African Aviation Leaders in Safety and Operations gather in Luanda, Angola

In her opening remarks, Maureen Isika, Chair of the CANSO Safety Working Group, commented: “Operational work is inherently interconnected and inseparable from safety. As our traffic volumes grow and our skies become more complex, the traditional silos between ‘Safety’ and ‘Operations’ are no longer sustainable. We are here because we have heeded the call of our members: to move beyond silos and work as one unified force to shape the future skies of Africa. We cannot achieve efficient capacity without a robust safety foundation, and we cannot maintain safety without agile, modern operations.”

Throughout the workshop, participants will address key priorities shaping the future of air traffic management in Africa, including Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM). A key highlight of the 2026 workshop is an extended session on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), reflecting the rapid rise of drones and unmanned systems across the continent. As these technologies become increasingly integrated into sectors such as logistics and medical delivery, the focus is on ensuring their safe and seamless integration into existing air traffic management systems without compromising the safety of traditional aviation.

Other key sessions address priorities shaping African air traffic management, including cybersecurity in the ATM environment, the impact of operational safety on certification, safety culture and human performance, air traffic flow management/A-CDM, and an extended AAM workshop on drone integration/UTM. Parallel break-out sessions for safety and operations teams, plus joint plenaries like discussions on the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) CONOPS and ASECNA's ATM/CNS Master Plan, are designed to break down silos and foster joint planning.

The workshop reinforces Africa’s commitment to collaborative progress, recognising that the region’s aviation future depends on aligning safety, operations, and innovation.