The Air Navigation Services Regulations (ANS)/Meteorology (MET) and Aerodromes Regulation Department is responsible for safety oversight of air navigation services, Meteorological Services provided for air navigation and Aerodromes in Kenya.

The Department is divided into two sections namely:

• Aerodromes inspectorate (Ground Operations)
• ANS/Met inspectorate

AERODROMES (GROUND OPERATIONS) INSPECTORATE

The role of the aerodromes inspectorate, also known as Ground Operations is to provide safety oversight of the aerodromes facility, ground aids, electric systems, installations including certification of the various categories of aerodromes and appropriate personnel as required for ensuring continued compliance with national regulations and international standards and practices. Effective oversight is necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety, and depends on the competence and dedication of the inspectors.

The functions of the Aerodromes Inspectorate are guided by-

1. Civil Aviation (Aerodrome Certification, Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2018
2. The Civil Aviation (Aerodromes) Regulations 2013;
3. The KCAA Manual of Aerodrome Standards
4. KCAA Orders and Advisory Circulars on AGA
5. Aerodromes Inspectors Handbook
6. Other Manuals (Aerodrome Certification, Aerodromes Licensing, etc)

The Aerodromes Inspectorate comprises two sections;

1. Aerodromes and Airstrips oversight
2. Oversight of Structures

The functions of the inspectorate involve:

1. Carrying out efficient and effective safety oversight of aerodrome operations with the objective of enhancing safe operation of aircraft and to continually ensure compliance with national and international standards i.e. the Civil Aviation (Aerodromes) Regulations and ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs) and industry best practices as adopted in the KCAA Manual of Aerodrome Standards;
2. Development of technical guidance materials for aerodromes inspectors and aerodrome operations, including procedures and processes; and
3. Development and review of the Civil Aviation Legislation and Regulations as appropriate/applicable.
4. Verification of the aerodrome data in the aerodrome manual and aeronautical information publications;
5. On-site verification and audits of aerodrome operating procedures;
6. On-site checking and testing of aerodrome facilities and equipment;
7. Flying assessments and aeronautical studies at aerodromes in coordination with other inspectors;
8. Aerodrome development oversight;
9. Assessment of aerodrome emergency plans and associated testing;
10. On site checking and testing of rescue and fire fighting services; and
11. Certification of aerodromes and heliports

AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES, METEOROLOGY (ANS/MET) INSPECTORATE

The ANS/MET Inspectorate is responsible for safety oversight of air navigation services and meteorological services provided for air navigation. The inspectorate is also responsible for safety oversight of PANS-OPS/Instrument Flight procedures. Effective oversight is necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety and performance by the service providers. Thence the department is charged with providing safety oversight of air traffic services, search and rescue services, communication/navigation and surveillance services, aeronautical information services, Aeronautical Charts, Construction of Flight Procedures, Meteorological services provided for air navigation coupled with the availability of appropriate personnel and equipment as required for ensuring continued compliance with national regulations and international standards and practices.

The functions of the ANS/Met Inspectorate are guided by-

1. Civil Aviation (Certification of Air Navigation Service Providers) Regulations, 2018
2. Civil Aviation (Personnel Licensing) Regulations, 2018
3. Civil Aviation (Rules of the Air) Regulations, 2018
4. Civil Aviation (Meteorological Services for Air Navigation) Regulations, 2018
5. Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Charts) Regulations, 2018
6. Civil Aviation (Units of Measurement to be used in Air And Ground Operations) Regulations, 2018
7. Civil Aviation (Construction of Visual and Instrument Flight Procedures) Regulations, 2018
8. Civil Aviation (Radio Navigation Aids) Regulations, 2018
9. Civil Aviation (Communication Procedures) Regulations, 2018
10. Civil Aviation (Communication Systems) Regulations, 2018
11. Civil Aviation (Surveillance and Collision Avoidance Systems) Regulations, 2018
12. Civil Aviation (Radio Frequency Spectrum Utilization) Regulations, 2018
13. Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Services) Regulations, 2018
14. Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) Regulations, 2018
15. Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Information Services) Regulations, 2018.
16. Civil Aviation (Safety Management) Regulations, 2018
17. ANS Orders and Advisory Circulars
18. ANS Inspectors’ Handbook
19. Other Manuals as may be developed by the Authority
20. PANS-ATM
21. PANS-AIM
22. Other relevant ICAO publications

The ANS/Met inspectorate comprises four sections;

1. ATM/SAR Inspectorate
2. CNS Inspectorate
3. AIS/MAP and PANS-OPS Inspectorate
4. MET Inspectorate

The functions of the above sections involve:

1. Carrying out efficient and effective safety oversight of air navigation services operations with the objective of enhancing safe operation of aircraft and to continually ensure compliance with national and international standards i.e. ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs) and industry best practices including ccertification of ANSPs facilities and appropriate personnel as required to ensure compliance with the Civil Aviation Act, ANS related Regulations and other regulatory publications.
2. Certification of the Air Navigation Service Providers;
3. Development of technical guidance materials for air navigation services operations, processes and procedures;
4. Development and review of the Civil Aviation Legislation and Regulations as appropriate/applicable.
5. Oversight of air traffic services providers, including acceptance of their SMS;
6. Oversight of meteorological services providers within the State, and of the provision of meteorological services by providers from other States (e.g. the world area forecast system or the tropical cyclone advisory centres);
7. Oversight of aeronautical information service providers and their management of information including aeronautical charts;
8. Oversight/inspection of the communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure and its effectiveness;
9. Approval of airspace structure changes and flight procedures conceived by a design organization;
10. Oversight of search and rescue coordination function;
11. Approval of air traffic control training organizations and programmes;
12. Approval of other air traffic services training programmes;
13. Qualification and approval of air traffic control simulation training devices; and
14. Assessment of applicants for an air traffic controller licence or rating (or equivalent qualification).