In a dramatic protest, 76-year-old Captain Joseph Martin Ririani, co-founder of Kenya School of Flying, chained himself to an aircraft for hours at Orly Airpark in Kajiado County. The veteran pilot’s act sought to spotlight the dire challenges facing Kenya’s aviation training sector, particularly the lack of adequate and safe training grounds for young pilots.
Ririani decried congestion at Wilson Airport, Kenya’s primary hub for flying classes. The airport’s land encroachment and nearby infrastructure developments have compromised its suitability for training purposes. He cited safety concerns, recalling the tragic mid-air collision in 2023 between a Cessna 172 training aircraft and a Safarilink Dash 8 that resulted in the deaths of a student and an instructor.
To alleviate congestion, Ririani and other stakeholders spearheaded the establishment of Orly Airpark in 2002 on a 240-acre parcel of land in Kajiado County, with support from the late Vice President Prof. George Saitoti. Orly Airpark has since provided a vital alternative, hosting several flying schools, including the Kenya School of Flying.
However, Ririani highlighted challenges at Orly Airpark, including the 700-meter runway, which poses difficulties due to crosswinds during takeoffs and landings. Plans to extend the runway to 1,200 meters have stalled since 2013, following the death of former Airpark chairperson Harro Trempenau and subsequent internal disputes.
“Crosswinds make landings and takeoffs more challenging, and a short runway limits the scope for effective training,” he explained. Despite support from all 10 flying schools, runway extension efforts remain mired in bureaucratic delays and lack of cooperation.
Ririani’s protest underscores the broader challenges of Kenya’s private aviation training sector. With no national flying school run by the government, private institutions have stepped in to fill the gap but face significant hurdles, including safety concerns and limited infrastructure.
The captain urged the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) to intervene, emphasizing the critical role flying schools play in nurturing the country’s aviation industry. “We are the nursery of the entire aviation industry, and we need everybody’s help,” he pleaded.
Ririani’s call to action serves as a wake-up call to address the pressing need for safe, well-equipped, and modernized training facilities to ensure the safety and development of Kenya’s future pilots.
