The Director General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Dr. Jabiri K. Bakari, has intensified institutional reforms and stakeholder engagement efforts less than a month after officially assuming office on April 24, 2026.
Since taking over leadership of the Authority, Dr. Bakari has embarked on a series of operational and administrative initiatives aimed at further enhancing and harmonizing existing systems, strengthening institutional coordination, and improving service delivery across Tanzania’s aviation industry.
His leadership approach has focused on continuous engagement with stakeholders and staff at various levels of the Authority through a series of consultative meetings involving directorates, technical units, and operational stations across the country.
As part of the ongoing engagements, Dr. Bakari on May 19, 2026, held consultative meetings with local and foreign aviation operators at the TCAA Headquarters in Banana, Ukonga, Dar es Salaam. The meetings were conducted in two separate sessions, with the morning session bringing together local aviation operators, while the afternoon session involved foreign operators conducting business within Tanzania’s aviation sector.
On May 20, 2026, Dr. Bakari continued the engagement sessions with other key aviation stakeholders, including ground handling companies, Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs), which are certified to conduct aircraft maintenance and technical services, as well as Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), institutions accredited to provide aviation training and professional development.
The sessions provided stakeholders with an opportunity to engage directly with TCAA leadership through open and interactive discussions focusing on the state of the aviation industry, operational experiences, and challenges affecting service delivery.
Speaking during the meetings, Dr. Bakari reaffirmed his commitment, together with the TCAA management team, to ensuring that Tanzania’s aviation industry continues operating efficiently while achieving sustainable growth.
He emphasized that TCAA remains committed to working closely with all aviation stakeholders to improve efficiency, strengthen regulatory services, and create a more responsive and user friendly aviation environment.
Dr. Bakari informed participants that the Authority is currently undertaking measures to further harmonize and improve institutional systems and business processes in order to enhance operational efficiency and ease of doing business within the aviation sector. He called upon stakeholders to continue supporting the ongoing initiatives for the collective benefit of the industry.
Additionally, he announced plans to establish a toll free communication line together with a dedicated 24 hour help desk aimed at improving communication and ensuring timely responses to stakeholders’ concerns and operational needs.
Dr. Bakari further stressed that aviation is inherently a 24 hour industry and therefore requires a matching service culture from the regulator. He noted that while certain sections of TCAA, particularly air navigation services, already operate continuously, the Authority is working toward strengthening a broader institutional culture that embraces round the clock service delivery across departments.
Drawing from his football science philosophy on teamwork and coordination, Dr. Bakari compared institutional operations to a football team where players continuously pass the ball among themselves to improve coordination, identify mistakes collectively, and strengthen overall performance. In that context, he described TCAA as the team and the public as the ultimate beneficiary the institution is mandated to serve.
During the discussions, stakeholders presented various recommendations, operational concerns, and challenges affecting the aviation industry. In response, Dr. Bakari assured participants that all issues raised had been carefully noted and that TCAA management would continue working collaboratively with stakeholders to address the concerns and further strengthen the growth of Tanzania’s aviation sector.
Beyond stakeholder consultations, Dr. Bakari has also initiated a series of internal engagements involving staff from different directorates and units, including the Directorate of Corporate Services and the Directorate of Safety Regulation, aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing teamwork, and improving operational performance. Staff from TCAA Headquarters and the remaining 15 stations across the country have also participated in the engagements, with some joining virtually.
On May 23, 2026, Dr. Bakari conducted a working visit to the TCAA station at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), where he toured key operational facilities, including the Control Tower, Area Control Centre, engineering sections, radar sites, and other technical installations supporting aviation safety and air navigation services.
During the visit, he also held discussions with staff working at the station as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional cohesion, operational excellence, and service delivery standards across TCAA operations nationwide.
The stakeholder engagement sessions are ongoing.
