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The Government of Sierra Leone has officially enacted a comprehensive National Aviation Safety Policy Statement, signaling a major state-level commitment to elevating safety standards and oversight within its civil aviation ecosystem.
The policy framework, formally endorsed on February 25, 2026, establishes the foundation for the country’s State Safety Programme (SSP). According to the document, the SSP is designed to proactively manage safety risks, maintain rigorous safety oversight, and sustain public confidence in air transport.
The newly signed policy binds the state to a 12-point strategic plan aimed at modernizing its aviation sector while aligning strictly with international benchmarks, specifically the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Under the policy, Sierra Leone commits to:
Regulatory Compliance: Assuring civil aviation safety through robust regulatory compliance and implementing risk- and performance-based oversight processes.
Sustainable Growth: Developing regulations and systems that enable the safe growth of the aviation sector while adhering to ICAO SARPs.
Resource Allocation: Ensuring adequate financial, human, and organizational resources to support safety management, alongside independent accident and incident investigation functions.
Workforce Competency: Guaranteeing that personnel are properly equipped with the skills and competencies required to execute their responsibilities effectively.
Data-Driven Safety: Adopting a risk-based approach leveraging data from multiple sources to identify hazards, while implementing data protection policies in line with global best practices.
Culture and Innovation: Promoting a “just culture” based on transparency, trust, and continuous learning, pursuing systematic hazard identification, collaborating with international partners, and supporting innovation and emerging technologies.
The policy emphasizes a unified approach to aviation safety, fostering a culture where every individual and organization within the ecosystem takes responsibility for maintaining high standards.
The document was jointly signed and endorsed by Ms. Musayeroh Barrie, Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), and Mr. Olubumi R. Wellington, Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (SL-AAIIB).
