Crazy Kenya ' Regulations '

[kotakota]

I am amazed that there is no thread about the ridiculous new 'Regulations ' that KCAA have rammed through in Kenya in the last few days .
I was very , ( VERY ) , lucky to have been a charter pilot at Wilson in the wonderful days of the late 60s / early 70s , we had nearly 400 light aircraft in those days keeping the country together when the roads were actually better than they are now , believe it or not .
No-one made a fortune but we had a comfortable existence in one of the few great countries to live in back then . There was ZERO tax on anything to do with aviation , because the Government of President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta could see the benefits of having a healthy aviation sector that not only produced the incomparable Flying Doctors , but also the Police Airwing and the fledgling Missionary outfits ( MAF etc ) , but was also driving the booming tourism sector which has been the backbone of the Kenyan economy ever since. Moi changed all that for some reason .( He actually used aircraft whereas Mzee never did .Another reason why the main roads were improved so much during Mzees rule . As soon as he passed on , the Roads budget was diverted into other pockets which explains the recent probs !! )
It is absolutely gut-wrenching that the Kenyan establishment is persecuting light aviation to the extent that the problems that they themselves have created for the Tourism industry with their power / wealth / election / struggles ( same thing in Africa ) including over 100,000 redundancies in the tourist sector at one point , are being exacerbated by their intransigence.
It has been well documented / reported recently about the fact that Kenyan MPs are paid the bulk of the countries GDP , that they have repeatedly voted themselves huge salary increases , that they will kill for a vote or two , so why should they give a fig about what is good for their country ? While the world is fretting about Mugabe and Zim ( now there is a patriot that really loves his country so much ) , thay have lost sight of the fact that Kenya is going down the plughole too.

'I must steal it first before someone else does' - Paul Theroux ?

Why oh why do African politicians not love their countries / countrymen ?
( Apologies to Mwalimu and Madiba who are the exception )

Cry The Beloved Country etc ( a great read )

Just heard that my old school Duke Of York ( Lenana ) has closed down - very sad , but not surprising anymore either.

Still uplifting to read pprune threads about GA in Botswana , now there is a place that deserves a pat on the back.

God Bless Africa .

[captabcd]

:eek::ugh::mad::D:{ Hic! more beer please.

[merlinxx]

In your time at Wilson, do you remember a chap called Ken Rawles, if I remember he was a CFI at Wilkin Air. Ken also was a Nav for us @ AFSAF on the Brit.

[icarus sun]

Most african countries suffer the same problems corruption. In kenya all politicians are corrupt to some extent. Each time i go back it gets worse corruption and lack of security.

[GALANT]

Follow the KCARS of leave the country,in the 60's ana 70's u are talking about are during the white era at wilson airport,it's the days they use to look pple down,take a look now and see young generation coming up.take a hike man and leave us alone

[WhinerLiner]

Galant-Your English is disgusting. You are barely literate and you fly aeroplanes?

Africa is the mess it is because people like you keep making excuses about why it's ok to be substandard. Kenya's safety record leaves a lot to be desired, why not look and learn instead of telling people to "take a hike".

[congoman]

GALANT -
1) You're obviously very young, (you clearly haven't seen where your country was - compared to where it is now!) Therefore you lack experience in life and consequently an accurate understanding of how your country ended up in the predicament it now finds itself.
2) Not very well travelled, (because if you were, you'd understand the dilemma your country and Africa is in.) (Why is it that you guys REFUSE to learn from history?)
But like the rest of your tribe, it's always easier to blame the whites, colonialists, West or whoever - rather than face the REAL reason most of your people are destitute.
3) Not very educated, (you have demonstrated to everyone that you cannot even string an intelligable sentence together!)
You tell everyone (whites) to "take a hike and leave us alone." With pleasure! But who's going to fill your country's and Africa's begging bowl? The Russians? The Chinese? Your continent will be recolonised before you know it! But this time you wont find the colonialists quite so benevolent!
I can only hope that you DO NOT fly aircraft for a living. If you do - it explains why much of African airspace is black-listed as a safety hazard in the civilised world.

