African Pilot Weekly Magazine 30:2026
Regulatory and Safety
Strong El Niño Could Heighten Operational Risks for African Aviation
A strong El Niño developing during 2026 could expose African aviation to operational risks ranging from heat-related aircraft performance restrictions and flooding to dust, fuel disruption and power constraints.
Strong El Niño Could Heighten Operational Risks for African Aviation
A strong El Niño developing during 2026 could expose African aviation to operational risks ranging from heat-related aircraft performance restrictions and flooding to dust, fuel disruption and power constraints.
Regulatory and Safety
Çelebi Begins Turkish Airlines Ground Handling Operations in Nairobi
Çelebi Aviation has begun providing passenger, ramp, baggage and turnaround services for seven weekly Turkish Airlines flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Airports
Becoming a Student Pilot: What to Consider Before You Begin
Thinking about becoming a pilot? Before committing to flight training, prospective students should consider their goals, medical requirements, budget, training expectations and choice of flying school.
Training and Skills Development
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Regulatory
South Africa’s Drone Sector Waits for Long-Delayed Regulatory Changes
South Africa’s drone sector is awaiting regulatory changes affecting remote pilot licensing and lower-risk operations, with the outstanding 33rd Amendment emerging as a key test of how quickly agreed reforms can move into force.
South Africa’s Drone Sector Waits for Long-Delayed Regulatory Changes
South Africa’s drone sector is awaiting regulatory changes affecting remote pilot licensing and lower-risk operations, with the outstanding 33rd Amendment emerging as a key test of how quickly agreed reforms can move into force.
Regulatory
Turkish Airlines Balances Regional Headwinds Through Agile Capacity Management; Delivers R3.6 Billion Net Profit in Q2 2026
Turkish Airlines recorded a USD 197 million (approximately R3.6 billion) net profit in Q2 2026 as revenue increased 20.5% year-on-year to USD 7.2 billion. Cargo revenue rose 58%, while passenger load factor reached a record second-quarter level of 84.0%.
Airline
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Ethiopian Airlines Expands Boeing Landing Gear Exchange Agreement to 787-9 Fleet
Ethiopian Airlines has extended its Boeing 787 Landing Gear Exchange agreement to cover 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, adding to existing support for 19 Boeing 787-8s.
MRO
Uganda Airlines Expands Its African Network with New Direct Flights to Accra and Kigali
Uganda Airlines is expanding its African network with scheduled direct flights to Accra and Kigali, strengthening passenger and cargo connectivity through Entebbe International Airport.
African Airline
Emirates and SAA Shift to Reciprocal Codesharing Across Southern and Central Africa
Emirates will place its code on selected South African Airways services for the first time, extending the partnership across three domestic and six regional routes while strengthening Johannesburg’s role as a connecting gateway.
Routes & Network Expansion
How Does Puma Energy Manage Aviation Fuel Supply Across Africa?
At AviaDev Africa 2026 in Gaborone, African Pilot Magazine spoke with Ash Makau, Regional Head – Aviation at Puma Energy, and Kevin Kruger, Commercial Manager, about Puma Energy’s aviation operations and its fuel supply network across Africa.
The conversation covers how Puma Energy manages the aviation fuel supply chain, from sourcing and coastal storage infrastructure to inland transport, airport storage and aircraft refuelling across Africa. We also touch on growth opportunities across the continent, including the development of fuel infrastructure at large and smaller airports and Puma Energy’s work with airport authorities to increase storage capacity and develop appropriate infrastructure for locations such as Livingstone and Ndola, as well as their approach to supporting smaller airports.
With recent disruptions placing additional pressure on aviation fuel supply chains, the conversation turns to security of supply, the use of multiple supply routes and the role of storage infrastructure in maintaining fuel availability across African markets.
Diamond Aircraft Expands Footprint in Africa with First DA50 RG Sale
Diamond Aircraft has sold a DA50 RG to Kenya’s Air Wilderness, the first AOC in Africa to operate the premium single-engine aircraft model.
Aircraft
Catalina Aircraft Company Announces Engineering and Technology Center in Vero Beach
Catalina Aircraft Company plans a multi-tenant Engineering and Technology Center in Vero Beach, bringing the Catalina SPAR design team together with shared testing, computing and prototyping infrastructure.
Innovation & Technology
Enstrom Helicopter Delivers New 480B to Safomar Aviation, Strengthening Longstanding African Partnership
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has delivered a new 480B turbine helicopter to Safomar Aviation, marking its first commercial aircraft delivery since production resumed.
Helicopter
Department Moves to Expedite Amendments Affecting South Africa’s 12-Year Aircraft Rule
The Department of Transport has indicated that it will expedite the outstanding 33rd and 36th Civil Aviation Regulation amendments, with the 36th Amendment addressing Parts 91 and 43 and Appendix 3 linked to South Africa’s 12-year engine rule.
Safety & Regulatory News
Rwanda’s Five-Year Shift to Risk-Based Aviation Oversight
Regulatory and Safety
Rwanda is replacing fixed aviation inspection cycles with a risk-based oversight model that will use operator performance, safety data, SMS effectiveness and compliance history to determine surveillance and enforcement priorities.
