They are currently grounded at the Douala International Airport waiting for administrative procedures to be completed.

The skies appear not to be clear yet for Cameroon’s national carrier, Camair-Co. The company is yet to embrace efficiency and profitability as recommended by the Minister of Transport during the handover of keys of the newly-acquired MA60 aircraft to the company. Following the ceremony at the Nsimalen International Airport on April 7, 2015, the two aircraft have since remained grounded.

In effect, the two MA60 planes assembled in China by the AVIC International Group with bills footed by the Cameroonian government are at the Douala International Airport pending administrative procedures before takeoff of operations. Information from the Ministry of Transport indicates that the planes are awaiting registration. The process is ongoing, sources say. The Ministry of Transport, it was revealed, has completed all its procedures. It was also disclosed that the ministry only flew the aircraft into Cameroon since the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority could not do it as they were registered under the military. The Ministry of Finance is expected to officially cede the aircraft to Camair-Co which will then apply to the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) for registration numbers.

It is a give-and-take process, with Camair-Co expected to furnish documents alongside an application form to CCAA wherein the former will evaluate and issue certificates acknowledging the air-worthiness of the aircraft before they go operational. Expected for the issuance of the certificates to the two MA60 planes are their flight and maintenance manuals, amongst others. The timeframe for the process is however not determined, but experts say the faster both parties act, the better Camair-Co’s operations. The two aircraft, like any other unused planes, are undergoing few maintenance checks at the Douala International Airport to ensure that they do not degrade.

The MA60 planes, when operational, will change the face of Camair-Co, Cameroon Tribune was told. The aircraft will concentrate on regional and domestic routes, with focus on destinations like Douala, Garoua, Maroua and Yaounde. Information garnered at the Ministry of Transport reveals that the aircraft will also serve the country’s local airports at Bafut in Bamenda, Bafoussam, Bertoua, Ngaoundere and Tiko. The intention is to facilitate the internal movement of Cameroonians as well as from one country to the other.