2.2 Niger Aviation Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/ The aviation sector is placed under the Ministry of Transport and is the responsibility of the Agence National de l’Aviation Civile du Niger (ANAC-Niger – national civil aviation agency of Niger). The most relevant departments thereunder are Air Transport Department and the Air Navigation Department. Niger has three international airports in Niamey, Agadez and Zinder – in the meaning that they may allow flights from abroad to land directly at the airport, only Niamey has regularly scheduled international flights. The government has made efforts over the last few years to harmonise national legalisation with international aviation laws and standards. Liberalisation efforts have also been made and allowed for more operators at the Niamey airport. Despite these efforts costs remain high and according to the ANAC- Niger’s diagnostic the operators are considered as weak and the current infrastructure is found wanting. Aircraft operating in the country are aging and private companies have so far been reluctant to invest in the sector. Public investment has also been lagging, but there are currently being made some efforts to upgrade airports. Niamey can support aircrafts up to the size of B747 – AN124, Agadez 54/F/C/W/T and Zinder is built to B737/200 standards. The airports of Tahoua, Maradi and Diffa constitute the major domestic airports in the country; they are built to B737/200 standards. The remaining airports are referred to as secondary, but open for public circulation. Most of these airports are little more than airstrips and only support light aircrafts. Concerning air cargo, only Niamey has sufficient capacity to handle larger volumes. All handling at the larger airports is performed by Administration des Activités Aéronautiques Nationales du Niger (AANN – national aeronautical activities administration of Niger) which is controlled by the government. There are currently ten companies flying to and from Niamey. These include intercontinental airlines such as Air France, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and Ethiopian. Niger Airlines operates public domestic flights. In addition there are possibilities to charter aircraft for domestic flight. Chalair, Tamara Niger Aviation and THS Niger currently operates with this business model in Niger. UNHAS operates flights for humanitarian purposes. Only Niamey have the infrastructure to receive and handle high intensity air cargo, defined as aircrafts at 75mt tonnes or more. Agadez and Zinder can accommodate low-intensity air cargo, that is, aircrafts less than 75mt. There are several companies involved with air cargo and freight forwarding for which contact details can be found in the annex. For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Niger Government Contact List Page 1 4.5 Niger Airport Company Contact List Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft Regulation of aviation and the registration of aircrafts are under ANAC, more specifically under the Direction de l’Aviation Civile. There are no limits or restrictions on the age of aircrafts that can be registered, or operated, in Niger. However ANAC would need to issue a certificate of air worthiness for the aircraft. There are five phases to obtaining a certificate that allows an aircraft to operate in Niger. These phases are pre-evaluation, formal request, evaluation of documents and certification, demonstration and inspection, and finally certification. Before undertaking the application ANAC insists on an initiation meeting were the procedures and requirements are detailed. After the meeting a formal demand can be made, which starts off with another meeting and handing in documentation. The time frame set for evaluation of the formal demand is 90 days which will be exceeded if there are any issues with the documentation supplied. ANAC will in such instances return the documentation with an explanation of the problem. For the inspection phase ANAC inspectors will evaluate maintenance equipment for the aircraft and supporting structures. Safety requirements in place, is that the aircraft should be airworthy, personnel trained for emergencies and safety procedures documented. If all goes well the applicant will be presented with a Certificate d’ Opérateur Aérien / Permis d’Exploitation Aérienne and approved the Specific Operation Standards (SOPS). 1. Pre-Evaluation: Meet with ANAC. Then fill out the form ANAC FORM 06-01. Documents to include: a. A description of planned activities b. Organisational manuals c. Proof of training for air personnel d. Technical manuals e. Aircraft information and maintenance plans f. Additional documents may be required – please consult the document below 2. Formal demand: Participate in meeting. Supply any additional documentation] 3. Evaluation: Time frame: 90 days. Rejections will come with written explanation and can be resent 4. Aircraft and structure inspection 5. Issuing of certificate For more information on procedures for foreign registered aircraft, please see the following attachments: Application form Manuel for registration foreign aircraft and use of airport For additional information please see: http://www.anacniger.org Page 2.