At Tanzania’s recent annual International Civil Aviation Day, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) vowed to improve airspace safety as one of its efforts to attract more aviation investors into the country.
The authority used the day to reflect on successes it has made in ensuring safety and efficiency in regulating the aviation sector.
In the two decades since its inception in 2003, TCAA has so far installed four advanced radar systems to aid navigating the country's airspace and the Aeronautical Information System (AIS) to navigate air communication activities within airports, which are guaranteeing safety.
The government's commitment to improving air transport services resulted in the purchase of 13 aircraft for the Air Tanzania Corporation (ATCL).
“ATCL's expanded capacity has facilitated more domestic and international travels, hence contributing to various economic sectors,” Transport Minister, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said in a statement, adding that the TCAA had also scored 86.9% in aviation security standards ratings, placing it fourth in Africa for effective implementation of the standards.
TCAA director, General Hamza Johari, said the improved authority's performance had attracted investments, making the country a hub for aviation investors and air travel services organisations.
“Our bilateral agreements with 80 countries and the presence of 21 airlines attest to Tanzania's attractiveness,” said Johari.
He added that the Royal Tour Film had played a crucial role in promoting the country's skies, bringing in new international airlines such as Saudi Airlines, Air France, Edelweiss, and Eurowings Discovery. In the film, made by Emmy Award-winning journalist, Peter Greenberg, he travelled with the President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, through her country for a week.
Meanwhile, TCAA deputy director-general, Teophory Mbilinyi, said Tanzania's commitment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation dated from 1962, when the country signed the convention and, over the years, Tanzania has served on the International Civil Aviation Organization council in 1968, 1977, 1983, 2013, 2016, and 2022.
