East African Civil Aviation Academy
{{Short description|Ugandan Aviation school}}
{{Infobox university
|name = East African Civil Aviation Academy
|image =
|motto =
|established = {{start date and years ago|1971}}
|type = Public
|chancellor =
|vice_chancellor = Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Turyamubona{{cite web|title=Notice From East African Aviation Academy: Admissions For May Intake 2019 |newspaper=New Vision | url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1497675/notice-east-african-civil-aviation-academy |date=2 April 2019 |
access-date=2 April 2019 |first=Ronald |last=Turyamubona |
location=Kampala}}
|city = Soroti
|country = Uganda
|staff =
|campus = Urban
|website = [http://www.flysoroti.ac.ug/ Homepage]
}}
The East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA), also known as the Soroti Flying School, is a Ugandan school that trains aircraft pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/govt-to-take-over-soroti-flying-school-ahead-of-uganda-airlines-relaunch/ | title=Gov’t to take over Soroti flying school ahead of Uganda Airlines relaunch |newspaper=The Independent (Uganda) | author=The Independent |date=26 March 2019 |access-date=28 March 2019 |location=Kampala}}
==Location==
The school is based at Soroti Airport, {{airport codes|SRT|HUSO}}, in the town of Soroti in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is approximately {{convert|228|km|mi}}, by air, north-east of Entebbe International Airport, Uganda's largest civilian and military airport.{{cite web | last=GFC | publisher=Globefeed.com (GFC) | access-date=12 February 2016 | url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Entebbe%20International%20Airport%2C%20Entebbe%2C%20Central%20Region%2C%20Uganda&toplace=Soroti%20Airport%2C%20Soroti%2C%20Eastern%20Region%2C%20Uganda%2C&dt1=ChIJr4G6N82GfRcRHz1D1jmhq50&dt2=ChIJawBiwla3eRcRInPqZLiJL94 | title= Distance between Entebbe International Airport, Entebbe, Central Region, Uganda and Soroti Airport, Soroti, Eastern Region, Uganda | date=12 February 2016}} The coordinates of the airport are 1°43'15.0"N; 33°37'03.0"E (Latitude:1.720833; Longitude:33.617500).{{google maps | title=Location of Soroti Flying School | access-date=6 September 2015 | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/1%C2%B043'15.0%22N+33%C2%B037'03.0%22E/@1.7210233,33.6169238,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0|}}
Overview
As of May 2018, the flying school was undergoing renovations and a certification process to become a center of aviation excellence in the region. New technical staff have been recruited, including (a) a Director (b) a Quality Manager (c) a Safety Manager (d) a Chief Engineering Instructor (d) Flying instructors (e) Ground instructors (f) Engineering instructors and (g) Flight Operations Instructors.{{cite web|access-date=1 July 2018 | url=https://chimpreports.com/uganda-unveils-national-airline-masterplan-shops-for-6-aircrafts/ |title=Uganda Unveils National Airline Masterplan; Shops for 6 {{sic|Aircra|fts|nolink=y}} |date=17 May 2018 | first=Kim |last=Aine |publisher=Chimp Reports Uganda | location=Kampala}} At that time the school had nine training aircraft. By May 2018, nine pilot-trainees, seven aircraft maintenance engineers and fourteen flight operations officers had completed training during the calendar year. Another fifteen pilots, fifteen flight operations engineers and five aircraft maintenance engineers were expected to graduate during the second half of 2018.
