The Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), Ms. Poppy Khoza, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Ms. Musayeroh Barrie, to establish robust cooperation between the two CAAs. The SACAA said that the two organizations will engage in collaboration in various areas of their operations such as aviation safety oversight, air navigation, training as well as technical assistance, among others.
The MoU was signed recently when the SLCAA paid a two-day working visit to South Africa hosted by SACAA. An action plan has also been developed to guide future engagements between the two regulatory bodies. The SACAA described the event as a proud moment to host the SLCAA “at our Ikhaya Lokundiza headquarters in Midrand” and identifying areas of cooperation.
Ms. Khoza and Ms. Barrie are two of the few females occupying the Director General’s position among African civil aviation authorities. Both DGs expressed genuine satisfaction to work collaboratively to enhance civil aviation regulation and training. While relatively newer in her top position and coming from a more modest civil aviation industry in Sierra Leone, Ms. Barrie is expected to bolster her outstanding leadership qualities with the long experience and expertise of Ms. Khoza who has served as DGCA for over a decade, and also served in various capacities including at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Meanwhile, Ms. Barrie has made steady strides to transform the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, especially through engagements with international partners. She delivered an address at the Facilitation 2024 (FAL. 2024) Global Summit, held from May 20-22, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she revealed her ongoing efforts to improve aviation security and facilitation to enhance passenger experience in Sierra Leone.
