With immediate effect, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has issued operating restrictions to no less than 29 Air Operator Certificate holders and fifteen Approved Maintenance Organisations.
In a statement, KCAA Director General Gilbert Kibe, said the decision of the Authority affects AOC holders and AMOs that had not completed their certification.
He added that the imposed restrictions subsequently limit the operations of the affected operators to within the boundaries of Kenya and AMOs to only offer their services to air operators that conduct domestic operations.
“The holder of the affected AOCs will cease all international operations until such a time that they have completed the certification process to the satisfaction of the Authority and in strict compliance with the applicable regulations,” he said.
The Authority is mandated under the Civil Aviation Act to regulate the aviation industry in Kenya.
He explained that Kenya being a signatory State to the Chicago Convention is obliged to ensure that all activities in the aviation industry are conducted in a manner consistent with the Convention and Annexes thereto.
“The Authority will continue to process the certification of the affected operators as is our mandate and urge their cooperation at all times.The travelling public and users of air services are reassured of the safety of air operations and the actions taken by the Authority are aimed at enhancing compliance with regulations as well as fostering the safety and security of the aviation industry in Kenya,” Kibe said.
The directive comes amidst the search and rescue operations for a light passenger aircraft that went missing on 5 June, carrying 10 people on board. The plane belonging to Sax and operated by East African Safari Air Express was destined for the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi from Kitale when it went missing.