Aerodrome Safety and Standards Directorate is in charged with the provision of the following services:

1. Certification of Aerodromes
2. Licensing of Aerodromes
3. Approval and Registration of Airstrips and Heliports
4. Approval for the construction of telecom towers, Electric masts and tower cranes 
5. Approval of aerodrome manuals

• Certification of Aerodromes
• Application for an Aerodrome Certification

1. An application for an aerodrome certificate shall be submitted to the Authority by completing the aerodrome certification application form that shall be accompanied with a cover letter addressed to the Authority. The applicant shall submit the via the following address:-

By postal office:
    Ethiopia Civil Aviation Authority,
    Phone: +25116650200

    Fax: +25116650281

    P.O.Box 978,
    Addis Ababa

1. The form and cover letter shall be accompanied by:—

1. Two copies of aerodrome manual (developed as per the content required in IS: 12.4.2 of ECARAS Part 12);
2. A plan for the aerodrome including obstacle chart;
3. An environmental impact assessment report;
4. Approval from any relevant authority;
5. Proof of financial capability;
6. Particulars of any non-compliance or deviations from the appropriate aerodrome design, operation or equipment standards; and
7. Particulars of the airspace classification requirements.
8. Detailed biographical data of the key aerodrome management personnel.

The certification process will follow the Authority Aerodrome Certification Procedure (Advisory Circular ECAA-AC-AGA-001). The certification process shall comprise: 

1. Pre-application phase
2. Formal application phase
3. Documentation phase
4. Demonstration and Inspection phase
5. Certification phase

Once the directorate receives the application the same will be reviewed for completeness, correctness, accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements. In the process of review, verification and evaluation of the data/information submitted the department may be forced to visit the site of the aerodrome as part of the certification process. The Authority shall issue a certificate in the prescribed form and manner when satisfied that: –

1. The applicant and the personnel of the applicant are adequate in number and have the necessary competency and experience to operate and maintain an aerodrome;
2. The aerodrome manual prepared for the aerodrome and submitted with the application contains all the relevant information;
3. The aerodrome facilities, services and equipment are established in accordance with approved standards;
4. The aerodrome operating procedures make satisfactory provision for the safety of aircraft;
5. An approved safety management system is in place

The Aerodrome Certificate issued by the Authority has a validity period and before the expiration date the operator shall be required to apply for renewal.

Renewal of an Aerodrome Certificate

1. An application for the renewal of a certificate shall be made to the Authority in the prescribed aerodrome certification renewal application form and shall be accompanied by :—

1. The aerodrome manual if significant changes have been made following the initial certification; and
2. Particulars of deviations, if any, from the appropriate design, operation or equipment standards; 

1. An application for renewal shall be submitted sixty days before the expiry of the certificate.
2. The renewal of a certificate shall be subject to compliance with the published rules and standards prescribed by the Authority and any other conditions as may be specified or notified by the Authority as determined by safety inspections and audit

• Licensing of Aerodromes

Application for an Aerodrome Licensing

The application for the grant of aerodrome license shall be made in the prescribed Aerodrome license application form accompanied by: –

1. An aerodrome manual;
2. A site plan for the aerodrome;
3. An environmental impact assessment report;
4. Approval from any relevant authority;
5. Proof of financial capability;
6. Particulars of any non-compliance or deviations from the appropriate aerodrome design, operation or equipment standards; and

The Authority shall issue an aerodrome license in the prescribed form and manner where:—

1. An applicant is found to be competent to operate an aerodrome on consideration of the previous conduct and experience of the applicant, the equipment, organization, staffing, maintenance and other arrangements of the applicant; and
2. The physical characteristics of the aerodrome and its surroundings are safe for use by aircraft; 

The aerodrome license issued by the Authority has a validity period and before the expiration date the operator shall be required to apply for renewal.

Renewal of an Aerodrome License

An application for the renewal of a license shall be made to the Authority in the prescribed Aerodrome license application form and shall be accompanied by:-

1. The aerodrome manual if significant changes have been made following the initial licensing; and
2. Particulars of deviations, if any, from the appropriate design, operation or equipment standards; 

An application for renewal shall be submitted sixty days before the expiry of the license.

• Approval and Registration of Airstrip and Heliport 

An application for registration of airstrip and Heliport shall be submitted in the prescribed Airstrip or Heliport Approval or Registration form. The applicant shall submit via the following address:-

By postal office:
    Ethiopia Civil Aviation Authority,
    Phone: +25116650200

    Fax: +25116650281

    P.O.Box 978,
    Addis Ababa

The airstrip and Heliport approval and registration process will follow the Authority Procedure for the Approval and Registration of Airstrips and Heliports (Advisory Circular ECAA-AR-PR-001). The approval process shall comprise: 

1. a) Application   
2. b) Approval to build
3. c) Compliance confirmation
4. d) Approval to operate  
5. e) Registration and publication
6. f) Periodic verification plan  

The Authority shall, prior to approval and registration of an Airstrip and Heliport, assess the facilities to verify the information provided.

The Authority will issue an approval to operate where the applicant has:-

1. Satisfied the requirements.
2. Complied with any applicable security and custom Regulations; and complied with any other requirements specified by the Authority.

A person shall not operate an aerodrome in Ethiopia unless the aerodrome is certified, licensed, or approved in accordance with the published rules and standards. All aerodromes in the country shall be categorized as follows: –

Class A:  Comprising major international airport available for use by both international and domestic air traffic;

Class B: Comprising intermediate international airport available for use by both international and domestic air traffic;

Class C: Comprising major domestic airport available for use only by domestic air traffic.

Class D:  Comprising intermediate domestic airport available for use only by domestic air traffic.

Class E:  Comprising airstrips.

Class F: Comprising Heliport/Helipad 

• Approval for the construction of telecom towers, Electric masts and tower cranes 

The following provisions shall apply in the erection of telecom towers, Electric masts and tower cranes. 

• No telecom towers, Electric masts and tower cranes shall be erected in the vicinity of an aerodrome, where the obstacle may prevent an aircraft operation from being conducted safely or the aerodrome from being usable.

• No object shall penetrate the obstacle limitation surface, without the written permission of the Authority.

• Additionally, no person shall not construct a building or a structure within the vicinity of an aerodrome that penetrate the obstacle limitation surface of the airport.

The applicant for this service shall send a written application to the Authority with the requisite supportive information (location geographical coordinates in WGS 84 format, elevation and structure height). 

Once reviewed by taking into consideration the existing regulatory requirements, the Authority shall grant or deny an approval to allow the applicant to proceed with the erection or construction of the telecom towers, Electric masts and tower cranes. The Authority shall conduct random inspection to confirm if the approval granted is being adhered to.