Rwanda takes over management of its upper airspace from Tanzania after 50 years of delegation
Since the 1970s, Tanzania has been responsible for providing services in Rwanda's upper airspace, as the neighbouring country did not have the technical capability to do so at that time.
Rwanda is once again responsible for providing air traffic services in its upper airspace above 24 500 feet (7 467.6 metres). The country officially took over this responsibility from Tanzania on 15 August 2022, when a transfer deed was signed in Kigali, Rwanda. The documents bear the signatures of the directors general of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) and the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), Hamza Johari and Silas Udahemuka. "Among the reasons put forward by Rwanda to regain management of its airspace is to improve safety in the Kigali Flight Information Region (FIR), as well as to meet regulatory requirements such as search and rescue (SAR) obligations. Following several coordination meetings led by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation, editor's note), Rwanda has been allowed to recover the process of taking over its airspace," explains the TCAA. The ICAO Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF), Barry Kashambo, was present at the handover ceremony. The resumption of the management of its upper airspace is part of the finalisation of the technical arrangements required to complete its membership of the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). Last month, the Agency's Committee of Ministers approved Rwanda's entry as the 19th member country. The official membership is expected to take effect from 1 January 2024, after the finalisation of the ratification process and the promulgation of the ASECNA Convention (signed in Libreville on 28 April 2010) and its annexes; as well as the enhancement of ASECNA's assets to be transferred.
