Somali airspace to be controlled from inside the country in 7 days time
Federal ministry of transportation and aviation declared that the airspace of Somalia will be controlled from inside the country before the end of this month.
Speaking to the VOA Somali language section on its weekly ‘Guest Speakers’ program, Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Salad Omaar who is currently in Canada announced the new development noting that his ministry will fulfill their earlier promise on next week by holding an opening ceremony for the aviation office in Mogadishu before the end of December.
“Thanks to God, I am giving glad tidings to the Somali public just the way we took a pledge as of 28th of this month officially to take over the Somali airspace and we shall do a big opening ceremony for the office” said Minister Omaar.
The minister emphasized on the need for foreign workers and the ICAO organization involvement to continue with the work in the aviation control office until they secure local educated staff.
“Foreign workers and other staff from ICAO will be involved till we train Somali people that will have the necessary knowledge to run the aviation system and one day they will officially take full control of the operations” Minister Omaar said.
Training and capacity building will be extended to those Somalis selected to operate the airspace equipments. “Prior to this, we shall train them but most important of all is the for the Somali government to manage the airspace.”
He mentioned activities on the project are passing in their final stages.
Early May, ICAO handed airspace control equipment to Somalia through its ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Jamal.
Late August while in Sharma Sheikkh, Egypt for a meeting on Aviation Management for Africa, minister Omar said Somalia will have full control of airspace by end of October.
“We expect for the first time [since early 1990s] Somali air space to be controlled from Mogadishu. Now what we need is get trained personnel who can take part in controlling Somali air space. As we are planning, we expect end of October 2017 to start this issue but a delay of some days can be possible because of installations of large amount of equipment” said Minister Salad.
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.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec region, Canada.
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