Friday February 12, 2021
Halla Airlines EMB 120 displaying registration 6O-AAB. The 6O (Six Oscar) prefix denotes a civil aircraft registered for Somalia.
Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) - Somalia has for the first time in over three decades registered two aircrafts, yet another major milestone in the country’s efforts at fully controlling and regulating its aviation industry.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) announced Friday the issuance of certificates of aircraft registration to Freedom Airlines and Hala Airlines.
The two airlines will now bear the 6O (Six Oscar) prefix on their aircrafts. Most of the aircrafts operating domestically in Somalia are Kenya registered aircrafts with 5Y prefix (Five Yankee).
The registration of these aircrafts locally is yet another development in the aviation sector. This comes about three years since Somalia formally regained control of its airspace from the UN.
According to aviation experts, the registration means the airlines will now enjoy reduced landing and navigation fees among other charges since they will no longer be subjected to higher fees which apply to foreign airlines.
The new move is however likely to face hurdles when it comes to meeting international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization ((ICAO). According to the UN body, a country seeking to register an aircraft must have an Aircraft Maintenance Facility (AMF) to ensure it is able to provide maintenance services to its aircrafts. Somalia currently does not have an Aircraft Maintenance Facility.
The SCAA will also need to issue the registered airlines with Air Operating Certificates (AOC) which are crucial in entering into aircraft leasing agreements with other major leasing companies.
Normally ICAO audits its member states including Somalia for aviation safety and aviation security.