At least eight air transport service providers have applied for licenses to start air service operations in Uganda.
The eight operators are pending verification after submitting their applications to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) Board of Directors.
Out of the eight applicants, four are new operators seeking to start aviation operations whereas four others are renewing their licenses to further extend their services and operations in the aviation sector
While presiding over the public hearing of the applications held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Former Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma said the exercise is mandatory requirement for all air operators
“I am happy to preside over this process, a regulatory requirement that any air operator intending to commence commercial operations (domestic or international) has to full-fill so as to be eligible to operate. This is a mandatory process for all air operators to apply to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for the Air Services License (ASL),” he said.
The four new air operators’ applicants include; Safari Air International (AAA) Limited, Panafric Aviation Limited, DOTT Services Limited and Aberdair Aviation Uganda Limited which applied for scheduled and non scheduled passenger and cargo services. Whereas the applicants that are renewing their licenses include; Uganda Air Cargo Corporation, Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, Entebbe Airways, KAFTC dba BAR Aviation.
Captain Mike Mukula, Chairman of the Safari Air International Limited said they thought it necessary to come up with Safari Air International to complement other airlines and develop the aviation industry in the Country above all foster rapid growth of the tourism sector among others.
Mukula also noted that the public hearing is an international practice, meant for transparency purposes in the airline industry in line with ICAO regulations which all air operators have to undergo and once the operator is not fit to operate, they are denied service license.
According to Kavuma, all the applicants clarified on issues to do with their business plan, proposed air routes, and equipment to be used, financing and sustainability of the airlines among others.
For transparency purposes, ASL regulations require that a notice of all the applicants to be considered (new or renewal), is placed in the print media 30 days prior to the date of consideration of the applications by the Board Air Services Licensing Committee meeting.
Below is the notice of application and with the full list of the applicants with their type of licenses applied for;
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AIR SERVICES LICENSES
Notice is hereby, given that the following firms have applied for the grant / renewal of an Air Services License.
| S/N | OPERATOR & ADDRESS | TYPE OF SERVICE | AIRCRAFT TO BE OPERATED |
| 1. | Uganda Air Cargo Corporation
P.O. Box 343 Entebbe
|
Non-Scheduled
Cargo and Passenger (RENEWAL) |
L-382G
|
| 2.
|
Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
P.O. Box 21810 Kampala
|
Non-Scheduled Passenger and Cargo
(RENEWAL) |
C208B
DC3
|
| 3.
|
Entebbe Airways
P.O. Box 992 Kampala
|
Non-Scheduled
Passenger Charter (RENEWAL) |
A320 |
| 4.
|
KAFTC dba BAR Aviation
Gate 3, Kajjansi Airfield P.O. Box 27210 Uganda |
Scheduled and
Non-Scheduled International Passenger (RENEWAL)
|
Beech 1900D, C208, C172, C206, Bell 412, PC-12, Challenger 604
|
| 5. | Safari Air International (AAA) Limited
P.O. Box 10101 Kampala
|
Scheduled and
Non-Scheduled Domestic, Passenger and Cargo (NEW)
|
C421C,
Baron 58, Fuji FA 200 |
| 6. | Panafric Aviation Limited
Plot 6 Acacia Avenue Kampala
|
Non-Scheduled
Passenger (NEW)
|
PA 34 220T |
| 7. | DOTT Services Limited
P.O. Box 20005 Kampala
|
Non-Scheduled Private
(NEW)
|
CE510 |
| 8.
|
Aberdair Aviation Uganda Limited
P.O. Box 35328 Kampala |
Non-Scheduled Passenger
(NEW)
|
DHC8-300, EMB-110, AS350 Helicopter |
