Local airlines and sector players have been urged to adhere to sector standards and regulations to boost the industry’s safety levels and competitiveness.

Claver Bazatoha, the director in charge of flight safety services at Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), said it is critical that sector stakeholders embrace professionalism and standards, noting that they are critical to the sustainability of Rwanda’s aviation industry.

Bazatoha was speaking during a one-day stakeholders meeting in Kigali on Monday. The meeting brought together airline companies, pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, cabin crew members, air traffic controllers and civil aviation experts.

He told The New Times on the sideline of the meeting aimed at educating stakeholders on licensing requirements as per the new Rwanda civil aviation regulations on personnel licensing and international standards.

"Early this year, RCCA issued a new set of regulations for aviation players, so we are creating awareness about them to ensure every stakeholder knows and understands them to be able to improve sector performance and safety,” Bazatoha pointed out.

The new regulations repealed the Civil Aviation Regulations of 2008 (Presidential Order No. 60/01 of 20/10/2008), and were published in the Official Gazette on May 25, 2015

The regulations seek to streamline and strengthen the industry’s safety management systems, air navigation services, personnel and licensing, among others. They are part of the new ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPS).

Sonia Kamikazi, the RwandAir corporate quality manager, said the sensitisation supports the airline’s values and practices on safety regulations and standards.

"It is important that we understand the new regulations and how they apply to be able to align them to our daily operations as an airline,” Kamikazi said.

Meanwhile, Bazatoha has urged new players, including pilots, joining the market to always go for refresher courses to remain competitive and up to date.

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