Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

What Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority does

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) is the national civil aviation regulatory authority of Rwanda, established by Law No 007/2019 of 13 April 2019 and operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA). The Authority holds exclusive statutory jurisdiction over civil aviation safety, security, and economic regulation in Rwanda, implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) domestically. It serves a regulated base spanning air operators and airlines (notably RwandAir), airport operators (notably Rwanda Airports Company), aviation personnel (pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance engineers, dispatchers), unmanned aircraft system operators and manufacturers, approved maintenance organizations, and air navigation service providers.

RCAA operates an integrated digital platform anchored by a unified e-Services portal that connects six specialized subsystems: ORBIT for personnel licensing and license management, SafetyCore for safety data collection and the State Safety Programme, RAIS for landing and overflight clearances and charges calculation, KIA Access for restricted-area security permits, a Drone Portal for UAS registration and certification, and a Document Management System for regulatory records. The Authority's training arm, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Training & Innovation Center (RCATIC), was inaugurated in June 2024 as a wholly-owned subsidiary and achieved ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Bronze Membership in November 2024. RCAA itself earned ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification in November 2025 for information security management, certified by KENAS.

The Authority's revenue model combines regulatory fees — published via Aeronautical Information Circulars AIC A 01/2023 and AIC A 03/2024 and covering licensing, certification, overflight clearances, landing/navigation charges, parking, airport service charges, and security charges — with government appropriation through MININFRA. Distribution is direct government-to-regulated-entity via the e-Services portals and physical offices at Kigali International Airport; the Authority operates from a single headquarters in Kigali with no disclosed international offices. Leadership is structured around a Director General, Deputy Director General, and Directors covering Corporate Services, Flight Safety Services, Aviation Infrastructure/Safety/Security (AISS), ICT, Aviation Planning, and the RCATIC subsidiary, governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Didier Nkurikiyimfura.

Name

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

Legal name

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

Website

https://caa.gov.rw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rwanda's national civil aviation regulatory authority, established in 2019 under MININFRA, providing safety, security, and economic oversight for airlines, airports, drone operators, and aviation personnel via an integrated e-services platform and training subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Fees and Charges: RCAA generates revenue through various regulatory fees including licensing fees, certification fees, air service licenses, and aviation regulatory charges. Published through AIC A 01/2023 and AIC A 03/2024.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority is the government regulatory body responsible for civil aviation safety, security, and economic oversight in Rwanda. It issues and manages aviation personnel licenses, air operator and aerodrome certificates, UAS/drone registrations, and flight clearances, supported by an integrated suite of digital e-services platforms. The authority also operates the RCATIC aviation training center of excellence and sets regulatory fees and charges published through official Aeronautical Information Circulars.

Product overview

The Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority operates a unified e-Services portal that provides a comprehensive suite of digital platforms for aviation regulation and oversight. The core offering consists of the main RCAA E-Services Portal, which integrates multiple specialized subsystems including ORBIT for personnel licensing management, SafetyCore for safety data collection and the State Safety Programme, RAIS for landing/overflight clearances and charges calculation, KIA Access for airport security permits, the Drone Portal for UAS operations, and DMS for document management. RCATIC provides aviation training services. These interconnected systems serve regulated entities including airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, and drone operators across Rwanda's aviation ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RCAA E-Services Portal Unified online portal providing regulated entities with access to RCAA's regulatory services including licensing, certification, and safety reporting systems.
• ORBIT (Online Repository for Better Information Transfer) Online platform for aviation personnel licensing applications, license management, and a repository for aviation personnel information across Rwanda.
• Drone Portal (UAS Portal) Portal for registering unmanned aircraft systems, certifying drone pilots, issuing UAS operator certificates, and managing activity permits in Rwanda.
• RAIS (Rwanda Aeronautical Information System) Landing and Overflight Clearance System providing flight operations management and RCAA/RAC charges calculation for Rwandan airspace users.
• SafetyCore Safety Data Collection and Processing System used to report aviation hazards, incidents, and accidents, supporting RCAA's State Safety Programme.
• KIA Access (Kigali International Airport Access Request) Access request management system for entry into restricted areas of Kigali International Airport.
• DMS (Document Management System) Internal document management system for storing and managing RCAA's aviation regulatory documents and records.
• RCATIC (Rwanda Civil Aviation Training & Innovation Center) Aviation training center providing courses for civil aviation personnel, holding ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Bronze Membership; operates as RCAA's wholly-owned training and innovation subsidiary.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification achieved in November 2025 for information security management

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Airlines' Association (AFRAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2024RCAA partnered with AFRAA to conduct Cape Town Convention training program from 05-07 February 2024 at RCAA Training Facilities. The training addressed aircraft financing and leasing under the Cape Town Convention which Rwanda ratified in 2011.
• ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCAA operates under ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). ICAO provides global regulatory framework that RCAA implements for civil aviation oversight in Rwanda.
• AFCAC (African Civil Aviation Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional civil aviation body that RCAA collaborates with for African aviation standards and development initiatives.
• CASSOA (Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional agency responsible for coordinating civil aviation safety and security oversight in the Eastern and Southern African region.
• MININFRA (Ministry of Infrastructure)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCAA is the designated agency of Government of Rwanda under MININFRA for making regulations, procedures and issuing directions covering Air Navigation Services and civil aviation.
• Rwanda Airports Company (RAC)coreOthersRAC is responsible for providing Air Navigation Services in Rwanda and operates Rwanda's airports. RCAA provides regulatory oversight and certification.
• RwandAircoreOthersRwandAir is Rwanda's national airline requiring air operator certification and oversight from RCAA.
• Akagera AviationminorOthersAviation services company regulated by RCAA for aviation operations in Rwanda.
• ASECNA (Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASECNA handles distribution of Aeronautical Information Products including E-AIP, AIP amendments, supplements and AIC for Rwanda after RCAA approval.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RwandaCAA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rwanda-civil-aviation-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority