Reference to ICAO documents The air traffic rules and procedures applicable to air traffic in Kigali FIR conform to Annexes 2 and 11 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to those portions of the procedures for Air Navigation Services – Air Traffic Management applicable to aircraft and of the regional supplementary procedures applicable to the Africa - Indian Ocean Region, except for the differences listed in GEN 1.7.

1.  Minimum safe height Aircraft shall not be flown below the minimum safe height except when necessary for take-off and landing. The minimum heights for VFR and IFR flights shall be those specified in Rwanda Civil Aviation Regulations.
For flights conducted for special purposes, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority may grant exemptions.

2.  Dropping of objects The dropping of objects or spraying of other substances out of or from aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel, tow ropes, tow banners and similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to persons or property exists. Rwanda Civil Aviation authority may grant exemptions to the interdiction if no danger to persons or property exists.
 
The dropping of mail may be carried out in agreement with the Rwanda Civil Aviation authority.

3.  Acrobatic flying A person shall not operate an aircraft in acrobatic flight except under conditions prescribed by the Authority and as indicated by relevant information, advice or clearance from the appropriate air traffic services unit.

4.  Towing and advertising flights Advertising flights with towed objects require permission from Civil Aviation Authority. Permission shall be granted only if:
 
a) The pilot holds the rating for towing;
b) The aircraft is equipped with calibrated barograph for recording altitudes during flight;
c) During the proposed flight not more than three aircraft are flying in formation, in which case a distance of at least 60 m shall be maintained both between the towed object of the preceding aircraft and the following aircraft, as well as between the aircraft;
 
d) The legal liability insurance also explicitly covers the towing of objects.

5.  Times and units of measurement Universal time coordinated (UTC) shall be applied to flight operations. The Units of Measurement to be used are specified in GEN 2.1 and RCARs Part 38 (Unit of Measurement).

6.  Airspace structure Within the Flight Information Region, the competent authority establishes the controlled and uncontrolled airspace according to the extent of the Air Traffic Services maintained there, on the basis of the classification described in subsection ENR 1.4.

7.  Prohibited areas and Flight restrictions The competent authority establishes the prohibited and restricted areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic. The areas are published in the AIP ENR 5.1.

8.  Take-offs and landings Take-off and landing of aeroplanes, gliders, rotorcraft and airships and powered gliders outside aerodromes are authorized and a permission from the competent authority is required. The authority granting the permission may ask the applicant to provide evidence of the consent of the terrain/land owner or of other entitled parties.

9.  Ascents of balloons, kites, airships and gliders The ascent of captive balloons is permitted only with the consent of the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority. The requirements for flying balloons, including captive balloons, kites, airships and gliders are in accordance with Part 40 of Rwanda Civil Aviation Regulations.

10.  Radio navigation equipment failure 1.  Procedures for Pilots
1.1  If part of aircraft’s radio navigation equipment fails but two-way communication can still be maintained with ATC, the pilot must inform ATC of the failure and report his altitude and approximate position. ATC may, at its discretion, authorize the pilot to continue his flight in or into controlled airspace. When radar is available it may be used to provide navigational assistance to the pilot.
 
1.2  If no authorization to proceed is given by ATC, the pilot should leave, or avoid controlled airspace and areas of dense traffic and:
a) If in visual meteorological conditions:
i) Continue to fly in visual meteorological conditions; ii) Land at the nearest suitable aerodrome; and iii) Report arrival by the most expeditious means to the appropriate air traffic control unit; or

b) If in instrument meteorological conditions or when it does not appear feasible to complete the flight in accordance with a) above: i) Maintain the last assigned speed and level, or minimum flight altitude if higher, for a period of 20 minutes following the aircraft’s failure to report its position over a compulsory reporting point and thereafter adjust level and speed in accordance with the filed flight plan. Operate secondary radar transponder on mode A, Code 7600, with Mode C;
 
ii) Proceed according to the flight plan route to the appropriate designated navigation aid serving the destination aerodrome and, when required to ensure compliance with (III) below, hold over this aid until commencement of descent;
 
iii) Commence descent from the navigation aid specified in (II) above, at or as close as possible to, the EAT last received and acknowledge; at or as close as possible to, the ETA resulting from the current flight plan;
 
iv) Complete a normal instrument approach as specified for the designated navigation aid;
 
v) Land, if possible, within 30 minutes after the ETA or the last acknowledged EAT whichever is later.
 
