Business Aviation Operations to Ethiopia– Part 2: Let’s discuss ground handling, fuel, customs and immigration, security, transport and accommodation.
Fuel
What’s fuel availability like in Ethiopia?
Fuel is generally available but prior confirmation is always required. A fuel nomination is the standard mode of confirmation by most companies. National Oil Company (NOC) is the largest aviation fuel provider in Ethiopia, with TOTAL also having a major presence.
How is fuel dispensed?
At HAAB, fuel is dispensed through hydrants and bowsers.
What are the payment options?
Fuel companies accept credit facilities with prior arrangement.
What fuel types are available?
Jet A1 and AvGas.
Can fuel be transported to remote areas?
Yes. For helicopters, for example, fuel can be provided at remote areas either by trucking or by air from Addis Ababa.
Are there major cost implications?
Trucking jet fuel in Ethiopia may be slightly more costly than in other countries due to the rough terrain and road network.
Note: A fire extinguisher truck must be available before fueling can commence on aircraft with passengers and crew onboard.
Ground Handling
What equipment is available?
The onsite providers have the entire range of ground handling equipment required to handle any aircraft type and also have specialized equipment including ambulifts.
Is catering available?
Yes, providers have state-of-the-art kitchens and modern catering delivery trucks.
Customs and Immigration
What documentation is required to enter Ethiopia?
Visas are required for all visitors to Ethiopia with only two exceptions: citizens of Djibouti and Kenya. Be sure to apply for visas well in advance at the country’s missions abroad as applications can take time to process.
What about transit visas?
Passengers in transit that hold onward bookings within 72 hours can obtain transit visas on arrival for a small fee. In these cases, the passport will be held by airport authorities until the departure date and a pink receipt will be given to the passenger.
What arevisitors allowed to bring into Ethiopia?
Other than their personal luggage, visitors are allowed up to one litre of duty-free spirits or wine, up to a half litre of perfume, and 250 grams of tobacco (up to 200 cigarettes or fifty cigars.
Are any vaccinations required?
All visitors, regardless of age, require a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter the country. Cholera vaccination proof is also required for anyone who has transited a cholerainfected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia.
Security, Transportation, and Accommodation
What are the accommodation options like?
Addis Ababa and indeed most of Ethiopia has good hotels such as the Hilton, Sheraton and Radisson Blu. Hotels provide airport shuttles, and taxis are easily available. All hotels provide easy communication facilities like Wi-Fi, Forex, and international calling facilities.
What about hotel availability during high season?
When there are international meetings especially Heads of Government summits at the African Union (AU) Headquarters, it is very difficult to get hotel accommodation. It is highly advisable to always book early.
What are other hotel considerations?
Hotels can be expensive especially during major conferences. Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels and ATMs are well located within.
What’s the best ground transport to use?
Most hotels run their own shuttle buses to and from the airport. Also, a light electric train was recently launched in Addis Ababa for movement within the city.
How about renting vehicles?
Renting vehicles is possible, but please be advised that Ethiopia drives on the right side of the road and that the driving style can be quite rough.
Are there security considerations off-airport?
NO, there are no security concerns.
Do things shut down during bank holidays?
Yes, all government offices and most services including shops in certain areas will close down during bank holidays.
Visit the UAS Blog for more tips on business operations to African countries.
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Mitch Launius
Instructor Pilot for 30 West IP
Mitch is the CEO of 30 West IP where he is also an instructor providing pilot training on international procedures. With an illustrious career of over 34 years in the cockpit, Mitch has acquired over 13,000 hours of flight time flying worldwide, with over 9,000 hours of this in Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft. He is an experienced safety officer and was also an IS-BAO project manager for a fortune 500 flight department. He has presented on Safety and Operations topics at the NBAA International Operators Conference and the Canadian Business Aviation Association Convention and is currently on the NBAA International Operators Committee and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Lead. Mitch is also a member of an FAA working group on General Aviation International Authorizations and Tabletop Exercises (GIATE). He was recently selected to represent IBAC as a member of the ICAO Personal Training and Licensing Panel (PTLP) and was also recently named as a 2020 recipient of the NBAA Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award for his contribution to the business aviation community.
Henry ‘Duke’ LeDuc
Director Of Operations, Americas, UAS International Trip Support
Duke has been a dearly respected member of UAS Americas team and the UAS global family for more than five years. A safety-oriented, FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher, he oversees all of the operations of the elite UAS Operations Team. With twenty-five years of experience in aviation overall with more than fifteen years of experience in international flight planning and VVIP trip coordination, he is responsible for the development of the dispatch training program and involved in the strategic development of UAS Americas. With a myriad of rich aviation experience behind him, he has extensive experience in worldwide operations with both corporate and charter environments, including seven years as Operations/Dispatch Manager in an industry-leading, Fortune 500, IS-BAO Stage III Certified corporate flight department. Duke is frequently asked shares his knowledge at major industry events and is currently serving on the NBAA’s International Operators Conference (IOC) Planning Committee.
Dudley King
President and Founder, FlightBridge
Dudley is the Founder and President of FlightBridge, which he established in 2011 and has been focused on technology solutions for the private aviation industry since 2006. Since he graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, he has worked with an array of companies listed anywhere from VentureWire to the Fortune 100. A rare blend of executive, entrepreneur, and consultant, Dudley’s executive roles have included acting CIO positions for several companies and tech advisory services to CEOs trying to rebuild their technology organizations or looking for an external, professional point of view. Highly skilled at deeply understanding his customer’s business challenges and drawing from a long and varied experience in information technology services, Dudley excels at designing technology solutions to solve their problems.
Dr. Paulo Alves
Global Medical Director, Aviation Health, Medaire
Paulo has extensive experience in medical advisory in the aviation industry. As a cardiologist, he provides technical guidance and analysis for MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service and is MedAire’s liaison with civil aviation regulators and industry associations. Paulo worked with Varig Brazilian Airlines for 23 years, 10 of which were spent as General Medical Manager. A member of the MedAire Medical Advisory Board, Paulo is also President of the Ibero-American Aerospace Medical Association, a member of the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine, a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Committee, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), and a Fellow of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. Throughout his illustrious career, Paulo has held industry leadership roles including Chairperson of the AsMA’s Air Transport Medicine Committee, President of the Airlines Medical Directors Association, President of the Brazilian Society of Aerospace Medicine and was a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group from 2002 to 2006.
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