By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) has officially welcomed the United Kingdom Department for Transport’s (DfT) Capacity Building Project, implemented through the UK Civil Aviation Authority International (UKCAAi), as the country intensifies efforts to strengthen aviation safety oversight and progress toward removal from the UK and EU Safety Lists.

The mission, scheduled for 1–4 December 2025, marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s ongoing regulatory reform and international aviation compliance journey. In preparation, a multi-agency coordination team has been established to facilitate engagements, ensure smooth collaboration and support the execution of planned technical activities.

According to the SLCAA, the UKCAAi mission will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the country’s aviation safety oversight system, with particular focus on critical regulatory elements, institutional capacity and operational systems. The visit will also include technical meetings, stakeholder consultations and on-site assessments to better understand existing structures and identify areas requiring targeted improvement.

Welcoming the partnership, the Director General of the SLCAA, Musayeroh Barrie, described the initiative as a major boost to Sierra Leone’s aviation sector. She noted that the collaboration demonstrates the UK’s confidence in Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening its regulatory framework and aligns with the Authority’s vision of enhancing safety compliance, operational efficiency and global recognition.

“This capacity building project is an important step in our mission to raise aviation standards and ensure Sierra Leone meets and maintains the highest levels of international safety requirements,” Musayeroh Barrie stated. “Our partnership with the UK Department for Transport and UKCAAi reinforces our dedication to improving oversight mechanisms and building a more robust civil aviation system.”

The mission is expected to provide Sierra Leone with valuable technical insights, practical guidance and structured recommendations that will feed into longer-term reforms and capacity-building initiatives. These outcomes will help accelerate the country’s progress toward satisfying the benchmarks required for eventual removal from the UK Safety List, a development that would significantly improve Sierra Leone’s international aviation standing and open opportunities for expanded air connectivity.

SLCAA expressed gratitude to the UK Department for Transport and UKCAAi for their continued support and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the momentum of aviation sector transformation. The Authority emphasized that the December engagement is not merely an assessment exercise, but a collaborative effort aimed at building a safer, more resilient and internationally compliant aviation environment for Sierra Leone.

As the SLCAA prepares to host the UKCAAi technical team in Freetown, expectations remain high that the visit will further strengthen cooperation between both institutions and set the stage for sustainable improvements across Sierra Leone’s aviation regulatory landscape. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/slcaa-welcomes-ukcaai-mission-as-sierra-leone-accelerates-efforts-to-exit-uk-safety-list/