The 1st Meeting, 3rd Session, 2nd Assembly of the East African legislative Assembly (EALA) on 6th August 2009 passed the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) Bill, 2008 after adopting the report presented to it by the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments Chaired by Hon. Catherine Kimura of the EALA.
Article 92 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, requires the EAC Partner States to harmonize their policies on Civil Aviation in order to promote the development of safe, reliable, efficient and economically viable Civil Aviation with a view to developing appropriate infrastructure, aeronautical skills and technology, as well as the role of civil aviation in support of other economic activities.
The Protocol on the establishment of the East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency was signed by the three founding member states (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) on 18th April 2007.
The CASSOA Bill therefore aims at consolidating the provisions of the Protocol to establish and empower a regional body that will streamline and ensure that the highest international standards are maintained in the aviation industry.
The Bill is now awaiting Presidential Assent before it becomes an act of the community that will regulate matters of air safety and security oversight in the Aviation Industry within the EAC region.
