AOPA Namibia has warned that the country’s commercial aviation sector is facing a critical shortage of commercial pilots and flight instructors, with operators at risk of grounding aircraft, selling assets and retrenching Namibian non-pilot staff unless urgent regulatory intervention is taken.
According to the April 2026 white paper, Namibia has only 202 current Commercial Pilot Licence holders, while just 21 new CPLs have been issued since January 2024, equating to approximately 10 new commercial pilots per year. AOPA Namibia says this pipeline is insufficient to meet current demand, with surveyed operators requiring 60 additional pilots and 14 additional flight instructors immediately.
The industry survey, covering 11 Air Operator Certificate holders and Approved Training Organisations, found that some commercial operators have already grounded up to 45% of their aircraft due to pilot shortages. Operators also reported flying remaining pilots at maximum legal flight-hour limits, raising fatigue and safety concerns.
The shortage is also affecting training capacity. Two Approved Training Organisations reported that 15 student pilots were unable to train due to flight instructor shortages, while 10 students had requested or received refunds because of training delays.
AOPA Namibia argues that local recruitment efforts have been exhausted, with 2,172 pilot and instructor applications received over 24 months, of which only 47 were from Namibian applicants. By contrast, 280 foreign applicants were assessed as meeting operational and safety standards.
The white paper identifies the foreign work permit process as a major barrier, stating that 58 foreign pilot and instructor work permit applications were submitted over the past 24 months, with 20 rejected and 12 still pending. AOPA Namibia is calling for a dedicated fast-track work permit pathway for qualified foreign commercial pilots and flight instructors, with a target processing time of no more than 30 days.
AOPA Namibia says expedited visas and work permits are needed not as a substitute for local training, but as an immediate measure to protect aviation safety, sustain operators, keep aircraft flying and preserve Namibian jobs linked to the wider aviation and tourism economy.
Read the full white paper here: https://aopa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AOPA_Namibia_Aviation_Pilot_Shortage_White_Paper_April_2026.pdf
