USTDA Sector Brief - Aviation

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 23 aviation projects in fiscal year 2008.

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 aviation industry training and technical cooperation in priority areas identified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). USTDA has contributed over $4 million over four phases; this funding has been supported by additional support from the ACP’s 30 U.S. private sector member companies and by public sector contributions from USTDA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the CAAC.

Europe and Eurasia

Afghanistan Aviation Law and Regulatory Framework Assistance – USTDA is providing $309,705 to the Afghan Ministry of Transportation for technical assistance in reviewing and reforming the country’s national civil aviation regulatory framework. The grant supports the development and modernization of the aviation sector throughout Afghanistan. AeroAdvisor Group, LLC of Fairfax, VA, is providing the assistance.

Euro 2012 Infrastructure – USTDA is providing $240,104 to bring a delegation of Polish and Ukrainian aviation officials to the U.S. to familiarize them with modern airport technologies, design and management practices in advance of the 2012 European Football Championships. The Louis Berger Group of Morristown, NJ, is organizing the visit.

Latvia Air Traffic Management System Advanced Modernization Program – USTDA is providing $690,170 to fund technical assistance in planning for air traffic capacity increases, air traffic control technologies upgrades and ongoing facilities maintenance at Riga International Airport. Contractor selection for this activity is currently underway.

Ukraine Bila Tserkva Cargo Hub Airport – USTDA is providing $238,843 to partially fund a feasibility study on the proposed rehabilitation of the Bila Tserkva airport in Ukraine. Specifically, the study will examine the construction of cargo facilities to transform the airport into an air cargo hub. SolidTeam LLC of Claremont, CA, is performing the study.

Central and South Asia Regional Aviation Conference – USTDA is funding a $222,133 conference focused on regional integration, liberalization, and safety, security and customs issues in the civil aviation sector in Central and South Asia. The American Association of Airport Executives of Alexandria, VA, is organizing the conference.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Brazil PROAERO Small Airports Network Program Expansion Plan – USTDA is providing a $241,000 grant to the Transport and Public Works Secretariat of the State of Minas Gerais for the PROAERO Small Airports Network Program. Through reviewing the proposed expansion plan and providing expert guidance on revisions and upgrades to the program, this technical assistance will support the enhancement of transportation infrastructure in Minas Gerais.

Chile Air Navigation Technologies Technical Assistance – USTDA awarded a $980,000 grant to the Civil General Aviation Directorate of Chile. The technical assistance will support a pilot project in Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast and Local Area Augmentation System airspace technologies at the Arturo Merino Benítez airport in Santiago. If successful, these technologies could be implemented at 11 other sites throughout the country.

Jamaica Air Jamaica Privatization – USTDA is providing two technical assistance grants totaling $820,180 to the Jamaican Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to facilitate efforts to privatize the Jamaican national airline, Air Jamaica. In collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, the objective of the grants is to develop a number of strategic options for the airline and provide recommendations on an appropriate legal framework for the privatization.

Mexico San Luis Potosí International Airport Runway Expansion and Modernization – USTDA is providing a $243,300 grant to Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V. to expand the existing primary runway at San Luis Potosí International Airport in Mexico. The feasibility study will assist in accommodating current and projected passenger and cargo traffic volumes and addressing aircraft capacity problems due to limited taxiing and runway space.

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.

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 airports. The project will further promote economic growth by developing Morocco’s tourist sector. Squire, Sanders and Dempsey is providing the assistance.

South and Southeast Asia

GNSS Testbed Demonstration Project – USTDA provided $675,000 to support technical assistance in the development of a global positioning system (GPS) demonstration testbed project in Southeast Asia. The project facilitates the research, development, acquisition, and implementation efforts of an air navigation system based on GPS and Wide Area Augmentation System technologies, and supports a uniform implementation of GPS throughout the APEC region.

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. is the contractor for this activity.

Vietnam Aviation Safety Program – To support the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam’s efforts to comply with the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment program, USTDA is providing nearly $1M to partially fund, with industry and the Vietnam government, three phases of 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) – USTDA launched the ACP in 2007, together with the FAA and U.S. aviation companies, to work directly with the Indian civil aviation sector on its modernization and safety priorities. Under this public-private partnership with the Indian government, USTDA has sponsored an Aviation Summit conference in New Delhi, a multi-phase Air Traffic Management Training Program, and technical workshops on certification of India’s satellite navigation system, GAGAN, and Air Traffic Flow Management practices. New projects, with substantial industry cost-sharing, are proposed with backing of Indian aviation authorities.

Thailand Smart Corridor to Suvarnabhumi Airport – USTDA approved a $537,000 technical assistance grant to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to improve transportation access to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport. The project will enhance mobility, safety and efficiency in an environment of growing traffic by utilizing intelligent transportation systems that contribute to the improvement of public transportation.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Zambia Airports Master Plan – A $725,050 grant to the Zambian Ministry of Communications and Transport, in conjunction with the Department of Civil Aviation and the National Airports Corporation Limited, is being used to develop a master plan for the airports of Lusaka, Ndola, Mfuwe, and Livingstone. Contractor selection is underway.

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.

Sub-Saharan Africa Aviation Safety and Security Conference – USTDA is sponsoring a conference in Cape Town to promote advanced U.S. technical approaches and collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa’s rapidly growing aviation market, and to encourage a high-level dialogue in addressing key issues related to air traffic management and control, aviation security, and airspace utilization throughout the region. The MFM Group, Inc. is organizing the conference.

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. Competitive selection of the contractor to complete the technical assistance work is underway.