[mkenya]

The guy has a point. So no need to come down so hard on him.
And your assertion that english is a measure of intelligence is so retarted and retrogressive.
And if you really believe that africa is irredeemable then there is no point of crying over a stone because it aint giving you water. TAKE A WALK. the world is so large. And stop whining.
And for your info, swahili is one of the official language of africa, and the east africa community. Shall I be justified to call anyone I meet in our beloved east africa and who doesn't speak swahili intellectually challenged?
Go figure.
And Africa is not begging to anyone. Despite the fact that europe plundered africa and butchered its people largely to get where it is.
I bet Congoman is busy looting in congo and funding militias and reliving the days of colonialsm so that some years from now he can insult us when we go begging in his door step.

[Lifes-a-Beech]

MKenya - No one said that an inability to speak English equated to not being intelligent. The fact is that English is a Universal Language and the difference is that those of us who can't eloquently speak swahili, don't attempt to do so as we are aware of what idiots we'll look like.

Just an aside...Ethiopia was never colonised, so based on your theory that it was never "plundered and butchered" by the mean-ass europeans, it should be a thriving, econonically sound country - so much for not begging to anyone.

[WhinerLiner]

"Retarted"? Well that about covers that.

Its always someone else's fault-"the colonialists did it to us". Or wait, was it slavery, no it was the plundering for the resources....

Its correct that Ethiopia was never colonised, look at what a raging success that it. Equally Hong Kong, USA, Australia, New Zealand etc were all colonies. Do you see them running around in squalor blaming the Europeans for their woes? Seems to be more of an African problem than a colony problem to me.

Africa is what it is because Africans keep it that way. Crooked, thieving politicians squirreling away millions and idiots like you are still blaming people that left decades ago. Wake up.

By the way, when we leave should we take the aircraft and other wondrous bits of technology with us? Didn't come from Africa after all.

[GALANT]

Thanks Mkenya,we have to hold ths whites and indians at bay,they have lotted alot from Kenyans,aviation is no longer for the pple who use to be at wilson airport in the 60's and 70's,All Kenyan all the time!!!!!! They are talking of English,who cares,the guys who flow into Mt.Kenya were english speaking,did it help them,gauge ur IQ and stop crying,we don't need you

[WhinerLiner]

Yip, who needs English anyway? Now that I have been informaed that its not going to stop me from flying into a mountain, I may well learn Swahili myself.

[FatFlaps]

I can see the headlines now...

"English, which used to be the world's 3rd largest language, spoken by about 365 million people as a first language, has been replaced by Swahili, which although is only the native language of 5 -10 million people apparently is far superior to English - it allegedly prevents airline crashes into Mt Kenya"

Thats quite a profound statement to make Galant

[congoman]

mkenya - Africa has had the begging bowl out since the the Europeans first landed on the continent! Nothing new in that. If you're denying that fact, then you clearly don't know much about your own history!
If you knew your history you would also know that your own culture killed and plundered black people long before the whites ever set foot here!
And if you want to bring up the slave trade - who do you think was selling slaves to the traders? Your own black people, that's who!
Do some research -the results will shock you!

Read a book called "Out of America" written by a black guy by the name of Keith Richburg. He was a reporter for Time Magazine during the Rwandan, Burundi civil war.
In the book he details how he witnessed Africans treating each other and how grateful he was that his ancestors had been taken out of Africa as slaves - otherwise he might have been one of the thousands of bodies he witnessed floating down the river!
He freely admits that had a white man written his book, it would have been banned as racsist! As it was he was heavily criticised for bringing the story out into the open. He was told it was "unAfrican" to criticise a fellow black!

GALANT - Just for the record: It's not about your intellectual ability. English is the international aviation language - like it or not! If you want to fly, you need to communicate INTELLIGIBLY in English. Otherwise find another job!

