Page 15 - Official Report of the 4th CASSOA _Sympossium.ai

Opening presentation

Harmonizing of Regulations

and Operational Procedures

Challenges and Benefits

Maria Makala Memba, Senior Legal Counsel, TCAA

their own style, differences in penalties & offences,
validity periods, cabin crew functions. All this led to
further harmonization that were delivered as a set of 26
harmonized civil aviation regulations. As CASSOA came
into establishment after the protocol was approved and
signed on 18th April 2007 as an autonomous self-ac-
counting institution of the EAC with mandate of harmo-
nizing and enhancing oversight capability in the region.
Harmonization would bring benefits in reducing time to
develop and amend regulations, reduce duplication of
resources, improve efficiency on CAAs operations, facili-
tate region’s aviation operations and expand economy.
Memba introduced the history of CASSOA when it was
commenced as the East African Civil Aviation Safety However there needs to be action to ensure that the
Project in 1999 with aim of delivering an East African differences in state’s legal framework don’t result in
Upper Flight Information Region and a regional delays in promulgation of harmonized regulations or
oversight agency to harmonize regulations and assist change regulatory requirements at customization stage,
states in meeting ICAO SRPs. This was later achieved by ensure states comply to model of harmonized regula-
article 92 of the EAC treaty that required the need to tions, provide experts at CASSOA to provide guidance
harmonize regulations establish a Unified Upper Area during development of regulations and ensure there is
Control System and establishment of joint services. effective and total commitment from partner states
governments. Also, CASSOA needs to be legally
She further outlined that the three founder member empowered, equipped and staffed to be relevant when
states- Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were assisted by implementing the common market for the region.
the USA under the safe skies for Africa initiative that
aimed to improve sustainable improvements in African
aviation safety and security to foster transport between As CASSOA came into establishment
Africa and USA. The programme provided technical after the protocol was approved and
assistance in the implementation regional civil aviation signed on 18th April 2007 as an
safety project. Initially the harmonization teams in autonomous self-accounting institution
September 2004 had a team of experts from the region
to review regulations of member states where over 500 of the EAC with mandate of harmoniz-
differences were identified and with mutual agreements ing and enhancing oversight capability
the regulations differences were reduced to zero. in the region.

However, there were challenges in some differences as,
some of the state’s regulations had general provisions in

Official report of the 4th East African Community - CASSOA Sympossium 2018
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