Renthia Kaimbi
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia has launched an urgent petition opposing a proposal by the Namibian Defence Force to permanently close a large section of civilian airspace in the Erongo region.
The proposal involves reclassifying FYM-401, a military operations area currently used by both civilian and military aircraft, into permanently prohibited airspace.
The area covers a 30-nautical-mile radius around the Erongo Mountains and includes the towns of Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos.
According to AOPA Namibia, the airspace covers about one million hectares and stretches from ground level to 25 000 feet.
The association says the change would “seal off this vital airspace corridor,” grounding operations at more than 17 airstrips.
The group warned the move could affect several economic activities.
“Nationally significant mining projects such as the Navachab and Osino gold mines are located within the FYM-401 airspace boundaries, and thus, their critical mine-related drone operations would become prohibited,” the petition states.
The association said tourism operations would also be affected because many remote lodges depend on light aircraft.
AOPA Namibia said commercial operators could face “drastic flight limitations, require significant increases in flight times and fuel burns, and will ultimately have to pass the significant cost increases on to both the tourism sector passengers and rural communities they serve”.
The association also questioned a statement it says the NDF made to the National Airspace Committee.
According to AOPA Namibia, the NDF told the committee that “civil aviation will not be significantly impacted by this proposed airspace change.”
The association said this position “fails to recognise and understand the pivotal role general aviation plays in Namibia”.
The NDF responded in a statement issued yesterday, calling the public campaign premature.
The defence force confirmed that the proposal has been submitted to the National Airspace Committee for consideration.
The committee includes representatives from civil aviation authorities and aviation industry stakeholders and is responsible for managing Namibia’s airspace.
The NDF said the proposal falls within the existing legal and regulatory structures.
The military acknowledged possible economic effects but said it also has a duty to protect national security.
“The Namibian Constitution places a responsibility on the state to safeguard national sovereignty and security while simultaneously promoting economic development and the well-being of its citizens,” the statement signed by NDF spokesperson colonel Petrus Shilumbu reads.
The NDF said airspace is “a shared national resource”.
It encouraged stakeholders to raise their concerns during the extraordinary meeting of the National Airspace Committee scheduled for 25 March 2026.
“The NDF encourages all affected stakeholders to gather these concerns to enrich the discussions during the extraordinary committee meeting as opposed to concentrating on a petition,” the statement said.
NDF also called for cooperation between civilian and military aviation.
“Military operations and civilian aviation must, therefore, operate in mutual harmony and flexibility, ensuring that neither sector unnecessarily frustrates the other.”
The committee meeting will decide whether the Erongo airspace will remain open to civilian aircraft or be declared a restricted military zone.
