WALVIS BAY – The Namibian Defence Force explained that international aviation guidance allows a country to establish restricted or controlled airspace over sensitive military installations and training areas where civilian aircraft operations could pose safety or security risks.
Namibian Defence Force (NDF) spokesperson Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, who was responding to concerns raised by the aviation community over a proposal to reclassify the FYM 401 airspace in Erongo, said this.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia (AOPA) last week objected to the proposed restriction, saying that if successful, the proposed change could have serious consequences for the country’s aviation industry.
In the petition circulated online, the association said the FYM 401 airspace covers a large portion of Erongo, including the Erongo Mountains and the towns of Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos.
According to the association, the airspace covers a 30 nautical mile radius and extends from the surface to 25 000 feet above sea level.
“This area sits in the heart of Namibian airspace and is widely used by both civilian and military aircraft,” the organisation said.
As such, converting the airspace into permanently prohibited territory could disrupt established flight routes and affect more than 17 aerodromes and airstrips in the region, the group said.
Additionally, the proposed change could also affect sectors such as tourism, mining and rural services that rely on aviation.
“Commercial, private and recreational operators will face drastic flight limitations, increased flight times and higher fuel costs, which will ultimately impact passengers, businesses and rural communities that depend on aviation,” AOPA Namibia said.
However, Shilumbu said, the proposed reclassification of the FYM 401 airspace in the Erongo region is still under discussion and has not yet been finalised.
He, on Thursday, said that the proposal has been submitted to the National Airspace Committee for consideration and forms part of the country’s normal regulatory process.
“The matter currently under discussion is a proposal for airspace reclassification which has been formally submitted to the National Airspace Committee for consideration,” sai d Shilumbu.
He explained that the committee is the recognised national body responsible for the management of Namibia’s airspace and includes representatives from civil aviation authorities, air traffic management, the aviation industry and relevant government institutions.
“All key aviation stakeholders form part of this committee, and it is through this platform that matters relating to Namibia’s airspace are evaluated,” he said.
Shilumbu said the proposal is in line with international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which provides guidance to countries on how to regulate and organise their airspace.
“International aviation guidance recognises that states may establish restricted or controlled airspace over sensitive military installations and training areas where civilian aircraft operations could pose safety or security risks,” he said.
He added that Namibia’s airspace is regulated through the Namibian Civil Aviation Regulations and related aeronautical publications, which allow military airspace to be established or reclassified through coordination with the civil aviation sector.
“The current proposal, therefore, falls within the existing legal and regulatory structures governing the management of Namibian airspace,” Shilumbu said.
He further noted that the Namibian Constitution places a responsibility on the State to protect national sovereignty and security while at the same time supporting economic development and the well-being of citizens.
“In this context, the responsible management of national airspace must strike a careful balance between national security requirements and the continued growth of civilian aviation activities,” he said.
He added that an extraordinary meeting of the National Airspace Committee is scheduled for 25 March 2026, where the proposal will be discussed in detail. At the same time, he urged stakeholders to raise their concerns through the committee process rather than relying solely on petitions.
“Military operations and civilian aviation must operate in mutual harmony and flexibility, ensuring that neither sector unnecessarily frustrates the other,” the defence ministry spokesperson said.
-edeklerk@nepc.com.na