AMREF Air Ambulance Crash in Nairobi Kenya

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In a devastating turn of events, an AMREF Flying Doctors air ambulance , a Cessna Citation XLS with a registration 5Y-FDM , crashed into a residential neighborhood in Mwihoko, Kiambu County just outside Nairobi killing six people and injuring others. The twin-engine medical jet departed from Wilson Airport at approximately 2:14–2:17 PM local time on Thursday, bound for Hargeisa in Somaliland. Merely three minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control. Citation XLS 5Y-FDM. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene: “The plane started burning while in the air,” one resident recounted, while another said the aircraft “passed by our building shaking it,” before crashing into a house. The impact and ensuing blaze claimed the lives of all four people aboard and two individuals inside the home. Rescue teams, including those from the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces, National Police, and aviation authorities, rushed to the scene.  AMREF ...

TCAA Halts New Helicopter Operator Certifications

 The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has announced a temporary pause on the acceptance of new helicopter AOC certifications and variations, effective immediately.

In a  AOL letter dated 24 April 2025, the Authority cited a lack of qualified helicopter pilot inspectors as the reason for the move. TCAA emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly but is necessary to ensure the thorough and safe evaluation of all certification processes.


Key Points:

  • No new helicopter operator certifications will be processed.
  • No variations to existing helicopter AOCs will be accepted.
  • Existing operators maintaining current operations are not directly affected unless applying for variations.


Impact:

This sudden halt could delay new helicopter startups, fleet expansions, and modifications to current operations across Tanzania’s aviation sector.


Forward-Looking Insight:

With helicopter services critical for medevac, tourism, offshore support, and VIP transport, the demand for qualified inspectors and regulatory capacity building is more urgent than ever.

The pause highlights an underlying opportunity for investment in aviation talent development within the country .


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Reference :

PAUSE OF NEW CERTIFICATION OF HELICOPTER OPERATORS

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