Mozambique: LAM director general elected chairperson of AASA

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: LAM director general elected chairperson of AASA

1:37 CAT | 31 Oct 2022

File photo: LAM

The director general of Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), João Carlos Pó Jorge, was elected Chairperson of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) at the body’s virtual 52nd Annual General Meeting, the state-owned company announced today.

Pó Jorge will lead AASA alongside Elmar Conradie, the CEO of Safair, elected to the position of deputy chairperson.

The two managers will be in office for 12 months.

The association pointed to “the reliable supply of fuel” as the most urgent issue for companies in the African sub-region, indicated LAM, after the restrictions and abrupt break in business caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The review of policies and regulations of the different states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is also part of the list of topics to be addressed in the new AASA mandate.

AASA’s 2022 annual assembly was attended by over 260 delegates representing airlines, airports, air navigation and weather services as well as manufacturers, suppliers and other industry stakeholders. Issues addressed included the need for urgent action by governments in the region to review policies and regulations to enable a more efficient, comprehensive and competitive air transport industry to serve and support all of the economies of the SADC region.

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), represents most of the airlines in the SA Development Community bloc on matters of common interest relating to government policies, legislation, regulations, planning, operational efficiency, safety, security, taxes, charges and other matters affecting its members’ sustainability and the provision of affordable and accessible air transport throughout the region.

AASA was established in 1970 and currently has 15 airline members and 38 associate members, including infrastructure service providers, aircraft and engine manufacturers and other industry suppliers, ground handling companies and allied industry bodies.

About Joao Carlos Pó Jorge

João Carlos Pó Jorge is the General Director of Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), SA.

João Carlos’ professional career began in 1985, at LAM, where he joined the staff as a Mechanical Engineer. He served as Head of the Engineering Department in 1987. He was later appointed to coordinate the connection between LAM and the manufacturers, having been LAM’s Resident Representative at Boeing (United States Of America), from 1990 to 1993.

After completing this stage of work, he returned to LAM Headquarters, in Maputo, where he assumed the role of Chief Of Engineering and Quality, from 1993 to 1995, a period in which he streamlined aircraft planning and engineering, flight operation Engineering, accident investigation, design, implementation and certification of aircraft modification programs, among other activities.

With the experience gained and maximising contacts with outside entities, he accepted the challenge of joining the team of Pratt & Whitney, a North American firm dedicated to the manufacture of aircraft engines, where he was Customer Support Manager in Africa, from 1995 to 2013.

During this period, he worked in the United States Of America, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ethiopia, having demonstrated himself in setting up offices in remote locations; coordinate top management improvement actions for airlines in Africa, in the Operational, Commercial and Financial areas, negotiation of acquisition contracts including aircraft leasing, as well as engines; intermediation of commercial contracts between airlines; detailed accident investigation and design and implementation of recommendations; introduction of airline management tools in Africa.

João Carlos participated in the restructuring of airlines both to correct irregular situations and to expand, as are the cases of Air Zimbabwe, TACV, TAAG, Air Afrique, Air Senegal, AeroZambia, and Ethiopian Airlines. It supports Behavior Management initiatives to improve work performance.

His career abroad would be interrupted in 2013 when he was invited to join the Board of Directors of LAM, having been Technical Operational Administrator until 2016. Later he was appointed Advisor to the Financial Administrator, a role he held until his appointment to the position of General Director of LAM.

Source: Lusa / AASA