Bamenda Airport: CCAA Mobilizes Operational Expertise for the Visit of Pope Leo XIV

Published: Friday, 27 March 2026 11:12

In anticipation of the historic upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, Bamenda Airport is undergoing major operational upgrades under the rigorous coordination of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA). In addition to various works carried out on the platform, on Wednesday, March 26, 2026, the ASECNA calibration aircraft landed at Bamenda Airport to validate flight procedures, in the presence of the Governor of the North-West Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique.

This involved the validation of new satellite-based flight procedures (RNAV/GNSS), designed and deployed in record time by CCAA technical experts to enable precision air traffic at this airport. This validation mission is an essential safety guarantee for the success of the sovereign pontiff’s journey to the regional capital of the North-West.

The operational upgrade also includes a large-scale ground project, where the CCAA is currently supervising the installation of radio navigation equipment, notably a landing system with a runway alignment beacon (Localizer), a distance measuring equipment (DME), and approach slope indicators (PAPI). The works also cover the installation of new VHF and HF equipment in the control tower for controller-pilot communications, the rehabilitation of meteorological equipment, maintenance of electrical networks and cabling, rehabilitation of the control tower, and the securing of the airport domain.

The presence of the Governor of the North-West Region, Mr. Adolphe Lele Lafrique, on site underscores the strategic importance of the effective deployment of teams and the work carried out by the CCAA and other involved actors at the airport. Accompanied by CCAA technical officials, he assessed the efforts made by visiting the ASECNA calibration aircraft from Dakar, Senegal, after its landing.

It should be noted that the runway length of the airport is 2,500 meters, and the critical aircraft that can land there is the Boeing 737. The CCAA provides services such as air traffic management, meteorology, aeronautical information, fire-fighting (SLI), and all matters related to high- and low-voltage electricity supply.The Cameroon Airport Company (ADC) ensures Commercial management and flight handling.

Thanks to this technical coordination, Bamenda Airport is strengthening its operational capacities and is ready to welcome, under the best safety and security conditions, this major event awaited by the entire nation.

Trans: MKG