The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.
Aviation is one of the key sectors in which USTDA supports international development using U.S. private sector solutions. The growing need to upgrade airport terminals and air traffic control systems led USTDA to invest in 10 aviation projects in fiscal year 2007.
The following is an illustrative list of aviation projects that USTDA has supported:
East Asia
U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) – China's rapidly growing aviation industry has challenged efforts to maintain effective safety and security operations. Recognizing a need, USTDA helped to structure the ACP with the goal of facilitating U.S. government and U.S. aviation industry training and technical cooperation in priority areas identified by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC). The program is supported by the ACP's 25 U.S. private sector member companies and by public sector contributions from USTDA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the CAAC.
Europe and Eurasia
Russia Krasnoyarsk Airport Hub Technical Assistance – USTDA is providing $513,800 to partially fund a study on the modernization and expansion of Krasnoyarsk Airport into a multimodal transportation hub. The study will prioritize the project's various components and develop the project to international standards. Simat, Helliesen and Eichner, Inc. is conducting the study.
Bulgaria Air Safety Technical Assistance – USTDA provided $200,060 to the Bulgarian Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) for an air safety project. The CAA requested assistance in helping to establish the legal and regulatory structures needed to implement and enforce international standards. Robinson Aviation, Inc. provided the assistance.
Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Modernization Technical Assistance – USTDA provided a $643,261 grant to the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Servicing Agency Ltd. to fund technical assistance in the procurement process associated with its $100 million systems modernization program. The MITRE Corporation is providing the assistance.
Poland Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Transition – A USTDA-funded study on the CNS/ATM needs of the Baltic States was expanded to include Poland. DORS International of Washington, DC, conducted this important study.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Chile Central Zone Airspace and Airport Infrastructure – USTDA provided a $359,350 grant to the National Airport Directorate to develop a systems plan to identify infrastructure improvements needed to meet long-term aviation demands and the technologies that will optimize airspace use. The improvements will facilitate all-weather access to airports and improve air traffic control in mountainous areas.
Colombia West Air Cargo Terminal (WACT) – A $196,950 grant is assisting CELTA S.A. in the private sector development and construction of the WACT project at the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, which will enable the airport to handle increased air cargo volumes.
Haiti Port-au-Prince Airport Modernization – A $300,000 grant to the National Airports Authority is supporting the modernization of the Port-au-Prince International Airport in Haiti. The USTDA-funded assistance will set the stage for operations, management, and security enhancements at Haiti's main international airport as it strives to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Nicaragua Managua International Airport Expansion – USTDA has approved $324,180 to develop a plan for Nicaragua's International Airport Administration on the modernization of Managua's International Airport through the construction of a new air cargo facility, an improved runway airfield lighting system and an integrated security system. Implementation of these projects will improve Nicaragua's commercial competitiveness and its capacity to take advantage of CAFTA-DR.
Colombia Civil Aviation Renewable Energy – A $700,000 grant to the Unidad Administrativa Especial de Aeronáutica Civil (Civil Aviation Special Administrative Unit, AeroCivil) will be used to develop a plan for converting the power supply for remote air traffic control and weather monitoring facilities in Colombia from diesel generators to renewable energy sources. The project will allow AeroCivil to improve the reliability of its remote power supply infrastructure and reduce the cost of providing power to remote facilities.
Middle East and North Africa
Iraq Civil Aviation Reconstruction – USTDA is funding an orientation visit for delegates from the Ministry of Transportation, Iraq Civil Aviation Authority and Iraqi Airways. The visit will expose the delegates to U.S. technology, capacity, and regulatory practices in the civil aviation sector. The delegation will visit Washington, DC, Oklahoma City, OK, and Atlantic City, NJ.
Morocco Air Transport System Improvement Plan – A $605,584 grant to the Office National des Aéroports of Morocco is supporting the expansion and modernization of four major Moroccan airports. The project will further efforts to develop Morocco's tourist sector, which is vital to promoting economic growth. Squire, Sanders and Dempsey is providing the technical assistance.
South and Southeast Asia
Regional Asia Global Positioning System (GPS) Demonstration – USTDA approved $675,000 to support a GPS demonstration test bed project in Southeast Asia. The project will facilitate the research, development, acquisition, and implementation efforts of an operational air navigation system based on GPS and Wide Area Augmentation System technologies. ITT Advanced Engineering & Sciences International is providing the assistance.
Indonesia Airports Safety and Security Assessment – USTDA approved $443,500 for the Indonesian Directorate General of Air Communications to assess current safety and security procedures at Indonesia's airports and provide recommendations for improvement. Aerospace Services International, Inc. was selected as contractor for this activity.
Vietnam Aviation Safety Program Phase I – To support the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam's efforts to comply with the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, USTDA provided $351,372 to partially fund Phase I technical assistance on upgrading Vietnam's air safety regulatory system. The assistance is the result of a previous USTDA-sponsored review by the FAA and is encouraging air safety partnerships and improving Vietnam's aviation technology infrastructure. Robinson Aviation, Inc. was selected to provide the assistance.
U.S.-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) – The ACP—a public-private partnership between USTDA, the U.S. FAA, and U.S. aviation companies—provides a forum for unified communication between the Government of India and U.S. public and private sector entities in India. The ACP is designed to work directly with the Indian Government to identify and support India's civil aviation sector modernization priorities. Under the ACP, USTDA is funding a $382,789 Air Traffic Management Training Program.
Sri Lanka Airports Investment Development Program – USTDA is assisting the Ministry of Ports and Aviation in the development of an Airport Investment Development Program. The assistance will enable the Sri Lankan government to develop a comprehensive capital investment program for the country's civil aviation infrastructure.
Sub-Saharan Africa
West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Agency for Aviation Safety and Security – A $353,000 grant is assisting the UEMOA in creating a regional agency for aviation safety and security. The agency will support the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Program, a program that integrates member states' air transport safety policies and enhances safety by defining and harmonizing ICAO compliant roles for member states. Robinson Aviation, Inc. was selected to provide the assistance.
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Air Traffic Management (ATM) – This regional technical assistance program, segmented into two phases, will develop a regional approach to CNS/ATM for COMESA member countries. USTDA has provided a $294,900 grant for Phase 1. The technical assistance complements two similar USTDA-financed projects currently being developed with the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. Together, the studies will strengthen aviation safety and efficiency in the region. DORS, Inc. is providing the technical assistance.
Cameroon Airport Security – This $237,178 technical assistance grant is assisting the government of Cameroon in meeting FAA and ICAO security requirements by analyzing needed airport improvements. The LPA Group has been selected to conduct this assistance.
Mozambique Airport Expansion and Modernization – This $444,806 grant is assisting Airports of Mozambique in determining the requirements of expanding and upgrading either the Nacala or Pemba airports. The study will focus on market forecasts and the technical, financial and legal viability of the project. Contractor selection is in progress.
Master Plan for Zambia Airports – A $706,365 grant is assisting the Zambian National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) in developing a master plan for the airports of Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone. The study will assess the most critical and feasible projects, and establish a development plan for the Zambian aviation sector. If implemented, the master plan would promote key economic growth in the tourism and copper mining industries in Zambia. The contractor will be selected competitively.
Malawi Modernization of the Malawi Department of Civil Aviation – A $460,000 grant to the Malawi Ministry of Transport and Public Works will assist in establishing an autonomous civil aviation authority with a supportive legal and regulatory framework and adequate institutional capabilities. The contractor will be chosen competitively.
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