The air traffic rules and procedures applicable to air traffic in Somalia territory conform to Annexes 2 Rules of Air and Annex 11-Air Traffic Services to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, as transposed in SOMCARS, Part 1 and 13 and to those portions of the Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Air Traffic Management applicable to aircraft and of the Regional Supplementary Procedures applicable to the AFI Region, except for the differences listed in GEN 1.7.
The minimum safe height is the height at which neither an unnecessary noise disturbance nor unnecessary hazards to persons and property in the event of an emergency landing are to be feared. Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except by permission from SCAA, Aircraft shall not be flown over the congested areas of cities,towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons, unless at such a height as will permit. however, the following ICAO standards applies in Somali airspace:
The dropping or spraying of objects or other substances out of or from aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel, tow ropes, tow banners and similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to persons or property exists. The local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions to the interdiction if no danger to persons or property exists.
The dropping of mail is controlled by the Postal Authority or by the designated unit, in agreement with the aeronautical authority.
Acrobatic flights are only permitted in visual meteorological conditions and with the explicit consent of SCAA. Acrobatic flights are prohibited at heights of less than 450 m (1 500 ft) as well as over cities, other densely populated areas, assemblies of persons, and airports. Somali Civil Aviation Authority may grant exemptions in individual cases. Acrobatic flights conducted in the vicinity of aerodromes without an ATS unit require special permission in addition to the air traffic control clearance.
Parachute descents, other than emergency descents, shall not be made within the Somalia airspace, except under conditions prescribed by SCAA and as indicated by relevant information, advice and/or clearance from the appropriate air traffic services unit.
Aircraft shall not be flown in formation except by pre-arrangement among the pilots-in-command of the aircraft taking part in the flight and, for formation flight in controlled airspace, in accordance with conditions prescribed by the SCAA authority. The following conditions shall be adequately met:
The above applies to the towing of objects for other than advertising purposes and subparagraph 2) does not apply to aerial work of rotorcraft. Towing of gliders does not require permission, as the rating for towing will suffice.
For reasons of public safety or order and in particular for noise abatement, the authority granting permission may impose conditions. This authority may assign higher minimum safe heights and impose time limitations.
Advertising flights, where advertising consists only of inscriptions on the aircraft, do not require permission. Flights for advertising with acoustical means are prohibited.
Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the prescribed units of measurement shall be applied to flight operations. Units of measurement used within the FIR of Somalia shall in accordance with the provisions of tables 3.2 and 3.3 of the ICAO annex 5 and as published in GEN 2.1.
For the performance of the flight information service and the alerting service, SCAA with the close coordination of the Minister of Transport establishes flight information regions which are published in the AIP. Within the flight information regions, SCAA establishes the controlled and uncontrolled airspace according to the extent of the air traffic services maintained there, on the basis of the classification described in section ENR 1.4. Within controlled airspace, VFR flights may be prohibited completely or partly by the air traffic services with regard to limitation of space and time if urgently required by the degree of intensity of air traffic subject to air traffic control.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority establishes prohibited and restricted areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic. The areas are published in the AIP, ENR 5.1 unidentified aircraft in these areas will be intercepted.
Cloud flights with gliders may be permitted by the air traffic services if the safety of air traffic can be maintained by appropriate measures. Conditions may be attached to the permission.
For take-offs and landings of aeroplanes, rotorcraft and airships, permission from the appropriate local aeronautical authority is required. For take-offs of powered gliders and gliders outside designated aerodromes, permission from the appropriate local aeronautical authority is required; however, for landings of powered gliders and gliders on a cross-country flight, permission is not required. This is to be applied analogously to landings of parachutists outside designated aerodromes.
The authority granting permission may ask the applicant to produce evidence of the consent of the terrain owner or of other entitled parties.
Generally, the operation of balloons shall be subjected to the provisions of annex 2; appendix 5. The ascent of a manned free balloon outside an aerodrome admitted for balloon ascents requires permission from the appropriate local authority.
The ascent of captive balloons is permitted only with the consent of the SCAA. For kites, this consent is required if they are held by a rope of more than 100 m (300 ft) in length. Kite ascents within the construction restriction.
zone of airports as well as within a distance of less than 3 km from the boundary of airfields and gliding sites are prohibited. Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) may grant exemptions. The mooring rope of captive balloons and kites, the ascent of which requires permission, shall be marked, at spacing’s of 100 m (300 ft), by red/white flags during the day, and by red and white lights at night, in such a manner that it is recognizable to other aircraft from all directions.
The ascent of flying models of less than 5 kg total weight requires no permission, with the exception of rocket propelled models. The operation of flying models with combustion engines within a distance of less than 1.5 km from housing areas is permitted only with the consent of the local authority. The same applies to flying models of all types within a distance of less than 1.5 km from the boundary of aerodromes. The operation of all types of flying models on aerodromes is permitted only with the consent of the air traffic services.
Except for state Aircraft as defined in Article 2 to the Chicago Convention, only RVSM approved aircraft shall be permitted to operate in AFI RVSM airspace within Mogadishu FIR between FL290 and FL410. Pilots are required to maintain a high-level alertness when transiting through Mogadishu FIR RVSM airspace and take appropriate action to ensure safety of flight by always maintaining continuous listening watch on VHF emergency frequency 121.5 MHZ and IFBP frequency 126.9 MHZ.