The Civil Aviation Authority has denied claims by Captain Mike Mukula that his Uganda Aviation School was denied an air operator certificate (AOC) to run aircrafts in Uganda.
Yesterday, Mukula who's also the ruling party national vice chairman eastern region, took to social media to reveal that he had been frustrated for over three years by CAA after being denied an AOC.
"I have finally taken a decision to relocate all our aircrafts to KENYA having been frustrated by @UgandaCAA to obtain an AOC #Kenya issued it in one week >> this equipment has been on the ground for over 3 years *fully maintained and paying parking fees #systems failure," reads Mukula's post on twitter.
However, a statement from CAA claims that the Uganda Aviation School didn't apply for the AOC certificate. CAA explains that all air operators are required to apply for air operator certificates before they are allowed to operate in Uganda.
"When AOC applications are received, they are reviewed and only those which comply with stipulated regulations are granted. Uganda Aviation School applied and was granted an air services license (ASL) for aviation training not for an AOC. A copy of this is available," reads the statement. Adding that, "An AOC is the one granted to air operators seeking to conduct commercial operations as opposed to training."
According to CAA, Uganda Aviation School applied for an aviation training organization (ATO) specifically focusing on cabin crew training with a view of expanding later to flight training subject to fulfilment of the regulations.
"Unfortunately, the school couldn't fully satisfy the cabin crew (ATO) requirements because cabin crew training is air operator based (practical not just theoretical). The ATO application did not have an appropriate aircraft for cabin crew practical demonstration," reads the statement.
Efforts to speak to Mukula have been futile as he promised to get back to us but didn't. However he's been involved in an exchange with CAA on Twitter, accusing the aviation body of "misleading the country."