African Airport Certification Assistance Program (AACAP)

The African Airport Certification Assistance Program (AACAP) is an ACI Africa programme delivered under the African Airport Development Programme (AADP) to support African airports in achieving and maintaining aerodrome certification in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

AACAP combines expert-led technical assistance, structured training, simulation-based preparedness, and digital certification tools to guide airports through the full certification lifecycle, from initial readiness to audit preparedness and continuous compliance.

Why AACAP?

Across Africa, many airports face challenges in meeting certification requirements due to capacity constraints, evolving regulatory frameworks, operational complexity, or limited access to specialised expertise.

AACAP is designed to help airports:

• Navigate the aerodrome certification process with confidence
• Strengthen compliance with ICAO Annex 14 and national regulations
• Build internal capacity and operational readiness
• Identify and address gaps before regulatory audits
• Engage more effectively with civil aviation authorities
• Reduce certification risk, delays, and operational disruption

What the Programme Delivers

AACAP provides end-to-end certification support, structured around four complementary pillars:

1. Certification Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

ACI Africa supports airports in the drafting, review, and alignment of mandatory certification documentation, including:

• Aerodrome Manual
• Safety Management System (SMS) documentation
• Airport Emergency Plan (AEP)

This ensures documentation is regulator-ready, operationally realistic, and aligned with ICAO SARPs.

2. Capacity Building & Targeted Training

Tailored training is provided for key airport personnel to strengthen knowledge, skills, and institutional readiness, covering areas such as:

• ICAO Annex 14
• Safety Management Systems
• Airport management and operations
• Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)
• Airport emergency planning
• Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS)
• ICAO Global Reporting Format (GRF)

Training is delivered in English, French, or Arabic, depending on local requirements.

3. SIMAssist – Simulation & Emergency Preparedness Support

SIMAssist is integrated into AACAP to strengthen operational readiness and emergency preparedness, which are critical components of aerodrome certification.

Through SIMAssist, ACI Africa provides:

• Tabletop and scenario-based emergency simulations
• Review and validation of Airport Emergency Plans
• Emergency response coordination assessments
• Post-exercise debriefs, gap analysis, and improvement roadmaps

SIMAssist enables airports to test procedures, roles, coordination, and decision-making before regulatory inspections, reinforcing both certification compliance and operational resilience.

4. SACOS – Smart Airport Certification & Operations Software

SACOS is ACI Africa's digital platform that supports airports throughout the certification process and beyond.

Within AACAP, SACOS enables airports to:

• Digitise certification and compliance processes
• Maintain a structured inventory of observations, findings, and recommendations
• Track non-conformities and corrective actions in real time
• Monitor progress toward certification readiness
• Strengthen audit preparation and continuous compliance

By embedding SACOS into AACAP, airports move from paper-based compliance to a data-driven, transparent, and sustainable certification management system.

Focus on On-site Technical Missions

ACI Africa conducts expert-led on-site missions to:

• Review infrastructure, facilities, and operational services
• Identify actual and potential non-conformities
• Support corrective actions ahead of certification or renewal audits
• Provide hands-on guidance aligned with national regulatory expectations

These missions are practical, collaborative, and focused on real-world airport operations.

Who is AACAP For?

AACAP is designed for:

• International, regional, and domestic airports
• Airport operators preparing for initial certification or renewal
• Airport safety, operations, and compliance teams
• Civil aviation authorities (in coordination with airport operators)

Key outcomes for Airports

Participating airports will:

• Progress efficiently toward aerodrome certification
• Strengthen safety oversight and regulatory compliance
• Improve operational readiness and audit preparedness
• Build sustainable internal certification capability
• Reduce certification risk and delays

Expert-led & Airport-focused

AACAP is delivered by ACI Africa-appointed experts, ensuring:

• Technical credibility and regulatory alignment
• Full consistency with ICAO requirements
• Regional relevance and practical, implementable solutions
• A non-commercial, airport-led support approach, focused on capacity building and long-term sustainability