SAM AIRWAYS Development and Addition of a Falcon 8X to Its Fleet Under ANACIM Supervision
African Business Aviation
SAM AIRWAYS has begun the ANACIM-supervised process to add a Falcon 8X to its fleet, with inspectors and operator officials establishing the project schedule and a second Falcon 8X is expected shortly.
NCAA Warns Funding Cuts Could Undermine Nigeria’s Aviation Safety Oversight
Regulatory and Safety
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo has warned that reducing the regulator’s statutory funding could weaken aviation safety oversight, with the NCAA saying the 5% Ticket Sales Charge accounts for 85% of its revenue.
Kenya Reviews Bill to Establish Independent Transportation Safety Board
Regulatory and Safety
Kenya is considering legislation to establish an independent Transportation Safety Board responsible for investigating accidents and incidents across aviation, road, rail and maritime transport, with Parliament calling for broader stakeholder engagement before the proposal proceeds.
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Lycoming Engines Introduces Extended 2600 Hour TBO
Lycoming Engines has extended operating-hour TBO intervals to 2,600 hours for selected factory-new and factory-rebuilt piston engines under Service Instruction 1009BF.
Aircraft Engines
Continental Aerospace Technologies™ Advances New IO-370 STC for Piper Archer Aircraft
Continental Aerospace Technologies™ is advancing an IO-370 engine STC for model year 2018 and newer Piper Archer LX, TX and Pilot 100i aircraft. The 180-horsepower installation completed its first flight in June, with further testing and validation under way.
Aircraft
Air Canada Plans Lagos Service for 2027 Under Expanded Nigeria–Canada Agreement
Air Canada intends to introduce scheduled service to Lagos in 2027 after Nigeria and Canada expanded their bilateral air transport agreement to permit direct passenger services and wider cargo access.
International Airline
Africa CDC and WHO Call for Urgent, Community-Led Action to Contain Ebola in the DRC
Africa CDC and WHO have called for an urgent expansion of the community-led Ebola response in the DRC, where 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths had been reported by 4 August 2026.
Humanitarian Aid
Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 Achieves First Flight, Advancing Next-Generation Light Jet Toward Certification
The Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 prototype has completed its first flight, putting all three Citation Gen3 light jets into flight testing.
Aircraft
King Air B300/B300C FAA Airworthiness Directive Takes Effect 10 August 2026
FAA AD 2026-15-05 introduces revised wing inspection and component-replacement limits for specified heavyweight Textron Aviation B300 and B300C aircraft.
safety
Hartzell Navigator Propeller STC Expanded for a Wide Range of Beechcraft Bonanzas
Hartzell Propeller has expanded its Navigator carbon fibre propeller STC to most Bonanza A36, G36 and A36TC models, with specific engine eligibility and exclusions.
Aircraft
CFS Aero Establishes OR Tambo International Airport as Its Primary Base of Operations
CFS Aero has announced the relocation of its primary base, corporate offices and managed aircraft fleet from Lanseria International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport.
African Business Aviation
SAATM, Aviation Charges and Opening African Skies with Prof. Eyden Samunderu
African Pilot Magazine Editor Phillippa Dean speaks with Prof. Dr. Eyden Samunderu, Senior Air Transport Advisor to the African Civil Aviation Commission, during the inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo.
Prof. Dr Samunderu discusses the work required to accelerate the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market and establish a more integrated African aviation market. Drawing on his work with AFCAC and the African Union Commission, he examines the policy, fiscal and infrastructure barriers continuing to restrict air transport growth across the continent.
The discussion explores AFCAC’s comprehensive study into aviation taxes, charges and fees, including the fragmented fiscal structures operating across African markets and the impact of double taxation and non-aviation-related charges on ticket prices, airline operating costs and passenger demand.
Prof. Dr Samunderu also addresses the need for transparent, time-bound aviation levies that are reinvested directly into air services and airport infrastructure. He considers how private-sector participation, public-private partnerships and build-operate-transfer concession models could help close Africa’s airport infrastructure funding gap.
The interview covers data-led route development, latent passenger demand, airline ownership restrictions, government protectionism, fuel and maintenance costs, regional MRO capacity and the potential for stronger Pan-African airline alliances.
The African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 was organised by AFCAC in partnership with the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUDA-NEPAD.
Zimbabwe Air Cargo, Regional Corridors and SAATM with Joy Makumbe
African Pilot Magazine Editor Phillippa Dean spoke with Eng. Joy Makumbe, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, during the inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo.
Eng. Makumbe outlines the importance of regional collaboration, harmonised regulations and coordinated infrastructure investment in improving the movement of air cargo across Africa.
She explains that financiers are showing growing interest in regional corridor projects where participating countries develop coordinated proposals supported by feasibility studies and demonstrable bankability.
Eng. Makumbe also highlights the need for consistent cargo documentation and recognised regulatory standards across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. Repeated inspections, incompatible paperwork and duplicated charges increase costs, delay cargo at borders and weaken the competitiveness of regional trade.
The discussion covers Zimbabwe’s plans for a privately financed cargo village using a build-operate-transfer model, as well as efforts to strengthen the national ground handler through investment in storage, cargo-handling equipment and fleet capacity.
Eng. Makumbe further addresses competition under the Single African Air Transport Market, noting that local airlines must prepare to grow, compete and pursue partnerships, including codeshare agreements with airlines entering the Zimbabwean market.
The inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 was organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in partnership with the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUDA-NEPAD.
