World Report

The CCAA supervises all aviation activites, enforcing safety regulations

ameroon is served by three international airports in the major cities of Douala, Yaounde and Garoua, as well as a number of smaller airports and airstrips for domestic travel. New legislation passed in 1998 has completely restructured the air transport sector in Cameroon, opening it up to new competition and ending the monopoly of national carrier, Camair. Managing Director of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authorities (CCAA) Ignatius Sama Juma comments, “The balance sheet on the liberalisation of the air system is positive. The 1998 law has liberalised the sector in such a way that Camair no longer has the monopoly either within or outside the country. Many investors have come, and many new air transport companies are being created in order to favour competition.” He continues “We are also negotiating for new companies to make international flights.”

A regional leader in air transport regulation, Cameroon was the first country in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community to impose a civil aviation code and the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to create an autonomous regulating authority. The CCAA supervises all aviation activities and enforces safety regulations.

Ignatius Sama Juma
Managiing director of the Ccaa

‘Liberalisation has had a positive effect on the air transport sector’

According to Mr. Sama Juma, the agency’s tasks include inspecting aircraft, organizing training seminars, and maintaining the International Civil Aviation Organization standards throughout the sector. Security is also a top priority and the CCAA has been instrumental in the creation of the new National Security Programme, which was signed by President Biya earlier this year. The CCAA is also currently in the process of installing new airport security equipment and training staff in crisis management. Mr Sama Juma states, “We want to put in place all the structures to ensure security in place because it is our top objective. By the end of the year, we will have all the structures and the necessary staff to guarantee security in Yaounde and Douala airports. Garoua will follow, and it will be later extended to the secondary airports.” He cooncludes, “Our vision is to make Cameroon a secure destination, and help it contribute to the reinforcement of flight security in Africa.”