Rwanda hosts the first East African Community tripartite meeting on Airspace Management
18/01/2014
James Gashumba of EANA
The meeting on Wednesday was attended by officials from the three countries joined by South Sudan. Among other things discussed at the meeting included modalities of sharing training of experts and harmonisation of airspace control.
Dr Richard Masozera, Director General of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, said the move was in line with the year’s tripartite summit in Kigali, which directed ministers to consider new areas that can be fast tracked, including air space management.
Article 92 of East African Community (EAC) Treaty requires partner states to harmonise civil aviation rules and regulations and make air transport services safe, efficient and profitable including adopting common policies.
According to Dr Masozera, the meeting also discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by air transport in the region in light of the current and forecast demand.
The development follows the three states signing of a tripartite agreement last year on introducing single tourist visa for foreigners visiting the region (Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda) and use of national identity cards as travel documents for their nationals.
The other two EAC partner states – Tanzania and Burundi – have not yet joined the arrangement. Mr Geoffrey Okot, Air Traffic Manager at Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority pointed out that airspace control by countries was a challenge to the development of the sector.
SOURCE : DAILY NEWS via IN2EASTAFRICA : HERE
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