Civil Aviation Authority

OneJetone Airways is set to become Kenya's new international budget carrier offering a choice of low cost air tickets options on key international routes.The airline has been in the process of setting for up some time, but has met challenges which have led to the delays in operations beginning.

However, the airlines CEO, Arjun Rusaik, clarified the airlines start-up progress by saying that the airline was still working towards the granting of its operating certificate by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and that the carrier was currently at the third of a five-stage process following up on the process of registration of its first aircraft, an Airbus A319.Approval also had to be obtained for the maintenance and repair organization (MRO) which would be performing the fleets servicing.

Discussing the postponement of start of operations, Rusaik said this was necessitated by the need to obtain adequate funding to facilitate roll out of the business plan, which had led to the airline securing investors who were a major world aviation and logistics group which had acquired a 49% stake in the airlines shareholding.The airlines confirmed fleet will consist off Airbus A319, A320 and Embraer 145 jets which will be on a dry lease to serve its various destinations. These will include key domestic and international destinations all within six hours flying time from its Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hub such as Bujumbura, Harare, Al-Ain and London among others.

Rusaik explained that the airlines fleet maintenance would be split with line maintenance being done at its JKIA hub and with heavy maintenance to be outsourced to an MRO facility in Turkey. Since the airline would be using Airbus A320 Family while all other local operators used other aircraft makes, this would present a challenge in recruiting staff who were conversant with the fleets operational requirement, he said, adding: "Therefore the airline will invest in training all its staff from pilots, cabin crew to engineers and it has been working to set up their respective training.":

The progress of start-up faces another hurdle after the Kenya Airports Authority cancelled a tender that OneJetOne had won to construct a terminal on the "old" side of the JKIA.Rusaik,however,indicated that this has not changed its plans to use JKIA as its hub and that it would rent facilities to meet its needs.Pressed for a definite start-up date, Rusaik said that OneJetOne planned to begin operations in the second or third quarter of 2011 and that only training of the personnel could affect commencement of operations.

Fly540 Takes Over East Africa Safari Air Express Operations

East Africa's pioneer budget airline ,Fly540,has taken over the operations of East Africa Safari Air Express following the onset of negotiations which were underway at the time of writing with the aim of Fly540 purchasing a controlling interest in the airline.FLY540 has offered to purchase East African lock, stock and barrel .In an initial agreement, the first phase of which has been implemented, Fly540 is wet leasing East Africa's fleet consisting of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and a Fokker F28. East Africa's aircrew and technical staff have been retained and Fly 540 will handle the operations. The deals will also include takeover of route licenses.

Fly 540 entered into this agreement as a way to continue its expansion programme and meet ongoing demand, especially on the Entebbe and Malindi routes which have recently experienced an upsurge in demand from business and tourist travelers. The leased aircraft have thus been deployed to serve these routes together with Hargesia, in Somaliland, due to have also been included during January. Juba, in Southern Sudan will come on line later.

The aircraft will still be based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with the ongoing negotiations on the final takeover of East African Air Express expected during the course of this month.East Africa Safari Air Express had earlier suspended operations, but later resumed services to Hargesia.

Fly540 operations director, Nixon Ooko, said the move was aimed at sharpening the airlines competitive edge and to strengthen its market position by venturing out to new destinations. He also said Fly540 would be buying new aircraft this year and planned to deploy them on some of the routes it had acquired from East African.

The regional market would be the carriers priority as its sought to shield itself intense competition from other regional players, he said.East African Safari Air Express began services in 1998 and had mainly operated scheduled flights to Kisumu, Lokichogio, Malindi, Mombassa, Hargesia and Juba. It was one of the key players in Kenya's fast growing aviation market.

Kenya Airways Boosts Fleet

Kenya s National flag carrier took another step towards its fleet modernization goal recently when it accepted delivery of its first Embraer 190AR (advanced range) aircraft which is reported o be the first of the new model to have been delivered by the Brazilian manufacturer.The aircraft, which is fitted with both business and economy class sections brings to six the total number of Embraer E-Jets in the airlines fleet, the others being E-170s. A second E-190AR is scheduled for delivery later this year.The new aircraft was scheduled to have entered service during the latter part of January.

Speaking at the firms head office, Kenya Airways chief operating officer, Bram Steller, said the aircraft was optimum for Kenya Airways regional routes at the 100-seat range.The aircraft will service the Lusaka, Lilongwe, Nampula, Harare, Addis Ababa and Djibouti routes.

Air charter companies in Kenya and East Africa have segmented their services into different categories in line with ones budget. There are both non-scheduled and scheduled flights offered.

Private Charter Flights Kenya.

