Part 139: An AOPA Success Story
In November 2018 the NCAA proposed and gazetted an entirely new set of Part 139 Aerodrome regulations to supplement the Namibia Civil Aviation Act of 2016. These regulations were written to replace the regulations of 2001, which have guided Namibian aviation law for the past 21 years.
However, the Part 139 Aerodrome regulatory amendments of 2018 were incredibly complex, over-reaching and would have been a complete change from the existing 2001 regulations. Had they been promulgated in full, the new amendments would have had a devastating impact on ALL aerodromes in the country of Namibia – most especially the hundreds of unlicensed airstrips that make up the majority of Namibia's aviation infrastructure.
Since November 2018, AOPA Namibia led the fight against the implementation of these onerous new aerodrome regulations...
... and in March 2023, achieved an advocacy victory in the passage of appropriate Part 139 Aerodrome regulatory reform, protecting and preserving all of Namibia's unlicensed airstrips.
Below is a timeline documenting the correspondence between AOPA Namibia, the NCAA and the Ministry of Works and Transport that led to the successful promulgation of Part 139 Aerodrome regulatory amendments.
PART 139: VICTORY AFTER FOUR YEARS OF FRUSTRATION
The following is a four-year timeline of correspondence between AOPA Namibia, the NCAA and the Ministry of Works of Works and Transport leading up to the promulgation of successful Part 139 aerodrome reform that preserved Namibia's airstrips and right to fly:
– 2022 –
27 September – Letter from MWT to the NCAA Board
Letter from the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. John Mutorwa, to the NCAA Chairman of the Board, Mr. Bethuel Mujetenga, granting a 6-month extension to the implementation of new Part 139 regulations. The Hon. Minister directs the NCAA, NCA and AOPA to come to a consensus agreement on the new Part 139 regulations during the extension time.
26 September – Letter from AOPA to the MWT
Letter from AOPA to the Hon. Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, disagreeing with the results of the September 15, 2022 stakeholder meeting hosted by NCAA to discuss the new Part 139 regulations as well as to ask for an additional 6 month extension before promulgating the new regulations.
23 September – Letter from NCAA Board to the MWT
Letter from the NCAA Chairman of the Board, Mr. Bethuel Mujetenga, to the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. John Mutorwa, requesting to postpone the entry into force of Part 139 regulations for 6-months.
23 September – Letter from AOPA to the NCAA Board
Letter sent from AOPA to the NCAA Chairman of the Board, Mr. Bethuel Mujetenga, addressing issues with the September 15th, 2022 stakeholders meeting, once again stating the General Aviation industry's legal issues with new Part 139 regulations, and requesting a 6-month extension to Part 139 implementation until such issues are fairly addressed.
21 September – Letter from MWT to the NCAA Board
Letter from the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. John Mutorwa, to the Chairman of the NCAA Board, Mr. Bethuel Mujetenga, complaining about the lack of organization on part of the NCAA ED and the NCAA BOD, and referring to AOPA 's letter of 21 September, 2022.
21 September – Letter from AOPA to the MWT
Letter from AOPA to the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. John Mutorwa, regarding recent articles about the 15 September 2022 Part 139 stakeholders meeting, which appeared in the Namibian press.
21 September – Letter from AOPA to the NCAA ED
Letter from AOPA to the NCAA ED, Ms. Toska Sem, regarding the outcome of the September 15, 2022 stakeholder's meeting and requesting postponement of Part 139 due to legal ramifications.
20 September – Letter from NAC CEO to the MWT
Letter from the Namibia Airports Company CEO, Mr. Bisey Uirab, to the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. John Mutorwa, stating the NAC's organizational position and recommendations on the new Part 139 regulations.
