Monday June 22, 2020
FILE PHOTO - Ahmed Moalim Hassan at the 40th anniversary of ICAO in Montreal, Canada. PHOTO/ HOL
Mogadishu (HOL) - President Farmaajo has appointed Ahmed Moalim Hassan as the Director-General of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority.
Hassan was previously the acting Director-General but now has been promoted to this position permanently. Hassan has extensive aviation history dating back to 1990 when he graduated from the Somali Civil Aviation Institute in Mogadishu. He continued this studies in Kenya's East African School of Aviation before obtaining his Aviation Management Masters from London Metropolitan University in 2011. He's worked in most of Somali's airports as an Air Traffic Controller. He also worked with ICAO/FISS managing Somalia's airspace. He's gained experience in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana.
The announcement comes as President Farmaajo signs the Civil Aviation Act into law. Somalia's Parliament and Upper House approved the legislation.
The law will regulate flight, air travel, and associated legal and business concerns. Aviation experts say that it will be a considerable boost to Somalia's aviation sector by enhancing airport security and attracting more international airlines to the country.
With the ascension of the Civil Aviation Act, Somalia has fulfilled standard requirements set by ICAO and is now a recognized civil aviation authority.
With these new powers, Somalia will no be able to issue licenses for pilots and airline mechanics, and certifications for airports and flight schools. However, these permits will be subject to an ICAO audit.
Somalia's aviation sector collapsed along with all other state institutions in the early 1990s. As a result, Somalia's airspace was controlled by ICAO in Kenya up until 2018.