The reason Africans aren't treated as equals around the world is because they don't BEHAVE like equals. The world doesn't respect African leaders because their ACTIONS betray their true motives. Just look at Mugabe's behaviour towards his OWN people! And Mbeki's in defending him! And Zuma behaving like a clown singing and dancing for his machinegun! Then you have Gaddafi the tinpot dictator who doesn't even know when to get a haircut!
And I'm sure you guys in Kenya could tell a story or two about how your own politicians have been behaving just recently.
And you still wonder why African's aren't respected? Go figure!
If you DON'T want the world to see you as a clown - then DON'T BEHAVE like a clown! :8
It's time you guys took some responsibility for your actions.
You guys all hate the West/Europeans/Colonialists etc but I notice you all love BMW's, fancy clothes, watches, shoes, cell phones, TV's etc.
Where do you think they all came from? You guys need Western culture more than you think! You just don't know, that you don't know it yet. :hmm:

[kotakota]

Shame we cannot remain on topic.
I am merely trying to point out that the last thing GA in Kenya needs right now is this new raft of regulations . For instance ,forcing charter pilots to acquire weather before departing the remotest of strips where even your mobile might struggle to function , is not the most practical of rules. This is not going to improve anything . Charter flights will always try and get through , visibility permitting .
My main point is that tourism needs a break.
Anyway , nobody seems to give a toss on this thread , and as usual the race card gets played again . Galant just confirms what I have known for years now - as a white person I am not allowed to love Kenya for some reason , despite having been lucky enough to spend my formative years there. There are plenty of black Brits in the UK and I would never question their right to love the UK , especially if born there .

fly safe

KK

[mkenya]

Kotakota
My sincere apologies for any ill treatment you have received in Kenya. I wish to assure you that it is not part of kenyan culture to ill treat visitors. And on a positive note, if all goes well then kenya should be allowing dual citizenship soon, that should allow you as a person who has spent so many years there to possibily apply for citizenship. Meanwhile the industry is low now, and understandably the few available jobs can be handled by the locals, but should there be a skill shortage am certain the government will move fast in issuing work permits. Tell anyone considering on going on holiday to visit kenya.
Back to the issue at hand. It seems that once something happens im kenya, the authorities move too far to remedy the situation. Am certain the requirement is as a result of the accident that killed cabinet ministers two months ago.
Another illustration is the reaction to the terrorist bombing in Nairobi 10 years ago. If you have driven to Jkia of late you must have noticed how many police barricades are on the road. And the numerous checks and prohibition to stop so many kilometers on the road to the airport. The desire to please uncle sam is so great, you'd think bush and his cronies live around the place with Osama next door.

And to respond to the gentleman who said Ethiopia was never plundered, please tell me how the Obelisk got to Italy and what it has been doing all those years.
Of course africa has had its terrible history. We've had Rwanda, we have Darfur and eastern Drc still facing disaster and much more. We have had our fair share of terrible leaders. Corrupt and terrible. Who are fit only to be in Guantanamo bay.
But as we look at africa we should not be quick to localise the problem. It affects all races and continents. From the holocaust to the extermination of natives in North America and Australia and many more disasters in history it clearly demonstrates no part of human society is immune to evil.
It is common knowledge among the informed that the developed world played a big role in the present state of africa, but even a bigger role did the post colonial african leaders play.
For those inclined to reading please grab a copy of Confessions of an economic hit man by John Perkins to see what role america actively plays to kill the third world economies and to see how glorious the african history is read Africa in history by Basil davidson.
And thanks for informing me. i never realised that alot of technological advances today are NOT produced in the asian countries.

[captabcd]

GALANT
ME is to think that you drink too much of the stuff brewed back door's.:suspect::=
Hic. more beer plez.:p:zzz:

[congoman]

A nice post mkenya - thank you. But just a small correction. Most technologies (although not all) were originally INVENTED in the west but MANUFACTURED in Asia. A mutually benificial collaberation that's seen places like Japan, Singapore, etc, places that were virtually TOTALLY destroyed in WWII now flourishing. And look at the progress in China and India!
Why is it not happening in Africa? Surely we have the same potential?
(Sorry about not staying strictly on topic Kotokota - just that some home truths need to be pointed out.)
And yes - the Yanks (indeed most countries) are self serving. But so are our politicians in Africa! Virtually none of them really care about their own people!
Africa shouts about Human Rights - but how many know that more African lives have been lost at their own hands than under the ENTIRE tenure of colonialism!
And STILL it continues! After 14 years of a black government rule in South Africa, more lives have been negligently lost than under the ENTIRE period of Apartheid! (AIDS!)
Sorry if I'm going on here. (And so off topic!) But like kotakota I dearly love this continent - but I can no longer make excuses for it's condition. Especially when Africa has such great potential.

