KIGALI, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) has adopted the Risk-Based Oversight Strategy (2026-2030) to modernize the country's aviation safety oversight system.
According to a statement released Monday by the RCAA, the strategy "marks a significant shift from a traditional compliance-based oversight model to a proactive, intelligence-led and risk-informed approach that enables regulatory oversight to focus on areas of greatest operational risk."
The RCAA called upon all certificate holders, aviation service providers, industry partners and other stakeholders to support the strategy's implementation by strengthening safety reporting, embracing safety management systems (SMS), and fostering a collaborative approach to managing aviation safety risks.
The strategy aims to enhance aviation safety, optimize regulatory resources and strengthen compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's Standards and Recommended Practices.
It is built on six strategic pillars: safety intelligence and data analytics; risk-based surveillance planning; strengthened state safety program; SMS effectiveness and maturity assessment; proportionate and risk-based enforcement; and inspectorate capacity and organizational capability.
As Rwanda advances its ambition to become a regional aviation and logistics hub, effective safety oversight remains a critical enabler of sustainable growth, investment attraction, tourism development, trade facilitation, and regional and international connectivity, the statement said. ■