AOPA challenges home affairs over pilot permit delays

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia (AOPA Namibia) has rejected the home affairs ministry's assertion that work permit applications from foreign pilots are being handled fairly.

The association warned that administrative delays and repeated rejections are deepening an already severe aviation skills crisis.

AOPA said the ministry’s public response, which blamed unsuccessful applications largely on incomplete documentation, does not reflect the experiences of aviation operators who have reported lost documents, prolonged delays and unresolved cases despite submitting complete applications.

Responding to comments by ministry spokesperson Margaret Kalo that applications are assessed strictly according to set requirements and that there is “no foul play” in the process, AOPA Namibia said the situation cannot be reduced to applicants failing to provide required paperwork.

“If your application is rejected, not only for pilot instructors but for any application, we provide the reason for the rejection,” Kalo said.

AOPA, however, said evidence contained in its aviation sector white paper points to a wider systemic challenge affecting operators.

Disputed reasons

The association said companies reported cases where complete application packages were allegedly lost after submission, documents expired during lengthy processing periods without notification, and applications remained unresolved for months while being referred internally.

One case highlighted by AOPA involved a nine-month referral to the ministry’s legal department without feedback, while another operator reportedly faced a six-month delay due to conflicting requirements between the ministry and the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra).

“These are not the experiences of applicants who forgot to attach a document,” AOPA said.

The association’s response comes amid growing concerns over Namibia’s shortage of commercial pilots and flight instructors.

According to AOPA, the country currently has only 202 licensed commercial pilots, a figure it says is insufficient to sustain aviation operations.

The association’s research found that only 21 new commercial pilot licences have been issued since January 2024, averaging about 10 new commercial pilots annually, while the industry requires at least 60 additional commercial pilots and 14 flight instructors immediately.

Fleets stuck on the ground

AOPA warned that the shortage is already affecting aviation businesses, with some operators reporting that up to 45% of their aircraft fleets have been grounded due to a lack of qualified pilots.

The association said all available Namibian commercial pilots and flight instructors are already employed, leaving operators dependent on foreign pilots to fill critical gaps.

Its survey of 11 commercial operators and flight training organisations found that the sector employs 131 commercial pilots, consisting of 77 Namibians and 54 foreign nationals.

However, AOPA said delays in processing work permits have prevented suitably qualified foreign pilots from taking up available positions.

The association said Namibia received 2 172 pilot applications over the past two years, but only 47 were from Namibians. It added that 280 foreign applicants met operational and safety requirements, but many have struggled to secure approval to work.

Reframing questioned

AOPA further criticised what it described as a disconnect between the ministry’s current public position and its previous engagement with the aviation industry.

The association said the ministry had acknowledged the seriousness of the issue in December 2025 and committed to urgent engagement but now appeared to be framing the crisis as a routine compliance matter.

“A ministry that in December 2025 privately acknowledged the severity of this issue should not, three months later, be characterising that same issue as one of routine administrative compliance,” AOPA said.

When reached for comment, the ministry did not respond immediately.

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