Off on a flight shortly - happy landings everyone. Let's keep it safe out there!

[kotakota]

mkenya,
Thankyou for some balance at last . Actually , I have never received any grief whilst in Kenya which is why I bemoan the sort of rubbish I attract on pprune whenever I talk about the place .
Nothing will stop me coming back again and again . Very interesting your point about dual nationality , I have started exploring this , but hold no illusions at my age that I could ever fly in Kenya again , although it would have been very pleasing indeed to finish my career where I started it !
Anyway , I have managed to end up working with Swahili speakers in the great place that is Oman.
Fly safe
KK

[V1... Ooops]

Nice post MKenya, it's thought-provoking.

[sawaya]

Mr Kota Kota get a life get your facts right lenana school has not been closed never will be i know that for a fact,....

[Ajax 28]

didn't the kenyans try to butcher each other not too long ago... Dont see any western influence there...

As for the "previously disadvantaged" continuously blaming the Europeans for there problems... How bout you just sit for a moment and imagine how far behind Africa would be today, if the Europeans had never brought all their early inventions with them... They certainly would not be better off than they are right now... :ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

[kotakota]

Mr sawaya ,
Thankyou for yet another polite greeting .
Get a life ? I have had a wonderful life thankyou very much , of which Kenya played a huge part , sorry to disappoint you . I expect that your need to spit in my face about Lenana School means that your life is not so good that you have to lash out like this.
I was given information , including news clippings , that formed the basis of my view that Lenana had been closed. I am sorry if that is false info , but can you not try and get it over a little more politely ? CRM must be a complete mystery to you and your ilk.
Frankly , I am sick of you and your cronies , continuing to drag Kenyas reputation through the mud by your actions and comments. No respect for a mzee .Thank God I know that the Kenyans I care about are not like you people .
My life is fine , how is yours ?

[WhinerLiner]

You guys are out of control. Your aggression is unbridled and serves only to diminish the already tarnished image of Kenyan aviation. You really need to take a step back. Sawaya, where do you get off with a reply like that? Whats wrong with you? Get yourselves in check or can we please hear from some of the more moderate Kenyan instead.I've got a fun idea! Instead of humiliating yourself on Pprune, why don't you learn about punctuation? Try it!

[Carrier]

Quote: ".....we don't need you"

Kindly adopt the same approach to the foreign aid that your country accepts and that is paid for by our taxes! Quit blaming all the failings of yourselves and your country on the colonialism that ended nearly half a century ago (and which left your country with great infrastructure, finances, etc) and start taking responsibility for yourselves and your country. Your country is not exempt from the old saying: "A nation gets the government it deserves." (Note that these comments apply to most countries in Africa.)

[captabcd]

Most of Africa is now worse of than it was at the time the dreaded colonials left this place to its people. This will continue as long as they want their own for the job rather than some one who is qualified.
Unfortunately this not only exists in politics, but in aviation too.:ugh::ugh:
:confused:sihjui:ooh:

[Rat Catcher]

Don't you just love PPRuNe:D
At the risk of being cr@##ed on by 2 or 3 different continents, the thread started about the new rules...I think we managed about 2 posts relating to them:E
There are tough times ahead for the operators here as we are hit with a "one size fits all" book of rules that the authority is not even vaguely capable of policing because they can't understand their own rules:eek:
Good luck to all and safari njema
After the state the world is in we should leave the race/religion card on vacation for a bit n"est pas mes amis

[Pitch&Fan]

Who is John Galt?

