ABU DHABI: Rwanda’s aviation training centre expands

Speaking at the Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS), Silas Udahemuka, director general of the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), said that RCATIC “aims to become one of the largest aviation training institutions in Africa, reinforcing Rwanda’s role in shaping the future of the industry.” The training facility, which was inaugurated in June 2024, marks the beginning of a new era in aviation training in Rwanda. In November it was awarded the ICAO TRAINAIR Plus Bronze membership and today the accreditation will be formally recognised during a signing at GISS.

With ICAO accreditation seen as key to accessing global expertise, the centre which already trains an average of 25 students from across Africa per month is expanding its reach. As Rwanda’s aviation sector grows, the centre is also increasing its regional outreach to strengthen safety compliance and workforce development.

Addressing the wider adoption of new and emerging technologies within the industry Udahemuka added, "There is no better time than now to integrate innovation into training, which is why our institution is named the Civil Aviation Training and Innovation Centre. We firmly believe that for any aviation organisation to succeed, it must embrace artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies including unmanned aircraft systems". 

Commenting on the valuable platform ICAO’s symposium provides for the RCAA to learn, share experiences and engage with global aviation leaders, Udahemuka added: “Our main objective is to align efforts toward sustainable aviation goals, particularly in reducing carbon emissions, advancing sustainable aviation fuels and exploring innovative solutions that will shape the future of the industry. This event provides a perfect platform to advance these goals.”

In addition to its signing with ICAO, RCATIC is also anticipating a number of collaborative agreements to be signed this week with other training organisations.