Freetown, 23rd September, 2026– The Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA) has presented its FY2027 budget to the Ministry of Finance under the national theme “Building Resilience to Create Jobs,”underscoring that the Authority’s priorities for 2027 will focus on strengthening aviation workforce capacity through the establishment of an Approved Training Organization (ATO).
It will also target advancing the implementation of Safety Management Systems, and modernizing air navigation infrastructure to position Freetown International Airport as a competitive regional hub.
In his remarks, the General Manager, Jack D.K Massaquoi, described the ATO as a landmark initiative in Sierra Leone’s aviation reform agenda. He further announced plans to establish partnerships with universities to integrate aviation curriculum into higher education.
“This collaboration will create a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals, equipping the sector with expertise that meets international benchmarks and supports long term growth,” he said.
Safety and efficiency form another cornerstone of the FY2027 budget as he confirmed full implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and the calibration of DVOR and ILS navigational aids to strengthen compliance.
In closing, Massaquoi acknowledged the challenge of rising operational costs but reaffirmed that reforms in air navigation services will strengthen resilience and deliver lasting transformation across Sierra Leone’s aviation sector.