2.  Action taken by ATC when an Aircraft has Radio Communications Failure
 
2.1  As soon as it is known that two-way communication has failed, action shall be taken to ascertain whether the aircraft is able to receive transmissions from the air traffic control unit by requesting it to execute a specified manoeuvre which can be observed by radar or to transmit, if possible, a specified signal in order to indicate acknowledgement.
 
2.2  If the aircraft fails to indicate that it is able to receive and acknowledge transmissions, separation shall be maintained between the aircraft having the communication failure and other aircraft.
 
2.3  Action taken to ensure suitable separation shall cease when:
a) It is determined that the aircraft is following a procedure differing from the known one;
b) Through the use of electronic or other aids, air traffic control units determine that action differing from the required one;
c) Positive information is received that the aircraft has landed.
 
2.4  As soon as it is known that two-way communication has failed, appropriate information describing the action taken by the air traffic control unit, or instructions justified by any emergency situation, shall be transmitted blind for the attention of the aircraft concerned, on the frequencies available on which the aircraft is believed to be listening, including the voice frequencies of available radio navigation or approach aids. Information shall also be given concerning:
 
a) Weather conditions favourable to a cloud-breaking procedure in areas where congested traffic may be avoided; and
b) Weather conditions at suitable aerodromes.
 
2.5  Pertinent information shall be given to other aircraft in the vicinity of the presumed position of the aircraft experiencing the failure.
 
2.6  As soon as it is known that an aircraft, which is operating in its area of responsibility, is experiencing an apparent radio communication failure, an air traffic services unit shall forward information concerning the radio communication failure to all air traffic service units concerned along the route of flight.
 
The ACC shall take steps to obtain information on the alternate aerodrome(s) and other relevant information specified in the filed flight plan, if such information is not available.
 
3.  If circumstances indicate that a controlled flight experiencing a communication failure might proceed to (one of) the alternate aerodrome(s) specified in the filed flight plan, the air traffic control unit(s) serving the alternate aerodrome(s) and any other air traffic control units that might be affected by a possible diversion shall be informed of the circumstances of the failure and requested to attempt to establish communication with the aircraft at a time when the aircraft could possibly be within communication range.
 
This shall apply particularly when, by agreement with the operator or a designated representative, a clearance has been transmitted blind to the aircraft concerned to proceed to an alternate aerodrome, or when weather conditions at the aerodrome of the intended landing are such that a diversion to an alternate is considered likely.
 
3.1 When an air traffic control unit receives information that an aircraft, after experiencing a communication failure has re-established communication or has landed, that unit shall inform the air traffic services unit in whose area the aircraft was operating at the time the failure occurred, and other air traffic service units concerned along the route of flight, giving necessary information for the continuation of control if the aircraft is continuing in flight.
 
3.2  If the aircraft has not reported within thirty minutes after:
a) The ETA furnished by the pilot;
b) The ETA calculated by the ACC; or
c) The last acknowledged expected approach time,
 
Whichever is latest, pertinent information concerning the aircraft shall be forwarded to aircraft operators, or their designated representatives, and pilots-in-command of any aircraft concerned and normal control resumed if they so desire. It is the responsibility of the aircraft operators, or their designated representatives, and pilot-in- command of aircraft to determine whether they will resume normal operations or take other action.

11.  Separation standards The separation minima shall be selected from those prescribed by the provisions of the PANS-ATM (DOC 4444) and the Regional Supplementary Procedures (DOC 7030) 12.  Civil Aviation Regulations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. These regulations provide for an enhanced regulatory and permit framework for drone operations in Rwanda. For more details, please refer to Part 27 of Rwanda Civil Aviation Regulations found on RCAA website: www.caa.gov.rw.