[Agaricus bisporus]

No respect for a mzee

Well, if we are talking about the mzees who have "led" Kenya since independance that is hardly surprising; they have all, without exception, been corrupt, greedy, inept tribalist despots.

Respect them? Why?

[Lifes-a-Beech]

Ooo...here we go again - let me grab my beer and biltong!

[kotakota]

I was referring to this wise old bird actually , having survived far too much aviation along the way !!

[Bucket]

I spent about three years in South Africa teaching the Kenyan Airways cadets most of whom progressed straight onto the B738. Without exception I found them to be amongst the most well adjusted and mature African students I have met. They understood the dynamics of their countries politics and shared a collective concern about it. They are very much the future of Kenyan aviation and I hope that one day they will be in positions where they can effect good changes to the system and perhaps allow it to become a model for the rest of Africa.

Heaven only knows we need a drastic improvement in Africa's standing in the global aviation community. It does not enjoy the greatest of reputations though there are isolated examples of hope; sadly given its significance, South Africa is not one of them.

:cool:

[Coleman Myers]

Hope all you "foreign devils" will forgive us for what has been said so far in this thread. We absolutely do need you, white, yellow, black or otherwise, because it is you that fuels the growth of Kenyan aviation.

Please take the remarks of some people on this thread with a "satchet of the catering co. salt" - they know aswell as I do that "all Kenyan/kenyans only" aviation scene is nonsense, a racist pipe dream will never happen.

PS - thankfully I was around when we still did Cambridge O'level English :E

[kotakota]

Thanks Coleman for your balanced view . Sadly , the reality is that there is no common sense in Kenya aviation , only xenophobia and greed . If you care to search back through pprune ( don't bother ) the last few years you will find that I was led to believe that I could help KQ through a bottleneck doing the line-training that I do on NG-800s . I applied , expecting / hoping for a 2 year contract , no schooling etc required , only the same pay as a local Captain ( which by the way is very generous by Kenyan standards ) ,I had accom sorted , happy to provide my own transport etc , because to me it would have been a pleasure to return to my 'formative' country , enjoy its charms , and end my flying days where I had begun . A 2 year contract ( which would have ended by now ) was a dream , but I was to be denied by the union . If Kenyan flying jobs had been at stake I could have understood , but my role was to improve the flow of them through the system and then quietly disappear . Sadly , no common sense.
Still , I only wish the best for Kenya Aviation and KQ , life is too short to be bitter . Perhaps some of the recalcitrants that despoil these worthy forums would do well to take that on board. But I doubt it !
Take care and fly safe
KK

[BarnacleBill]

What about a bit of sense and a bit less nonsense.

The new KCARs and UCARs and TzCARs are here to stay because the governments are signatories to the Chicago Convention and are obliged to follow ICAO Standards (by law, in Uganda).

The problem is not the regs in themselves -which in any case are here to stay. The problems are:

1) the CAAs have not filed differences to take into account local conditions - look at the aerodrome regs. This is because the CAAs (wrongly) believe that filing differences is a measure of failure and they are very proud that they have not filed differences.

2) the interpretation of the new regs. In Uganda we are tackling the CAA on personnel licencing, but the CAA view has been that while the new regs (a copy and paste from FARs) are highly permissive, the CAA actually intends blithely to continue applying the old (micro-management) regs. The UCAA have little option but to follow FAA interpretations, but are loathe so to do.

The new regs (if adhered to) clearly spell doom for light aviation in EA. So we can either fight our corner or cry in our beer. If we want to fight then we have to address 1 and 2 by challenging bad interpretations of the law and by pushing for differences (on aerodromes, for instance) where the wider public interest may be at stake.

(It is interesting that the KCARs were allowed through in the public interest.)

In Uganda we have started to engage the CAA and our position is that the regs belong to both operators and regulators and that the regulators do not have the final voice by a long way. We have found parts of the CAA that are hostile to our approach, but other regulators who understand what we are trying to do and are sympathetic.

