Kampala — Uganda is being considered to be granted the international "open skies" aviation status by the United States Federal Aviation Administration under the arrangement, the country will receive technical and other professional support from the US FAA to develop her aviation industry.

State Minister for communication in the Ministry of Works, Michael Kafabusa Werikhe said the open skies programme is a collaborative aviation development designed by the US government to support Africa's fragile and vulnerable aviation industry.

"Following the Open Skies conference in Atlanta, Georgia early this year, Uganda was enlisted, among other African countries for the programme. Now we are a candidate under study and probably in two year's time we shall successfully emerge with the status," the minister said in an exclusive interview on Dec. 17 in Kampala.

He said among the benefits of the open skies arrangement, is receiving training for civil aviation personnel in modern airport handling and aviation security equipment. Such skills are largely lacking but the Civil Aviation Authority has prioritised training of her manpower under a comprehensive development plan.

"We do not only develop infrastructure and offer conducive policies to attract operators to Entebbe but also professionalise the way we handle people (passengers), aircraft and cargo," Werikhe said.

Tanzania is already operating under the Open Skies programme, granted to her about one year ago.

A country must fulfill certain conditions including policies, minimum infrustructural and other technical standards, before FAA considers it for candidacy, said Werikhe.

In another development, a US based airlines company Delta is to fly Uganda's national insignia.

The Crested Crane, flag or court of arms with label: 'Uganda' marked on its aircraft is under a code sharing arrangement with South African Airways (SAA) company.

This, he said, is aimed at promoting Entebbe as the hub for the aviation industry in East Africa and the Great Lakes region.