Under the banner of regional integration, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) hosted the solemn academic opening for its new cohorts of aviation professionals on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Yaoundé Training School. This event marked the inauguration of the very first class of the Bachelor’s in Air Navigation Services and Aerodrome Operations (ESNAA) and welcomed the third cohort of the Specialized Master’s in Aircraft Maintenance and Recycling (CAMRA).

The ceremony was presided over by Mrs. Paule AVOMO ASSOUMOU KOKI, Director General of the CCAA, in the presence of the representative of the Minister of Transport, the Director General of the Central Africa Flight Safety Oversight Agency (ASSA-AC), the representative of CEMAC, and delegates from its specialized bodies. The event epitomized the cooperation and pooling of resources within the sub-region to meet the international requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

At the heart of this academic year are two programs designed to bridge the skills gap in the sub-regional aeronautical sector:

• CAMRA (3rd Cohort): A Specialized Master’s degree focused on Aircraft Maintenance and Recycling. It aims to train technical experts to ensure safety and continuing airworthiness - elements essential to the revival of regional airlines. This program is a successful collaboration with the National Advanced School of Engineering (ENSP) of the University of Yaoundé I, supported by key industry partners such as Camair-Co, Vallair, Sabena Technics, and Caverton.
• ESNAA (Inaugural Cohort): The first Bachelor’s degree in Air Navigation Services and Aerodrome Operations. This program aims to train the personnel indispensable for the safe and efficient operation of airport infrastructure, including secondary airports currently under rehabilitation. This is conducted in partnership with ASSA-AC and ENSP Yaoundé.

For the first time, learners hail from all six CEMAC Member States: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad. This openness results from a strategic partnership between the CCAA and ASSA-AC, under the aegis of CEMAC. This innovative project is entirely funded by CEMAC, which sponsors two learners per State for each program following a rigorous selection process involving written examinations and interviews.

These training initiatives align directly with ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) program. They seek to prepare the sub-region for future demands, which Boeing estimates will exceed 20,000 pilots and 21,000 maintenance technicians in Africa by 2040.

Professional Opportunities and Regional Economic Recovery:

• CAMRA: Graduates are expected to join airlines (such as Camair-Co, ECAir, Royal Airways, and Ceiba Intercontinental), Civil Aviation Authorities, airworthiness bodies, and Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs).
• ESNAA: These professionals will ensure the safe operation of airports and navigation services, playing a key role in the ambition to modernize secondary airports, transforming these platforms into genuine hubs for local development.

The Director of the CCAA Training School (EFO) reiterated the institution's commitment - already a Full Member Gold of the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Programme - to providing a modern environment, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a prestigious network of partners to guarantee excellence and discipline. This sentiment was echoed by Mr. Eugène APOMBI, Director General of ASSA-AC, who encouraged the scholarship recipients to distinguish themselves through hard work to honor the community supporting their education.

The ceremony concluded with a vibrant call to action from the Director General of the CCAA, urging the young learners to embrace passion, audacity, and excellence, while reaffirming Cameroon's role as a Center of Excellence for aeronautical training in Central Africa.

Translation: MKG/CEA-CRP