And there is a cultural (no, not black/white, or even African, sorry) problem that the CAAs need to address - the philosophy driving the ICAO model regs is that operators must regulate themselves and their staff, and CAAs are to concentrate on policing the operators, whereas the old British model regulations called for the CAAs to micro-manage every last detail. It will take some time for this new philosophy or culture to take root.

Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to drop all the crapulous racist nonsense and work together to do something positive.

[kotakota]

Thanks Barnacle Bill , at last some measured reasoning from someone actually involved in East African light aviation . Good luck with the 'struggle'.

[primeco]

its just so disappointing after reading through all the african forum blogs that there is nothing constructive being discussed other than everyone insulting each other. no wonder africa is the way it is with such mentalities.:(

[williewalsh]

Coleman,
Stop pretending to be a black african.
Do you still work for rent a steptoe.
:ok::}

[atco749]

mzee Kotakota since you started this thread..what is your main concern/disagreement with the new regulations?? i dint quite get it...maybe all the sideshows derailed my mind.
am atc so i just dont get it when aviators say the regulations will kill GA in East Africa...please explain...barnacleBill
please no more collonialist/racism/post-election drama...can we just get along and move on:):)

[kotakota]

Sorry ATCO 749 , been a bit busy but copied below is part of the latest Aero Club of East Africa newsletter for you to get some small idea of what the regs mean ie treat everyone the same from KQ to the smallest 1 light aircraft
operator , and every dirt strip the same as Nairobi International Airport ( JKIA ).

---------------------------------------------------------------
Reports from the field indicate that, so far, KCAA inspectors have not "swooped down" on aircraft operators in Kenya to enforce the new contentious Kenya Civil Aviation Regulations. (KCARS). Depite the fact that a few dozen of the regulations are virtually impossible to adhere to in an aviation environment like Kenya, where 80% of flying is done into ill-equipped "bush strips", KCAA has so far not harassed anybody or even closed down operators who are every day transgressing the new law. It would appear that, either KCAA does not actually have the enforcement capacity to implement its ill-conceived rules, or it is now happy that at least on paper Kenya has met the ICAO SARPS and procedures. It remains to be seen if this "honeymoon" will last or whether KCAA will eventually produce the army of inspectors that is required if it is serious about implementing its new rules.

Some examples of KCARs that are injurious to operators of aircraft and airfields are:

1. All airfields (even the most basic bush runway) must be "fenced", have a "Security Plan", an "Airport Manager", a "Security Committee", etc. All that of course also applies not only to private airstrips, but also to Government runways in the outback. Most operators do not believe that the Government (Kenya Wildlife Service, town councils, villages, Kenya Police, etc.) will ever be able to adhere to its own rules, leave alone the missions, camps, farmers, etc. out there who have landing strips that may be used once or twice a month. It is also a question whether the KCAA actually knows where most of these remote airstrips are located. The private sector knows that there are at least 600 airstrips in Kenya, but the official AIP only shows about 350. KCAA will have to do a lot of flying and driving around to find the rest.

2. Each airstrip, according to the regulations, must undergo an 'annual inspection'. It is doubtful that KCAA has the capacity (vehicles, inspectors, aircraft) to actually do that.

3. Commercial aircraft are required to fly only into airfields that are adequately equipped, manned, have 'security' in place, are able to offer the latest weather information, etc. It is doubtful that Kenya can actually provide such facilities, but insurance companies are likely to fall back on the latest law in case of a claim.

There are many other requirements that will affect operators and adherence will drive up the cost of operating aircraft. Examples: Two Crew operations under some conditions on even small Cessna Caravans, reduction in the number of passengers that can be carried, new expensive equipment requirements such as TCAS and Ground Proximity Warning Systems, etc., etc.

It does indeed appear that Kenyan General Avioation has been sacrificed on the altar of the FAA and ICAO.

---------------

Hope this helps those who wonder what I have been wittering on about.