In Kenya we have Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport in Nairobi which provide these services. In Most cases for smaller aircrafts you can charter them from Wilson Airport but still you can be picked and Dropped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for those connecting international or local flights due to the traffic jam on Mombassa Road which might cause you missing the connecting flights.

There aircrafts of different capacity found at Wilson Airport namely, C-172 /C-182 3 seater single piston engine which takes two passengers with 15 kilos of cargo in soft bags and it is ideal for scenic flights, sight seeing flights, aerial survey& photography flights. They have low wings and flies at 8,000 feet enabling the passengers to view geographical features and even take photographs as it flies visual. For short distances of 3 hours return with 10 kilos per person baggage allowance it can take upto 3 passengers and it works out perfect for families and business travelers.

The C-208 Caravan which is the horse and the most reliable aircraft with short take-off and landing performance it has proved to be the most reliable 12 seater single engine turbo prop in Africa, America ,Middle East, Europe and especially in war torn areas as it is easily converted into cargo and passenger configuration at a short notice. The caravan is mostly used for humanitarian and relief supplies in South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Mozambique as it is the most economical in terms of fuel, maintenance and it can carry upto 1 tone of cargo only for a flight of 3 hrs and 30 minutes one-way and there has to be fuel at the arrival destination or at alternate airstrip to allow it fly back to point of departure.

The C-206/C-210 5 seater single piston engine also plays an important role in aircraft charter and they very few and for any bookings it has to be done in advance. These are the ideal aircrafts to use to shorter airstrips of less than 800 meters long like, Mfangano Island, Rusinga Island, Loisaba, Kitich, Muktan, Maktau, Shaba, Joys Camp (Shaba), Satao, Solio, shompole, chyullu hills, kambi ya kanzi, among other airstrips just to mention a few.

The LET 410 and DHC-6 Twin-otter18 seater twin engine turbo prop which have both short takeoff and landing performance is used in flying into national parks & reserves and also for charter to major cities in Kenya. The aircraft is non-pressurized and you can carry baggage allowance when full capacity of 20 kilos per person. There is other airport/airstrip like Mombasa, Lamu, and Nanyuki where you can get private charter aircrafts to any destination within /out of Kenya.

The Beech craft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized turbo prop which is mostly used for long haul charters and can be configured into V.I.P and it is also used for Air Ambulance, Emergency & Medical Evacuation flights as it flies above 25,000 feet above sea level and at 250 knots per hour.

The Citation Jet Bravo 550 7 seater is also available fitted with Air Ambulance medical facilities and which can also be used with Business Executive with tidy schedule and the commercial flights does not meet their requirements or fit in their diary. Special services are offered like champagne, hot luches, hot and soft drinks, DVD and a flight attendant but also you can request for special meals, breakfast, lunch.The citation bravo flies at 40,000 feet above sea level at a cruising speed of 420 knots per hour they are very scarce and an advance booking as to be made.

The Beech craft 1900C 18 seater pressurized with the same performance like the Beech craft 200 which can be configured into V.IP is also used for air ambulance, emergency & medical evacuation flights, V.IP executive flight and other corporate private charters. There is a B737-300 purely for adhoc charter flights for passengers and you can obtain a quotation on request. You can charter to anywhere within Kenya Kitale, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, Eldoret, Webuye, Mandera, Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi, Diani, Kiwayu, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, Nanyuki, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Elwak, Wajir, Garisaa, Lokichogio, Lodwar, Marsabit, Moyale, Loyengalani, North Horr, Hola, Bura, Lokori, Lokitaung among other destination.

For cargo charter flights there Fokker 27-500 5 toner,DC-9 Freighter 10 toner,B737-300 15 toner,H748 5 toner ,LET 410 1.5 tones, Caravan 1 tone for all cargo flights within Africa.

Be aware flights to Northern and North Eastern Kenya a police clearance will have to obtain as these are restricted areas which will take approximately 2 working days notice. The areas that are restricted are Lokichogio, Lokori, Lokitaung, Lodwar, Marsabit, Moyale, North Horr, Iliret, Lasamis, Garisaa, Wajir, Mandera, Elwak, Banisa, Takaba, Hola, Bura among others. There are also choppers or another name helicopter AS350 Single engine in 3 and 5 seater capacity for private charter but only found at Wilson Airport, Nairobi and Nanyuki Airstrip. There are also cash-in transit services by private charter to South Sudan and to Northern and North Eastern Kenya to Mandera, Moyale, Marsabit, Wajir, Hola using a 5 seater or 3 seater aircraft .These services can be extended to South Sudan to destinations like Malkal, Wau, Yei, Rumbek, Darfur, Yambio, Bentiu, Juba and many other destinations.