The new law on Aviation Security Act that was approved by Parliament on April 28, 2010 is expected to boost security in the aviation sector thus increasing passenger traffic, a top official has said.

"Security will be enhanced thus contributing to more traffic from outsiders in Rwanda and promoting the government objective of improving the doing business environment,” Richard Masozera, the Director General of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) said.

Giving a green light to the act means that Rwanda’s is moving towards the harmonisation of aviation rules with the regional policy. 

The new act received a legal input from the East African Community (EAC) and the Federal Aviation Administration from the United States of America, RCAA says.

According to Masozera, other aviation laws to be tabled before parliament this week is the law on civil aviation regulation and the law on the responsibilities, functioning and organisation of RCAA. Masozera is optimistic that by the end of this month the laws should be approved.

He emphasised that the laws will greatly contribute to improved safety and security, increase the autonomy of the RCAA in making quick and timely decision.

"All these laws will greatly boost the aviation industry, the laws will enable RCAA to recruit and retain the appropriate skilled personnel and build capacity to attract more flights,” he said.

The RCAA boss recently said that recruiting professionals in the industry is very expensive and so a mechanism to retain them is extremely important and should be in place.

It is expected that after the harmonisation of EAC civil aviation regulations that the bloc will ratify the Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) protocol.

The three founder partner states have adopted the protocol in their national legislative assemblies and are waiting to ratify it as a block.

The EAC CASSOA is a specialised agency of the community responsible for ensuring the development of safe and secure civil aviation systems in the region.

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