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Institutions and records

Civil aviation laws, treaties and regulations in The Gambia

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 12 sources

Short answer

Civil aviation in The Gambia rests on the Chicago Convention, which The Gambia ratified on 13 May 1977 4. The GCAA says it was set up in July 1991 under the Public Enterprise Act of 1989 1. The National Assembly lists a Civil Aviation Act 2004 2, and the transport minister cited a GCAA Act 2018 in 2025 3. A safety plan dated November 2025 plans an amended Civil Aviation Act and new airport and accident investigation laws by the end of 2028 9.
Chicago Convention
Ratified 13 May 1977 4
GCAA set up
July 1991, under the Public Enterprise Act 1989 1
Civil Aviation Act 2004
In the National Assembly library, posted 8 July 2026 2
GCAA Act 2018
Cited by the transport minister in 2025 3
Montreal Convention 1999
Acceded 10 March 2004 7
Planned laws
Airport Management Agency Act and amended Civil Aviation Act, by end of 2028 9

National laws

Sources name different laws as the basis of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The GCAA website says it was established in July 1991 as an autonomous body under the Public Enterprise Act of 1989. It says it regulates civil aviation in line with the Chicago Convention 1. The transport minister's 2025 statement to ICAO said Gambian procedures follow the GCAA Act 2018 and existing regulations 3.

The National Assembly holds the Civil Aviation Act 2004 in its online library 2. This site could not open the text of either Act, so it does not quote their sections. Read the 2004 Act on the National Assembly site 2.

LawWhat the source saysStatus
Public Enterprise Act 1989 1Basis for setting up the GCAA in July 1991 1Cited by the GCAA, undated page 1
Civil Aviation Act 2004 2Listed under Acts and laws 2Posted 8 July 2026 2
GCAA Act 2018 3Procedures follow it and existing regulations 3Cited in 2025 3
Consumer Protection Act 2014 11Basis for consumer complaints to the GCCPC 11In force, reported March 2020 11

Aviation treaties

  • Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944: ratified on 13 May 1977, according to a National Assembly committee report 4.
  • Montreal Convention of 1999 on airline liability: The Gambia acceded on 10 March 2004, and it entered into force for The Gambia on 9 May 2004 7.
  • Revised constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC): ratified by the National Assembly in June 2013 on a motion by the works minister, Francis Liti Mboge, as reported by The Point 8.
  • Yamoussoukro Decision of 13 and 14 November 1999 on opening African air transport markets: cited as a basis for the bilateral air service agreements 4.
  • Beijing Convention and Beijing Protocol of 2010 on unlawful acts against civil aviation: considered by Cabinet on 5 September 2019 6. A joint committee report on ratifying it was posted in June 2026, and the page does not state the outcome 5. Status: proposed. This site found no record of deposit.
  • Montreal Protocol of 2014 on offences on board aircraft: approved by Cabinet on 5 September 2019, citing unruly passenger behaviour 6. This site found no record of deposit.

Bilateral air service agreements

On 5 September 2019 Cabinet considered a paper from the transport minister seeking approval to ratify bilateral air service agreements with twelve countries 6. A joint committee of the National Assembly reviewed them after a motion tabled in September 2019. Its report was posted on 24 June 2026 4.

The countries are Morocco, Mali, Qatar, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon and Turkey 4. The committee recommended that The Gambia invest in home-based air transport to benefit from the reciprocity in these agreements 4.

GCAA rules for licence holders

The GCAA regulations page names no national regulations. It says the Aviation Safety and Oversight Directorate oversees safety against ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices 12.

The GCAA air transport page says a licence must be renewed at least two months before it expires, with the fee from the schedule of aeronautical fees. A late application may be accepted for up to three months after expiry, with a fine of GMD 2,000 per day. A licence not renewed after three months is revoked 10.

A foreign-registered aircraft needs GCAA authorisation before aerial work. The operator applies at least one month ahead with a tax clearance certificate, the prescribed fees, the certificates of airworthiness and registration, crew licences and authorisation from its own state 10. The page does not publish the fee schedule 10.

Laws planned to 2028

The national aviation safety plan for 2026 to 2028, dated November 2025, lists these planned instruments. Status: proposed 9.

  • Gambia Airport Management Agency Act and an amended Gambia Civil Aviation Act, to separate the GCAA's regulatory and service provider roles, by the end of 2028 9.
  • An accident investigation Act, regulations and procedures, and an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, by the end of 2028 9.
  • A State Safety Programme by the end of 2028, with a commitment to it in the relevant Act 9.
  • Safety management system regulations for service providers, from 2026 to 2028 9.
  • A requirement for upset prevention and recovery training for pilots, from 2026 to 2027 9.
  • Certification of Banjul International Airport under ICAO Annex 14 by the end of 2028 9.

Common questions

What law created the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority?

The GCAA says the Public Enterprise Act of 1989, in July 1991 1. The transport minister cited a GCAA Act 2018 in 2025 3.

Where can I read the Gambian Civil Aviation Act?

The National Assembly website holds the Civil Aviation Act 2004 2.

Is The Gambia party to the Montreal Convention?

Yes. It acceded on 10 March 2004 7.

Has The Gambia ratified the Beijing Convention of 2010?

Cabinet considered it in September 2019 6. A joint committee report on ratifying it was posted in June 2026, and the page does not state the outcome 5. This site found no record of deposit.

Will the GCAA be split into a regulator and an airport operator?

The 2026 to 2028 safety plan proposes an Airport Management Agency Act for this by the end of 2028 9.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

Sources

  1. Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: About the Authority (official page, undated)
  2. National Assembly of The Gambia: Civil Aviation Act 2004 (posted 8 July 2026)
  3. ICAO: Statement by the Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia, FALC 2025 meeting files (2025)
  4. National Assembly of The Gambia: Report of the Joint Committee on the ratification of bilateral air service agreements between The Gambia and twelve other countries (posted 24 June 2026)
  5. National Assembly of The Gambia: Report of the Joint Committee on the ratification of the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (posted 24 June 2026)
  6. State House of The Gambia: Conclusions of the 7th Cabinet meeting held on 5 September 2019
  7. Netherlands Treaty Database: Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, Montreal 1999, parties (updated 11 August 2026)
  8. The Point, as reported by Abdou Rahman Sallah: Assembly ratifies African Civil Aviation Commission constitution (28 June 2013)
  9. Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and GCAA: The Gambia National Aviation Safety Plan 2026 to 2028, issue 1 (November 2025)
  10. Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Air transport (official page, undated)
  11. The Point, as reported by Jarra Cham: GCCPC legal enforcement dept briefs media on consumer protection mechanisms (11 March 2020)
  12. Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Regulations (official page, undated)

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