Flight support in Africa requires careful preparation because operating conditions vary widely from country to country.
Permit rules differ by authority. Ground infrastructure varies by airport. Fuel uplift may need advance coordination. Customs, immigration, cargo, and crew requirements can also vary depending on the destination, aircraft type, and purpose of the flight.
This checklist covers the core items operators should confirm before flying into, out of, or within Africa.
1. Overflight and Landing Permits
Permit requirements differ by country, aircraft registration, route, operator type and mission profile. Some approvals can be processed quickly, while others may require several working days, especially for commercial, cargo, diplomatic, humanitarian, medevac or multi-leg operations.
Check before you fly:
- Identify every country you will overfly or land in
- Confirm whether overflight, landing, diplomatic, commercial, cargo or special mission permits are required
- Verify the documents required by each civil aviation authority
- Confirm whether the operator’s AOC or commercial approval documents are required
- Submit applications with correct aircraft data, including tail number, aircraft type, MTOW, operator details, crew details and flight schedule
- Confirm permit reference numbers before departure
- Check if permit references must be included in the flight plan, carried on board, or shared with ATC/handling stakeholders
- Build in buffer time for weekends, public holidays and authority working hours
Common mistake: Assuming one permit covers multiple African countries. Each sovereign state issues its own approvals independently.
2. Flight Planning and Routing
African airspace can involve different routing, communication, surveillance, alternate and filing considerations. Some route segments may involve limited communication coverage, conflict-zone advisories, contingency routes, restricted airspace or changing NOTAM activity.
Check before you fly:
- Prepare the flight plan using the required ICAO FPL format
- Confirm local filing procedures, AFTN routing and Item 18 requirements where applicable
- Check permit reference requirements for the flight plan
- Confirm routing through all relevant FIRs along the route
- Review NOTAMs for airspace restrictions, closures, runway limitations and service changes
- Check conflict-zone advisories and state/operator restrictions before routing through sensitive areas
- Confirm ATC communication requirements, including VHF, HF, CPDLC or SATCOM needs where relevant
- Verify that deferred MEL items do not affect required communication, navigation, surveillance or performance capability
- Confirm suitable alternates, including operating hours, runway length, instrument approaches, fuel availability and ground services
3. Fuel: Jet A-1 Coordination
Jet A-1 availability, credit arrangements and uplift timing can be major operational variables in Africa. Major airports may have established fuel supply, while smaller or remote airports may require advance booking or additional confirmation.
Check before you fly:
- Confirm Jet A-1 availability at destination and alternate airports
- Book fuel in advance at stations with known supply or timing constraints
- Confirm supplier, fuel grade, uplift quantity and uplift window
- Check whether a fuel release, credit arrangement or local payment method is required
- Confirm pricing, taxes, into-plane charges and payment terms where applicable
- Request any required fuel quality documentation through the supplier or handler where needed
- Plan tankering if uplift availability, timing or credit arrangements are uncertain
- Align fuel timing with ground handling and turnaround plans
Note: Remote destinations and smaller airports in parts of West, Central, East and Southern Africa may require earlier fuel coordination than major international airports.
4. Ground Handling
Not all airports have dedicated FBO facilities, and handling standards can vary by airport, handler, aircraft type and mission profile. Advance coordination helps reduce assumptions on arrival.
Check before you fly:
- Confirm a handling agent is assigned at each airport
- Brief the handler on all required services, including parking, GPU, steps, catering, cleaning, crew transport and passenger movement
- Confirm the handler has the latest schedule, aircraft details and permit information
- Verify slot, parking or PPR requirements where applicable
- Confirm customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements for arrival and departure
- Confirm overnight parking and aircraft security arrangements if required
- Check ramp access restrictions, aircraft weight limitations and pavement classification where relevant
- Confirm passenger manifest, crew list or APIS-equivalent requirements before arrival, where applicable
5. Crew and Passenger Documentation
Immigration, customs and health documentation requirements vary across Africa. Requirements can depend on nationality, routing, length of stay, crew status, mission type and whether passengers are arriving from or transiting through specific countries.
Check before you fly:
- Confirm visa or entry requirements for all crew and passenger nationalities
- Check whether visas or e-visas must be arranged before arrival
- Prepare the General Declaration in the required format
- Confirm crew licence, medical and passport validity
- Check yellow fever certificate requirements based on destination and full travel history
- Prepare passenger manifests in advance where required
- Confirm customs and immigration processing arrangements for private, charter or special mission flights
6. Cargo and Dangerous Goods
Cargo clearance can take longer when documentation, customs requirements or handling arrangements are not aligned early.
Check before you fly:
- Prepare accurate cargo manifests, including commodity descriptions, weights and HS codes where required
- Confirm whether cargo requires advance import, export or transit authorisation
- Confirm air waybill and customs documentation requirements
- Declare dangerous goods correctly under applicable IATA DGR requirements
- Ensure the shipper’s declaration is prepared where required
- Confirm whether dangerous goods transport documents or authority approvals are needed
- Check restrictions on sensitive cargo such as medicines, electronics, cash, live animals, perishables or relief supplies
- Allow extra time for customs and cargo clearance at busy airports
Important: Dangerous goods compliance remains the responsibility of the shipper, operator and approved cargo stakeholders. A flight support provider can help coordinate the documentation flow, authority follow-up and handler communication.
7. Dispatch and Pre-Departure Final Check
Before releasing the flight:
- All required permits confirmed
- Permit references are available to crew and dispatch
- Flight plan filed and accepted
- Route checked against current NOTAMs and advisories
- Destination and alternate fuel confirmed
- Ground handling confirmed
- Crew documents checked
- Passenger and cargo documents checked
- Customs and immigration requirements confirmed
- Handler, fuel supplier and airport contact numbers are available
- Emergency and escalation contacts confirmed
- Backup fuel stop or alternate plan reviewed
Tips for First-Time Operators in Africa
Start early. Permit, visa, cargo, and fuel coordination can take longer than operators expect, especially for multi-country or special-mission flights.
Use local knowledge. Regulations, airport conditions, fuel availability, parking constraints and authority workflows can change. Local coordination helps reduce surprises.
Have a backup plan. Identify alternates, fuel stops and escalation contacts before departure.
Build in a schedule margin. ATC coordination, customs processing, refuelling and ground services can take longer than planned, especially on first-stop arrivals or at airports with limited infrastructure.
Related AAES Flight Support Services
- 24/7 flight support in Africa
- Flight permits across Africa
- Aircraft fuel coordination in Africa
- Ground handling services in Africa
Need 24/7 Flight Support in Kenya or Across Africa?
AAES supports permits, flight planning, dispatch, Jet A-1 fuel coordination, ground handling, cargo support and concierge services across Kenya and Africa.
Email: sales@aaes.aero
Phone: +254 725 284 509