KK

[kickstar]

Well you have to look at the successes that Africans made of countries that they populated when they left Africa countries like Haiti oops maybe not, Ireland treats Africans as Equals and even brought in strong anti discrimination laws You see they were very gullible and were trading on their priests advice Now they have 26,000 Africans living on welfare, who have taken over the centre of Dublin and trade their drugs all night long and you could not walk down the streets after dark.without losing your life or being raped. ahhhh Equality

[atco749]

mzee kk, well said..wish that was your first post:).....
from what i know the regulations governing security are to be effective sometime in October though i agree KCAA might find it difficult to enforce them...
The rest of the issues, surely..arent they for your safety as a pilot???TCAS,GPWS,getting WX, at least the govt cares to implement such rules....the recent crashes have taught them a lesson since high profile gvt officials have been involved....think operators should ask for more time to implement them instead of bashing the regs as a whole.

[kotakota]

It did not take long unfortunately .
What a nightmare.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

KENYA CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS CHALLENGED IN COURT

The "Dream of Human Flight", so highly touted by the Wright brothers, has turned into a nightmare for Kenyan aviators as hapless KCAA staff are overwhelmed trying to enforce the overly detailed and disorganized KCARS. Formerly routine paperwork is now being subjected to in depth scrutiny and unnecessary red tape as overburdened inspectors and employees are trying to adhere to performance contracts and make no mistakes. As feared by the stakeholders, micro-control mechanisms have been imposed on Kenyan aviation in 1400 pages of rules and penalties. Originally intended to appease the ICAO with airtight control of international civil aviation, the drafters of the KCARS made liberal use of the little word "ALL". Hundreds of rules begin with "All aircraft shall" or "All aerodromes must", without any distinction as to size, function or use. The Boeing 777 is lumped together with the Piper Cub. Small bush airstrips used by charter flights seem to be expected to have the same level of staffing, security and bureaucracy as the large international airports - Manuals, Managers, X-ray machines, you name it. To top it off, all aspects of aviation in Kenya have been criminalized, from failure to renew a licence, to forgetting to advise a change of address, to not fencing even the smallest bush airstrip, to having a torn windsock....... Smoking a cigarette on the apron can land you in jail. And unlike other countries, here the prosecutors are the Police and the Judges - persons who may have never flown in an aircraft. Frightening thought.

Essentially, East African aviation is now being regulated with a 'one-size-fits-all' system. It's simple to apply, but it's grinding aviation to a halt. For example, all Kenyan holders of Air Operators Certificates must now be "re-certified". That means new 'manuals', new training methods and very strict application of all sorts of rules that make sense with airlines like Kenya Airways, but not with operators of small Cessnas or Pipers. The passenger of a Cessna 182 can now relish in the thought that he is now much safer as the door though which he entered the aircraft is now clearly labelled in English and Swahili: "EMERGENCY EXIT", just like in that Airbus. (-:

KCAA staff has resorted to the "CYA principle" and are interpreting every rule and definition to the letter, avoiding any semblance of lateral thinking. As a result, even the most routine applications for any sort of licence, permit or unusual aviation activity are being shunted around from department to department because now several sections of KCAA must give their OK before a piece of paper is granted. Operators and pilots are unanimous that the bureaucracy created by KCAA is not only unnecessary, but fundamentally fallacious and counter-productive. And that in a day and age where organizations like FAA and the EASA are offering rewards to those who point out simpler ways of regulating aviation. Unfortunately, the Kenyans fell into the same trap that slowed down economic growth of countries like India and Egypt for a hundred years, before leaders from those countries realized that "micro-control" of all human activities is counter-productive and hinders development. India, China, Egypt, Russia and many other countries in which centralized control was practiced before, have all relaxed their systems and are now experiencing above average economic growth. Kenya is "on the other bus".

Kenyan aviation stakeholders have gone to the High Court over the KCARS, pointing out that operators and pilots are not "against Regulations per se" but that the regulations must be reasonable and not damage their livelihood and injure the economy. The Kenya Association of Air Operators that lodged the suit contends that in meetings with the Ministry of Transport in 2008 it was agreed that certain regulations that were injurious to air operations would be given blanket exemptions and extracted from the KCARS. This agreement was simply ignored by KCAA and the Authority steamrolled ahead without regard to the warnings of the stakeholders. The KCARS were gazetted into law in 2008. KCAA, in its defence, keeps pointing to the ICAO as a culprit, saying that Kenya must adhere to international regulations. Stakeholders have retorted many times that ICAO Regulations are intended to guide primarily international commercial aviation and also domestic operations for commercial aircraft weighing more than 5700 kg AUW. Yet, KCAA applies the stringent regulations intended for airliners to even the smallest airplane or airfield.

