13 Mar 2023

The handing over of certificates of compliance to the country’s two air navigation service providers augurs well for their reputation and the country’s economic growth endeavors.

 The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) chief executive officer, Dr Bao Mosinyi said during the handing over of certificates of compliance to Directorate of Air Navigation Services and Department of Meteorological Services.

 Dr Mosinyi said although the certification of both entities was not a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organization, it was a necessity for countries to develop their service standards.

 “We have to be proud of what we are doing for our country,” Dr Mosinyi said adding that such certification gave tourists and investors confidence on the country’s aviation sector.

  Further, Dr Mosinyi said after certifying Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, CAAB was in the process of certifying Maun Airport this year.

 The Aviation Standards and Safety Oversight regulator, Mr Samuel Mbaakanyi said the certification process looked into areas such as air navigation, air traffic services, search and rescue, aeronautical information services, aeronautical cartography, procedures for aircraft operations, communication, navigation, surveillance and aeronautical meteorology. 

Mr Mbaakanyi described the awarding of the certificates to the service providers as a commitment and confirmation made to forge and increase the internationally acceptable level of safety in Botswana's aviation.

He said the certification of the two was a requirement by the CAAB Act, which mandated for the provision of aeronautical meteorology. Mr Mbaakanyi said the process of awarding certificates of compliance to Directorate of Air Navigation Services and Department of Meteorological Services started in 2015 before it was abandoned due to teething challenges. However, he said CAAB and the two entities re-embarked on it in 2019 and that had resulted in the certification of their processes.

“A certificate in any form is a sign that one has attained some kind of evaluation and attained the requirement mark, it then goes without saying that in aviation, a certificate authorizes a person or organisation to perform aviation activity or activities,” he said.

  The director of Air Navigation Services, Mr Silas Silas said their services covered all airports in the country and the control centre, adding that attaining the certificate was not easy.

 The Department of Meteorological Services director, Ms Chandapiwa Sebeela said certification was a sign of provision of quality services, adding that her organisation would strive to improve in areas they had not done well. END