Aviation experts from the East African Community bloc will this week converge in Kigali for the third regional aviation meeting. Experts from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi will join their Rwandan counterparts to discuss challenges threatening the growth of the regional aviation industry, as well as issues on safety and security in the sector during the May 9 symposium, Tony Barigye, the Rwanda civil aviation communication’s manager told Business Times. He said the third East African Community Aviation symposium will also used be used as a platform by local aviation stakeholders to share knowledge and seek ways to improve standards and compliance among sector players. The meeting will be held under the regional integration regulatory compliance framework, he added. The symposium is expected to bring together aviation sector regulators, air operators and air service providers, inspectors and security experts, air transport policy-makers, aviation consultants and the academia. It aims at updating players on the new sector regulatory framework. The outcome of the day long symposium is expected to provide views and input from aviation stakeholders in the public and private sector with the ultimate goal to smoothly implement the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommended practices as is provided for under the Chicago Convention. Aviation analysts are urging stakeholders to use the symposium to lobby for fair competition practices and efficiency to reduce operation costs in the region.
