198 Gambia
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green. Red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture. The white stripes denote unity and peace.
Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook
Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook
Senegambian stone circles (megaliths) which run from Senegal through the Gambia and are described by UNESCO as “the largest concentration of stone circles seen anywhere in the world”.
Government
According to Britannica, the Gambia is a multiparty republic. Under the constitution that was ratified 1996 and went into effect in 1997, the president, who is the head of state and government, is elected by universal suffrage to a five-year term. The president appoints the vice president and cabinet members. Legislative power is held by the National Assembly, comprising 53 members who serve five-year terms. The majority of members are elected, while five are appointed by the president.
The Gambia is organized into Local Government Areas (LGA), each of which either is coterminous with a long-standing administrative unit known as a division or corresponds with roughly half of a division. The city of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipality each form a separate LGA. Most decision making is done at the village level by traditional leaders and councils of elders. Only serious or contentious matters are referred to district or government bodies.
An independent judiciary is guaranteed under the constitution. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Other venues include the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Special Criminal Court, and there are Magistrate Courts and tribunals at lower levels. The Gambia’s judicial system also provides for the implementation of Sharīʿah (Islamic law) in the venue known as the Cadi Court; this court can be used by the Muslim community to resolve such issues as marriage, divorce, and matters affecting dependents.
Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)
The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was established as an autonomous body in July, 1991 (under the Public Enterprise Act of 1989) to give effect to the Chicago Convention. The main functions of the Authority are:
- Regulating Civil Aviation and the Air Transport Industry in the Gambia,
- Providing Air Navigation Services and
- Operating and Managing Banjul International Airport which includes, among others, providing and maintaining required infrastructure and facilities.
The Authority comprises 8 different directorates namely:
- Departments of Human Resources and Administration;
- Air Navigation Services;
- Internal Audit;
- Flight Safety Standards;
- Airport Operations;
- Air Transport and Commerce;
- Finance, and
- Engineering & Maintenance
The GCAA is tasked with the collective responsibility of regulating the air transport industry in the Gambia, providing air navigation services as well as operating Banjul International Airport. Each of these directorates, headed by a Director who assists the Office of Director General in the day-to-day administration of the Authority, performs specialized functions geared towards efficiently and effectively performing the Authority’s three broad functions.
Airspace
SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange
ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G. AIP ASECNA
Drone Regulations
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Short Essay Questions
Question 1
You have been hired by a Drone Startup Company. Your boss has immediately assigned this job to you.
They need you to prepare a one-page memo detailing the legalities of using a drone to film the megaliths, pictured above.
They need you to mention any national laws and local ordinances.
They specifically want to know what airspace you will be operating in and whether or not you need an airspace authorization.
Does it matter whether or not you are a citizen of the country?
Lastly, there is a bonus for you if, as you scroll through this chapter, you find any typos or broken links!
Question 2
Do you need a certificate to fly UAS?
If so, how do you obtain one?
Are there fees associated with this?
If so, how much?
Question 3
May you operate beyond visual line of sight?
If so, what procedures must you follow?
Question 4
Does the country have UAM/AAM laws? If so, describe, citing the exact law.
Question 5
Are you aware of any new laws or policies not mentioned above? If so, describe, citing the exact law or policy.
