Participants in the week-long training programme. PHOTO/KAA
By AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
In a decisive stride towards global aviation excellence, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has launched an intensive capacity-building initiative aimed at bolstering technical expertise in advanced aerodrome design and operations.
The week-long training programme, part of the wider Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Wilson Airport Masterplan Project, was delivered in collaboration with global aviation leaders, Airports Council International (ACI World) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Bringing together professionals from KAA’s Engineering and Airport Operations departments, the programme featured rigorous, hands-on sessions grounded in Annex 14 of the ICAO standards.
Participants engaged in practical workshops, case studies, and scenario-based exercises covering a comprehensive range of topics; from aerodrome layout, pavement and lighting design, to obstacle limitation surfaces, operational procedures, wildlife hazard management, and safety management systems.
What distinguished this workshop was its pragmatic, implementation-focused approach. Rather than limit the sessions to theoretical frameworks, facilitators demonstrated how Annex 14 principles can be directly applied in the design and operation of JKIA and Wilson Airport’s future infrastructure.
Key discussions explored the trade-offs between engineering and operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and the passenger experience, highlighting how smart technical design can directly enhance airport performance and safety.
This initiative forms part of KAA’s broader commitment to human capital development as it modernises two of Kenya’s most critical aviation assets.
By equipping its technical teams with cutting-edge skills and up-to-date international knowledge, KAA is positioning itself to deliver infrastructure that not only meets but exceeds global safety and operational benchmarks.
As Kenya reinforces its role as a regional aviation hub, KAA’s forward-looking investment in its people signals a clear intent: to align airport infrastructure with the highest international standards and drive sustainable growth in the country’s aviation sector.
