A shortage of pilots, aircraft engineers and other skilled aviation professionals is emerging as a major challenge for the East African aviation industry, even as demand for air transport and aviation services continues to grow across the region. Industry players meeting at the 7th East African Community Aviation Symposium are now calling on member states to establish a special regional fund to support aviation training and capacity building, warning that the high cost of training is slowing efforts to bridge the growing skills gap.
The stakeholders say East Africa has made progress in harmonising aviation safety regulations, examination systems and security oversight systems, but funding constraints and limited technical capacity continue to affect the sector. Industry leaders are also pushing for closer regional cooperation and greater digital transformation to improve safety, efficiency and competitiveness within the aviation industry.
