Namibia’s aviation sector is mobilising in opposition to a proposal by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) to convert the FYM-401 Military Operations Area (MOA) around Karibib into permanently prohibited airspace.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia (AOPA Namibia), representing the country’s general aviation industry, has launched an urgent petition calling on stakeholders to reject the proposal ahead of a scheduled 25 March meeting of the National Airspace Committee. FYM-401 currently operates as a Military Operations Area, allowing both civilian and military aircraft to share the airspace under co-ordinated procedures.
The zone over-lies the entire Erongo Mountains and the towns of Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos. The airspace has a horizontal radius of 30 nautical miles, centred between Karibib and Omaruru, and extends vertically from the surface up to Flight Level 250 (25 000 feet above sea level). Aviation stakeholders estimate its footprint at roughly one million hectares, nearly a quarter of Switzerland’s land area, placing it at the very heart of Namibia’s central air routes.
Under the NDF’s proposal, the area would become permanently prohibited airspace, effectively barring civilian aircraft and drone operations unless specific military clearance is granted. AOPA Namibia warns that redesignating FYM-401 would severely disrupt flight operations for private, commercial and recreational pilots. Operators would be forced to reroute around the expansive restricted zone, increasing flight times, fuel consumption and operational costs, expenses likely to be passed on to tourism clients, businesses and rural communities. The association further notes that nationally significant mining operations, including the Navachab Gold Mine and the Osino Resources gold projects, fall within the current FYM-401 boundaries.
Drone activities critical to mining operations could become prohibited if the airspace status changes. Tourism and lodge operators are also expected to be heavily affected, with more than 17 aerodromes and airstrips potentially facing closure. These include Omaruru Municipal Aerodrome (FYOM), Omaruru Game Lodge (FYGL), Ozongawindi Lodge, Erindi, Ai Aiba, Ameib Ranch, and several private and farm airstrips scattered across the Erongo highlands.
“These airstrips are lifelines,” an aviation stakeholder said. “They connect remote lodges, farms and communities to essential services, medical evacuations, tourism flows and supply chains.”
In a recent engagement with the National Airspace Committee, the NDF reportedly stated that civil aviation would not be significantly impacted by the proposed change, a position strongly disputed by AOPA Namibia. The association argues that general aviation plays a pivotal role in Namibia’s economy, particularly in tourism, mining support, charter services and rural access. “To suggest minimal impact overlooks the fundamental way aviation supports Namibia’s economic and social fabric,” the petition states.
While acknowledging the importance of national security, AOPA Namibia says a balanced solution must be found that protects both defence interests and civilian aviation operations. An extraordinary session of the National Airspace Committee has been scheduled for 25 March to deliberate on the proposal. Aviation stakeholders hope constructive dialogue will yield alternatives, such as revised operational procedures or conditional restrictions, rather than a blanket prohibition.
“We support national security,” AOPA Namibia emphasised, “but cooperation and practical compromise are essential to ensure Namibia’s skies remain accessible to all who rely on them.”
By Rudi Bowe
