By Wallace Mawire
Fahari Aviation, a subsidiary of Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ), has launched the first drone enclosure facility in Kenya. The facility, termed as the Fahari Drone Cage will be used for training and testing of drones and drone equipment. Through the construction of the Fahari Drone Cage, Fahari Aviation is positioning itself at the forefront of exploring advanced future technologies in aviation and at the same time promoting safe and secure usage of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Kenya.
Fahari Aviation is responsible for launching and implementing future aviation technologies and is part of the airline’s strategy of contributing to the sustainable development of Africa by championing new dimensions within the industry with the use of drones and unmanned aircraft.
Speaking during the launch Major General (Rtd) Michael Gichangi said, “The future of aviation is based on identifying opportunities for innovation and diversification to build a resilient business that is committed to the sustainable development of Africa. We have over the years proved to be a leader in aviation innovation and it is this openness to innovation that has led to the establishment of Fahari Aviation and the first drone enclosure facility here in Nairobi – the Drone Cage. Through the Drone Cage, we hope to see enhanced innovation, research, and development of UAS technology in our communities through interactive work across partners, corporates, universities, industries, and individuals.”
To provide resources to learn and practice techniques & skills required for safe operations of drones, Fahari Aviation has in addition launched the Fahari Drone Club, a community for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) enthusiasts offering members a platform to connect and share best practices.
“Enabling an environment that will accelerate innovation, knowledge exchange and fast track the use of unmanned aircraft within the country and beyond is critical in exploring the drone phenomenon as we seek to innovatively find solutions that address some of our societal problems and pain points. The drone cage will provide a safe environment for practice and training while the Drone club will provide a platform for the drone enthusiasts to grow the UAS industry in Kenya and the region.” said Hawkins Musili, General Manager of Fahari Aviation.
“UAS are creating new opportunities for individuals and enterprises;as the one of the most experienced aviators within the region, having a community of drone enthusiasts builds a strong foundation for us and like-minded people who want to bring out their ideas through UAS for the sustainable development of the region.” he added.
Kenya Airways, a member of the Sky Team Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to 41 destinations worldwide, 34 of which are in Africa and carries over four million passengers annually. In 2020 KQ was named Africa’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards. It continues to modernize its fleet with its 32 aircraft being some of the youngest in Africa. This includes its flagship B787 Dreamliner aircraft. Kenya Airways offers services Cargo services to key locations including London, Amsterdam, Guangzhou, Sharjah, Mumbai and over 25 intra-Africa routes in addition to its passenger network. The on-board service is renowned and the lie-flat business class seat on the wide-body aircraft is consistently voted among the world’s top 10. Kenya Airways takes pride in being at the forefront of connecting Africa to the World and the World to Africa through its hub at the new ultra-modern Terminal 1A at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
