The CCAA and GIZ BSB Yamoussa commit to training drone pilots
Published: Tuesday, 08 July 2025 17:03
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on July 03, 2025, in Yaoundé between Mrs Paule Assoumou KOKI, Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), and Mr Hans Jürgen Klein, Project Manager at GIZ BSB Yamoussa, in Yaoundé, in the presence of the representative of the Lamido of Ray Bouba, a strong team from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and CCAA department heads. 
Heads of the two delegations formalising the partnership
This strategic partnership aims primarily to establish training programmes for drone pilots who work at GIZ BSB Yamoussa. Additionally, it seeks to deliver these training courses at agreed-upon locations and subsequently extend them to the entire community. Given the urgent need to regulate the safe and orderly operation of remotely piloted aircraft, also known as drones, the partnership will also promote a culture of safety in the civilian use of these devices.
It's important to note that the GIZ Yamoussa staff already use these devices as part of their project to support the Sena Oura-Bouba binational complex by monitoring and preserving biodiversity in the northern region. We are witnessing the emergence of new entrants into the airspace every day, who use these drones in varied fields such as topography, cartography, structural inspections, agriculture, wildlife and environmental monitoring, which is an essential area for GIZ BSB Yamoussa.
This innovation is, however, inseparable from the imperative of safety and regulatory compliance. This is a point emphasized in the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in particular Annexes 1 (Personnel Licensing) and 2 (Rules of the Air) adapted to SATPs.
As a result, the partnership between the CCAA and GIZ BSB Yamoussa will fully develop the capacities of personnel involved in ecosystem protection. Furthermore, it will provide equipment and teaching materials for training and organize international exchanges of expertise between recognized instructors and specialists for the better deployment of remote pilots throughout the territory. Ultimately, this will prevent any incidents or accidents during drone use in the country.
This Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force until April 30, 2029. To ensure its success, each party must fulfil its commitments to achieve the mutually agreed-upon objectives. The Director General of the CCAA took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of having well-trained remote pilots in the management of specific risks associated with operating this aircraft type.
Similarly, GIZ BSB Yamoussa's project manager indicated that through this partnership, Cameroon and the Central African region are "leading the way."
Ultimately, this MOU is a significant step forward for Cameroonian civil aviation, positioning the CCAA as a proactive and responsible player in the integration of new technologies for national development.
Trans: Mireille K GALABE/ARO-PRU
Group photo of the two delegations after the signing cérémony