Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Installs Hi-Tech Aircraft Search and Rescue System at JKIA

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has acquired an automated Aeronautical Search and Rescue System at a cost of Sh31 million.

The hi-tech system was installed at the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) located at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

The installation will enhance KCAA’s efficiency in response to an aircraft distress call or crash as opposed to the previous manual system, which was blamed for slow response and delayed search and rescue in the event of a plane accident.

Through the new system, KCAA Air Navigation Service Provider will be able to have continuous coordination of all Aeronautical Search and Rescue missions within the country.

“The manual search coordination process took longer time in determining the probable area to be searched, hence delaying mobilization of Search and Rescue response agencies. With the right data obtained from the System, the search area can now be narrowed to a specific location after which response agencies are informed and this increases the chances of saving lives and property,” said KCAA Director-General Capt. Gilbert Kibe.

The launch of the system comes after a successful test by KCAA during the first-ever Search and Rescue drill in East Africa on December 3rd, 2019.

“The Search and Rescue agencies involved during the drill included government agencies such as the National Police Service-Air wing and National Police Service Operations, Kenya Defense Forces, National Disaster Management Unit, Kenya Meteorological Department, Kenya Airports Authority among others,” added Kibe.

Previously, ARCC was only activated after the reporting of an emergency, which required the mobilization of Search Mission Coordinators who would then proceed to carry out a manual search using maps and charts. But with the new system, ARCC is monitored on a 24-hour basis by qualified Search Mission Coordinators.

The newly launched system is linked to a search and rescue satellite that aids in the tracking of Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), enabling quick finding of aircraft in distress.