Meanwhile, the ICAO conducted an audit of the KCAA in late 2008 and concluded that the KCARS, as written, are injurious to General Aviation and threaten to suffocate the sector. ICAO recommended relief. KCAA recently approached the stakeholders and a committee was established to review the KCARS and come up with a set of parallel regulations for domestic operation of aircraft under the AUW of 5700 kg. The Committee, consisting of KCAA, Kenya Association of Air Operators and Aero Club delegates, will deliver its report to Ag. Director-General Nicholas Bodo in three months. Issues to be included are the operation of gliders, home-built aircraft, microlights, balloons, domestic operations of charter flights, bush airstrips, etc.

It is hoped that this will lead to a more reasonable approach toward regulating light aviation in East Africa and bring some hope into the industry.


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[Capt Megathrust]

Read with interest the posts about Kenya, and sorry to see that racism is alive and well. I grew up in Kenya, schooled there (St Mary's) learned to fly at Safari Air at Wilson in the late 60's, love the country (enjoy every chance I get to speak Swahili) and would also like to wind up finishing my flying career in East Africa. Sadly no chance of that, but would love to give back into aviation where it all started for me.

I think we should all stop the petty fingure pointing about who did what and where and who manufactured it - we need to remember we are joined at the hip - its called the human race. We are part of it and it would be really helpful if everyone realised that at some point we all need encouragement, support, a helping hand, to be disciplined and to stop competing. You know when you win the great Rat Race all you are is a King Rat. Ease up and enjoy life together, and enjoy all that is great about Kenya, and do what you can to fix what needs to be changed. Fly Safe and Enjoy. - Any rules that the 'powers that be' bring out to upgrade safety should be well received.

[Soap Box Cowboy]

Ah so no more sneaking off to the side of the VIP gate for a quick smoke in Jomo then. :{

[kotakota]

' Any rules that the 'powers that be' bring out to upgrade safety should be well received. '

Megathrust , I was enjoying your piece until I read the above last line.
If all the 'powers that be' were truly trying to upgrade safety ONLY , then I would agree with you. Sadly ,this is not the case .There are many forces at work here , but common sense or common interest is not one of them.
Kenya desperately needs a vibrant , efficient and SAFE General Aviation scene , and smothering it with red-tape is not the answer.
Nothing in life is completely safe ,and there will always be accidents in aviation , Kenya GA too. I absolutely guarantee that all this nonsense will have no impact whatsoever on safety . It may ,in fact , cause more problems with owner/pilots/managers unable to concentrate on the immediate task ( ie flying ) because of all the new peripheral paperwork.
My halcyon days of charter flying at Wilson and the coast in the 70s were almost entirely free of the current suffocations / security / etc , and we managed to greatly reduce the accident rate by applying common sense to operations . There was always risk of course . East Africa is a harsh flying environment , and the 60s/70/71 saw a few bad accidents , mostly CFIT , some caused by pressure to 'get through' on young pilots fearful for their jobs.
After one such tragedy , many of us started diverting / returning and things improved rapidly .
If current pilots ( single crew ) have to spend even one second while airborne fretting over whether they have the correct ' latest ' document required , then that is one second closer to a disaster.
Even a well respected airline like KQ is not entirely accident-proof , and they , like most airlines , have legions of office-wallahs to ensure compliance with the regulations now being demanded of GA .
So , let us not think that applying 'airline -type standards ' to general aviation is any answer at all.
The tourism industry is in terrible strife already thanks to the politicos , throttling the main transport for tourists is not exactly smart either .
By the way , todays press is full of stories about the dramatic decline of game in the Mara . Perhaps we should all just give up caring ?

Take care up there
KK