As part of a shared commitment to advancing the safety of all who fly through professional education and industry partnerships worldwide, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Boeing recently collaborated to deliver two customized aviation safety training programs in Africa, a region where the aviation sector is anticipated to experience exponential growth in the coming decades.

The courses included 60 aviation professionals from the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and other aviation organizations representing 14 African countries. The training was delivered in August through Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Professional Programs office.  

The most recent initiative, “The Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) Certification Program,” took place Aug. 24-28 in Cape Town, South Africa and brought together aviation leaders from airlines and organizations across Angola, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda. Participants included executives, safety officers, flight operations professionals and accountable leaders from organizations such as Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Uganda Airlines and others.

The five-day course covered the foundations of safety management systems, including safety culture, leadership, risk management, safety assurance, emergency response, crisis communication and continuous improvement. Robert Sumwalt, executive director of Embry-Riddle’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety, and Dr. Bob Waltz, an adjunct faculty member in the Worldwide College of Aviation, served as instructors, guiding participants through key concepts.

Boeing leaders also shared perspectives on innovation, data-driven safety, and sustainable aviation growth across Africa. Participants applied their learning through case studies and team exercises focused on operational challenges such as runway excursions, loss of control events, emergency response and executive-level safety communication.

Earlier in the month, Tom Haueter, a former senior leader at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with more than 28 years of accident investigation experience, delivered a course to professionals from the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority. The program, “Management of Large-Scale Accident Sites,” was held virtually Aug. 3-6.

Based on principles from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the course focused on preparing organizations to effectively manage major accident investigations. Participants learned about investigation team development, multi-agency coordination, evidence and wreckage management, stakeholder relations, media communication and legal considerations. Real-world case studies helped connect these concepts to operational challenges.

“The applied examples, valuable lessons learned and real-world perspectives Tom shared significantly enhanced my understanding of large-scale aircraft accident management and investigation,” a participant with the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority said of the program.

Sumwalt said the two programs show the value of bringing together regulators, airlines, industry leaders and safety professionals to share knowledge and strengthen aviation safety.  

“By providing participants with practical strategies, expert guidance and opportunities to learn from one another, Embry-Riddle and Boeing are helping build a safer and more resilient global aviation community,” Sumwalt said. “These efforts reflect the mission of The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety at Embry-Riddle, which advances safety through research, professional education programs such as these, industry engagement and collaboration.”