This is normal even Europe started only with three countries,” said Mwangi waKamau, the chief executive officer of the Afro-CAA in an interview.
The aim of the agency is to harmonise aviation safety in all African countries and establish common technical standards and regulations for the continent, waKamau said.
The agency took about three and a half years to set up. Namibian was chosen because of its good transport infrastructure and its location, which is within easy reach of other countries.
The funding for the operations of the agency will come from membership fees all African countries would have to pay and from over flight fees.
Namibia will be exempted from membership fees, because it hosts the head office.
Flight Captain Harry Eggerschwiler has been appointed as Chief Operations Officer.
The agency hopes to equip all African airports with radar and other modern air-traffic control and communications equipment by 2010. The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) endorsed the project in 2004.