The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced changes to the aircraft radio licensing cycle in a move aimed at enhancing safety compliance in the aviation sector.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Authority said the changes have been made in collaboration with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Under the new framework, effective July 1, 2026, the CA will transition from the current fixed annual expiry date of June 30 for Aircraft Radio Licences to a system aligned with the validity of the Certificate of Airworthiness (COA) issued by KCAA.
This means that upon expiry of current licences on June 30, 2026, and payment of the required annual fees, operators will be issued with an initial licence valid up to 30 days after the expiry of their existing COA. The one-time 30-day grace period is intended to allow operators sufficient time to renew their COA before applying for the aligned aircraft radio licence.
Once a renewed COA is submitted, the Authority will issue a new Aircraft Radio Licence valid for 12 months and synchronized with the COA’s validity period. No additional frequency fees will be charged for this second issuance within the same financial year.
Following the transition, all Aircraft Radio Licences will operate on a standard 12-month renewal cycle aligned with the respective COA, with an inbuilt 30-day buffer to facilitate timely renewals and avoid compliance gaps.
The Authority further directed that all renewal applications must be accompanied by a valid COA issued by KCAA, a valid Radio Survey Report, and proof of payment of the prescribed annual licence fees.
“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that aircraft operators maintain valid documentation across both regulatory bodies simultaneously,” the notice stated.
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