An African aviation forum opened here on Tuesday with aviation leaders and stakeholders across Africa participating to discuss matters affecting air transport system on the continent.

Fortune Dudu, official of the forum organization committee, told reporters that the forum "is designed to enhance the growth and development of aviation on the continent."

Dudu said the forum would enable the aviation actors to reflect on safety in operation, challenges from rising cost of aviation fuel and quality of aviation services.

At the opening ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of "Key to Africa" Jeff Bayman said, "the conference will help the industry to move in line with global trends."

Bayman said the forum was also organized to offer solutions to problems confronting the aviation sector on the continent.

He said the main objective of the conference "is to develop solid regulations and guidelines to ensure that African airlines and the airspace meet international operational standards." The participants would work toward reducing aviation-related fatalities as well as establishing measures to enhance the security of Africa's airspace.

He said more than 500 top decision-makers in the global air transport industry and major aircraft manufacturers as well as regulators on the continent have attended the forum.

In recent times, the aviation sector in Africa has come under searchlight due to neglected and obsolete situation of facilities as well as unhealthy operating environment.

The three-day forum, the first of its kind in Africa, is scheduled to end on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)