Africa and Middle East (AFI/MID)

Uniting pilot voices across Africa and the Middle East

The Africa and Middle East (AFI/MID) Region represents a diverse and strategically important area for IFALPA. With a wide range of regulatory environments, operational contexts, and levels of aviation development, effective regional representation is essential to ensure that the voice of pilots is consistently heard and reflected.

The Region is led by the Executive Vice-President (EVP) and supported by six Regional Vice-Presidents (RVPs), who work closely with Member Associations to coordinate activities, address regional priorities, and strengthen engagement across the network. This structure enables IFALPA to maintain a strong and responsive presence throughout a geographically vast and operationally complex region.

The AFI/MID Region maintains active engagement with key regional and international stakeholders, including the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Regional Offices in Dakar, Cairo, and Nairobi. IFALPA also collaborates closely with IATA on regional safety initiatives, including the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP), and other industry led fora. Through these relationships, IFALPA contributes to policy discussions, regulatory development, and initiatives aimed at enhancing aviation safety, security, and professional standards.

Given the scale of the region and the challenges posed by limited connectivity and coordination between countries, the role of IFALPA is particularly important. Strong regional representation helps bridge gaps, foster collaboration, and ensure alignment on critical aviation issues. By supporting communication, sharing expertise, and promoting best practices, IFALPA plays a vital role in strengthening the aviation system across the AFI/MID Region and advancing the interests of pilots operating within it.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever vaccination is safe and highly effective, usually providing lifelong protection after one dose, with minor side effects and rare serious reactions. It is recommended for those at risk and required for entry to certain countries, and must be given at authorized centres with a certificate valid 10 days after vaccination.
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GNSS outage

EASA highlights increasing GNSS jamming and spoofing risks in and around conflict-adjacent regions, including areas relevant to AFI/MID operations and calls for coordinated mitigation measures by States, ANSPs, and operators to ensure continued safe navigation and surveillance.
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East–west traffic during Hajj

During the annual Hajj period, AFI/MID airspace experiences a significant shift in traffic flows—particularly across multiple FIRs between Africa and Saudi Arabia—resulting in increased east–west crossings and higher traffic density requiring heightened situational awareness from crews.
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In-flight broadcast procedure (IFBP)

Several African FIRs have limited aviation communication systems, especially for Flight Information Service (FIS). The In-Flight Broadcast Procedure (IFBP), developed by IATA’s Regional Coordination Group for Africa, is recommended where communication gaps exist.
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Bridging Connectivity and Safety: Aviation in Africa and the Middle East

Aviation in the Africa and Middle East regions plays a key global role but differs significantly in structure and connectivity.

The Middle East is a major global hub network, with highly connected carriers linking continents through efficient, standardised operations. Africa, by contrast, remains one of the least connected regions, with limited intra-regional routes, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory fragmentation that often require reliance on connections outside the continent.

For pilots, this results in distinct operational realities. In Africa, crews frequently face variable infrastructure, communication challenges, and greater operational uncertainty, increasing workload and complexity. In the Middle East, operations are generally more standardised but involve high-density traffic and complex hub environments requiring precise coordination.

As African aviation grows, stronger cooperation between African and Middle Eastern stakeholders is essential to improve connectivity, share best practices, and support safer, more efficient operations. In this context, professional pilot associations play a key role in ensuring effective representation, so that pilots’ operational realities are reflected in regulatory decisions and that safety and professional standards keep pace with the region’s rapid development.

Latest Publications
March 30, 2023

Ankara-Nicosia FIR Boundary

This joint IFALPA-IFATCA Briefing Leaflet, written in close cooperation with IFALPA’s Member Associations in Cyprus and Türkiye, details the communication

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Meet the Team

Capt. Rola Hoteit

Executive Vice-President Africa & Middle East (AFI/MID)

Captain Rola Hoteit has been flying the A330 and A320 for Middle East Airlines, the Lebanese national carrier, for nearly 25 years. Based in Beirut, Captain Hoteit served as IFALPA Regional Vice President MID/East for 12 years. She is a prominent advocate for gender equality in aviation in the region, actively promoting women’s rights through public speaking as an ambassador for several national and international NGOs.

Capt. Karim Elloumi

Regional Vice-President AFI/ North

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara. Overwater airspace of Tunis, Algers, Casablanca and Canaries FIRs

FO Jules Joseph Faye

Regional Vice-President AFI/ West

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome et Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, United Republic of Cameroon Overwater airspace of Sal Oceanic, Dakar Oceanic, Roberts, Daka and Accra FIR

Capt. Joseph Migwi

Regional Vice-President AFI/ East

Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, United Republic ofTanzania. Overwater airspace of Addis Ababa, Dar Es Salaam, Mogadishu and Nairobi FIRs

Capt. Carl Bollweg

Regional Vice-President AFI/ South

Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rèunion (France), South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe Overwater airspace of Luanda, Windhoek, Cape Town FIRs and the airspace extending westwards from 05 50S 35E to 12 00S 10 00W to90 00S to 27 00S 75 00E and the over water airspace of Mauritius, Tananarive, Beira, Durban and Port Elizabeth FIRs

Capt. Jawad El Ayache

Regional Vice-President MID/ East

Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Airspace of Amman, Baghdad, Bahrain, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Emirates, Jeddah, Khartoum, Kuwait, Muscat, Sanaa, Tehran and Tripoli FIRs

Capt. Hagay Meyer

Regional Vice-President MID/ West

Israel, Overwater airspace of Tel Aviv FIR.

Capt. Arnaud du Bédat

Senior Technical Officer

Mei Li

Training & Regional Implementation Officer