MCAA Concludes Successful Benchmarking Visit to ZCAA
A delegation from the Malawi Civil Aviation Authority (MCAA), along with representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, has concluded a fruitful two-day benchmarking visit to Zambia.
The visit, hosted by the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA), aimed to assess Zambia’s aerodrome and air navigation standards while enhancing the collaboration between the two countries in aviation safety and security.
The Malawian delegation, led by Mr. Fredrick Chisepeya, Director of Aerodromes & Air Navigation Standards at MCAA, focused on learning from Zambia’s progress in civil aviation and sharing best practices.
The team also visited the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA), where they observed operations and engaged with Zambia Airports Corporation Limited to gain insights into air navigation services.
During the visit, ZCAA Director of Aerodrome Safety and Security, Eng. Nathan Kaluba, expressed pride in Zambia’s role as a leader in aviation safety oversight. He emphasized the importance of regional collaborations in fostering safe skies across Africa.
“Through collaborations like these, we can work towards the realization of safe skies for the region and ensure that no State is left behind,” said Kaluba.
Zambia’s recent achievement of a 73.48% score in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP CMA) audit was a highlight of the visit. The score reflects Zambia’s commitment to improving aviation safety oversight, which serves as an inspiration for other African nations.
The benchmarking exercise covered a wide range of areas, including reviews of the legal framework, ICAO online systems, corrective action plans, and the training of aviation experts.
The Malawi delegation was particularly keen to learn from Zambia’s preparations for its upcoming 2024 ICAO audit and to explore the possibility of developing Memorandums of Cooperation between the two authorities.
Mr. Chisepeya praised Zambia’s efforts, saying, “Zambia’s positive score in the ICAO audit is a huge encouragement to all African states. It demonstrates our shared ethos of ‘No Country Left Behind’ and provides hope that, together, we can raise the standard of aviation safety across the continent.”
In addition to the technical reviews, the Malawian delegation paid a courtesy call on Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Her Excellency Ms. Margaret C. Kamoto. The team expressed confidence that this collaboration would play a key role in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) across both nations.