History
EACAA was founded in September 1971 under the Directorate of Civil Aviation of the EAC. The government of Uganda, the East African Community (EAC), the United Nations Development Programme, and the International Civil Aviation Organization were the major contributors.{{cite web | date=12 February 2016 | url=http://www.flysoroti.ac.ug | access-date=12 February 2016 | last=EACAA | title=East African Civil Aviation Academy: History | publisher=East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA) | location=Soroti}}
When the first EAC collapsed in 1977, the Ugandan government took over the management and maintenance of the school.{{cite web |url=http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/soroti-flying-school-students-live-in-lodges-amid-accomodation-glitches |title=Soroti Flying School Students Live in Lodges Amid {{sic|nolink=y|Accom|odation}} Glitches | last=Ssalongo | first=Joe Elunya | publisher=Uganda Radio Network (URN) | date=27 June 2011 |access-date=12 February 2016 | location=Kampala}} In 2012, the government began the process of returning the school to the EAC.{{cite web |access-date=15 February 2016 | last=Asiimwe | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Kampala-seeking-to-return--broke-aviation-school-to-EAC/-/2558/2406136/-/12w30aaz/-/index.html | first=Dicta | title=Kampala seeking to return broke aviation school to EAC | date=2 August 2014 |newspaper=The EastAfrican | location=Nairobi}}
In late 2013, the Ugandan government entered into preliminary discussions with Integra, a private Danish aviation company, to improve and manage the school at international standards under a public-private-partnership (PPP) arrangement. Discussions at the Ugandan cabinet level have also been held about returning the school to the EAC.{{cite web|title=Government, Private Company In Talks To Redevelop Soroti Flying School |date=23 December 2013 |
url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Government-in-talks-to-redevelop-Soroti-Flying-School-/-/688322/2122224/-/u6ifgdz/-/index.html |access-date=17 January 2015 |newspaper=Daily Monitor |author=Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi |location=Kampala}}
In 2014, the EAC Council of Ministers agreed to take it back. On 3 July 2014, the presidents of Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda agreed in principle to re-instate the EACAA as one of the centres of excellence in the EAC.{{cite web | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/EAC-reclaims-Soroti-Flying-school-/-/2560/2859596/-/15jym8jz/-/index.html |title=EAC Reclaims Soroti Flying School |newspaper=The EastAfrican | date=5 September 2015 |access-date=6 September 2015 |last=Ihucha |first=Adam |location=Nairobi}}
However, due to the failure of partner states to remit operational and development funds to the school, the Ugandan Cabinet, in March 2019, formally resolved to take over the ownership and management of the academy.{{cite web|title=Government Takes Over Soroti Flying School |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Government-takes-over-Soroti-flying-school/688334-5043874-vq4585z/index.html |date=27 March 2019 |newspaper=Daily Monitor |access-date=27 March 2019 | author=Damali Mukhaye |location=Kampala}}
It is expected that the academy will expand its training programs to include pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers from (a) UPDF Air Force (b) Uganda National Airlines Company (c) Uganda Police Air Wing (d) Ugandan Presidential Fleet (e) Commercial and General aviation. This would save Uganda millions of dollars in foreign exchange, currently spent on procuring this training outside the country.
Notable alumni
- Robert Wakhweya: Captain on Airbus A350 and A330 series. Chief Pilot at Uganda Airlines
- Michael Etiang: Captain on the CRJ900 and Airbus A330 series. Former Chief Pilot at Uganda Airlines
- Clive Okoth: Senior CRJ Series Captain at Uganda Airlines
- Vanita Kayiwa: First Officer on the CRJ900ER and Airbus A330-841 at Uganda Airlines
- Rita Nasirumbi: First Officer on the CRJ900 at Uganda Airlines.
- Esther Mbabazi: Captain on the B737 and First Officer on the CRJ900 at RwandAir.
- Ivan Massa: First Officer on the CRJ900 and A330neo at Uganda Airlines.
- Naomi Karungi (1978 – 2020): Major Karungi was the Squadron Commander of Augusta Bell Helicopters in the UPDF Air Force.
- Rebecca Mpagi: Brigadier in the UPDF. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, who served as the Director of Personnel and Administration in the UPDF Air Force.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.flysoroti.ac.ug/ Homepage of EACAA]
- [http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Soroti-Flying-School-pilot-trainers-strike-over-pay/-/688334/3153646/-/oav5nsz/-/index.html Soroti Flying School pilot trainers strike over pay]
- [http://allafrica.com/stories/201607291014.html Uganda: President Agrees to Irish Training of Uganda Aviators]
{{coord|01|43|15|N|33|37|03|E|display=title}}
{{Soroti District}}
Category:Eastern Region, Uganda
Category:Aviation schools in Uganda