Liberia Civil Aviation Authority’s New Director General takes Over …vows to re-open Aircraft Registry

In his inaugural address, Dennis pledged to revitalize the aviation sector, beginning with the reopening of the aircraft registry.
He also said he and his team will strive to effect a transformational change at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) to significantly improve operational functionality and provide superior customer services to give the traveling public a more pleasant and cordial airport experience, which “we are all yearning for.”
According to him, with a fully functional airport that meets ICAO standards, efforts could then be exerted in collaboration with the relevant government agencies to explore possibilities of attracting other airlines to fly into the RIA.
“Our strategic focus areas will include, but are now limited to, leading risk-based oversight and regulatory stewardship; enhancing organizational diversity and capacity building; developing relationships with relevant stakeholders to support global improvements in aviation; enabling recovery; and motivation and growth,” he said.
Addressing stakeholders including the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), the Executive Branch, and relevant ministries on Wednesday, Dennis outlined his vision for enhancing operational efficiency and customer service at the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
He emphasized the importance of meeting international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and attracting more airlines to RIA.s
Mr. Dennis brings a wealth of experience from his tenure with the United Nations, where he demonstrated proficiency in aviation management and infrastructure development.
During his tenure, Dennis oversaw the TMICC Infrastructure Unit and administered regional transportation infrastructure projects and equipment. He managed all airfield developments and rehabilitation projects for field missions in collaboration with ICAO.
“We can do this by upholding our core values to do the right thing: promote continuous learning, build collaborative relationships, and show respect for everyone,” he urged his team.
Director General Dennis, recently confirmed by the Senate, succeeds former Director General George Mulbah, who served for the last year under the administration of former President George Manner Weah.
The DG said that his short-term initiatives “will focus on achieving the 100-day deliverables as outlined in the Cluster Working Group (CWG) final report on the LCAA, prioritizing addressing the significant safety concerns (SSCs) as highlighted in the 2022 ICAO, USOAP, and CMA Audit results, and equally important is the acquisition of the Automatic Weather Observation Station (AWOS).”
He promised to make every effort to ensure full compliance to meet minimum acceptable ICAO standards and recommended practices (SARPs) in the shortest possible time and said, “I commit to immediately embarking on a course of action aimed at addressing and mitigating these anomalies with a high degree of urgency.
His immediate priorities also include addressing safety concerns highlighted in recent audits and acquiring essential equipment like the Automatic Weather Observation Station (AWOS).
Recognizing the challenges faced by the LCAA, Dennis underscored the need for organizational restructuring, training, and debt management. Despite these obstacles, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and affirmed his commitment to national duty.
Mr. Dennis sees the aviation sector as vital for Liberia’s economic development, emphasizing its potential to generate employment and support tourism. With a renewed focus on regulatory oversight and infrastructure improvement, he aims to unlock the sector’s untapped potential and propel Liberia towards sustainable growth.
He further mentioned that the current state of the aviation infrastructure, the prevailing condition at their main international airport, RIA, and the current condition at LCAA are sufficient reasons for rebranding, revamping, and rehabilitation.
“My own assessment here at the LCAA leaves much to be desired: a bloated staffing level, a non-compliant and inadequate office facility, a huge debt burden, and a dire need for training and incentivization to stimulate and motivate employees in order to achieve high levels of productivity and efficiencies,” he said.