ICAO hands over airspace control equipment to Somalia

Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Jamal Sunday delivered the air space control equipment which has been under the UN control for the past two decades to Mogadishu.

The delivery of the equipment, Jamal said was a milestone for Somalia as it prepares to fully control its own airspace which has to date been under the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, in Nairobi since the collapse of government in 1991.

“This consignment is a turning point for Somalia’s airspace. We can now control our own airspace which ICAO has had mandate over for the last 20 years,” said Jamal.

Jamal had in February this year told ICAO Somalia was now ready to control its airspace hence the need for handover of the equipment.

The United Nations Development Program, UNDP and the International Civil Aviation Organization founded a civil aviation caretaker authority for Somalia, CACAS following the collapse of government in 1991.

CACAS later changed name to Flight Information Services for Somalia, FISS when its mandate expired in 2012 following the formation of the Federal Government in Somalia. To date, FISS which it still draws its mandate from ICAO is in charge of Somali airspace.

Somalia airspace generates an average of $7 million annually.