The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) has strengthened the country’s aviation safety oversight following the successful completion of a specialized International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Dangerous Goods training programme for fourteen inspectors. The training, concluded on July 8, 2026, equipped participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills required to regulate the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air in accordance with international standards.
The capacity-building initiative forms part of SLCAA’s broader commitment to improving compliance with global aviation safety regulations and enhancing the country’s ability to identify, inspect and regulate dangerous goods transported through civil aviation. The programme also reinforces the Authority’s ongoing efforts to strengthen technical expertise and ensure safer air transport operations across Sierra Leone.
Speaking on the importance of the training, SLCAA Director General, Musayeroh Barrie, described investment in human capital as essential to maintaining high aviation safety standards. She noted that the specialized ICAO Dangerous Goods training had significantly strengthened the capacity of the fourteen inspectors to inspect, detect and regulate the safe transportation of dangerous goods by air.
Dangerous goods include substances or articles capable of posing serious risks to health, safety, property or the environment when transported by aircraft. Under ICAO’s Dangerous Goods Technical Instructions, internationally recognized procedures govern the classification, packaging, labelling, documentation and handling of such materials to safeguard passengers, crew members, aircraft and airport operations.
Facilitating the training, Dangerous Goods Instructor, Mustapha Abnael emphasized that safety must always remain the highest priority in aviation. He stated that whenever there is uncertainty surrounding the carriage of dangerous goods, delaying an operation is far preferable to compromising the safety of an aircraft or its occupants.
Mustapha Abnael explained that the course focused on ICAO Technical Instructions specifically designed for Civil Aviation Authority inspectors. Participants received intensive instruction on interpreting technical references, reviewing documentation and conducting inspections of dangerous goods consignments. He said the programme was intended to strengthen inspectors’ competence in enforcing international regulations governing the transport of hazardous materials by air.
He also commended the fourteen inspectors for their professionalism, dedication and commitment throughout the training, describing them as highly capable officers who demonstrated a strong understanding of the technical instructions and documentation required for effective regulatory oversight.
Participants also praised the programme, highlighting its practical relevance to their day-to-day responsibilities. One inspector said the training had significantly expanded his understanding of dangerous goods regulations, particularly in identifying prohibited and permitted items in passenger baggage and aircraft cabins. He noted that the knowledge acquired would greatly improve his effectiveness during inspections and expressed appreciation to the SLCAA management for providing the opportunity.
Another participant said the course had enhanced inspectors’ ability to identify dangerous goods in storage facilities, understand the proper segregation of hazardous materials and strengthen overall oversight responsibilities. He added that the skills gained would contribute significantly to ensuring greater compliance with international aviation safety requirements.
The successful completion of the ICAO Dangerous Goods training marks another important milestone in the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority’s efforts to build the capacity of its technical personnel and reinforce aviation safety oversight in line with international best practices.
With the newly acquired expertise, the Authority is expected to further strengthen its ability to ensure that dangerous goods are transported safely, securely and in full compliance with ICAO regulations, thereby enhancing the overall safety, security and integrity of Sierra Leone’s civil aviation sector.
