For over 50 years, Tanzania has been responsible for providing upper air space traffic services to Rwanda owing to the fact that Rwanda then didn’t have technical means to do so.
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania with its counterpart, Republic of Rwanda have signed a deed of handover for the provision of Air Traffic Services in Rwanda’s upper airspace above 24500ft.
The signing event which took place in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday 16, August was attended by Tanzania delegation led by the Director General Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Hamza Johari while Rwanda was led by the Director General Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) Silas Udahemuka and was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Infrastructure Abimana Fidéle and Regional Director of ICAO Eastern and Southern African (ESAF) Barry Kashambo.
This follows Rwanda’s notification of intention to withdraw her delegation and directly discharge her responsibility of providing air traffic services in her upper airspace.
Rwanda’s upper airspace was delegated to Tanzania in 1970s for provision of air traffic services. Among the reasons that were put forward by Rwanda to request the airspace was to improve safety in Kigali Flight Information Region (FIR) as well as meeting regulatory requirements such as Search and Rescue (SAR) obligations.
Following several coordination meetings led by ICAO, Rwanda was permitted to continue with the process to take over the airspace.
The resumption of the management of its airspace is part of the finalization of the technical provisions required to concretize its adhesion to the Agency for the safety of air navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). Last month, the Agency’s committee of Ministers dubbed Rwanda’s entry as the 19th member country. Official membership shall take effect from January 1st 2024, after the finalization of the ratification process and the promulgation of the ASECNA convention (signed in Libreville on April 28th 2010) and its annexes as well enhancement of ASECNA’s assets to be transferred.
Apart from the signing event the DG TCAA Johari also visited Kigali International Airport and held a meeting with aviation stakeholders including the management of Rwanda Airports Company and Rwanda CAA. They shared experiences and best practices in regulatory services.
