Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2026
The Minister may declare areas as danger, restricted, or prohibited areas and issue or assign related aviation control powers.
- Jurisdiction
- Zambia
- Instrument
- Act or statute
- Citation
- Act 14 of 2026
- Version
- 12 Jun 2026
- Language
- en
- Official source
- View official record ↗
Statute overview
About this statute
The Minister may declare areas as danger, restricted, or prohibited areas and issue or assign related aviation control powers. The principal Act is amended by inserting new sections after section 8. A pilot-in-command must follow Authority-established air routes and must not fly in danger, restricted, or prohibited areas. This section defines “danger area,” “prohibited area,” and “restricted area” for this Part. This provision amends section 73 by replacing references to “Annex 17” with “the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security” and updating the wording in subsection (2).
Search within this statute
Search all stored provisions in this version.
Legal text
Provisions of Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2026
Showing 17 of 17
- 3 Verify source ↗
Section 8 of the principal Act is amended
The Minister may declare areas as danger, restricted, or prohibited areas and issue or assign related aviation control powers.
3. Section 8 of the principal Act is amended — (a) by the deletion of subsection (2) and the substitution therefor of the following: (2) The Minister may, where the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary or desirable in the public interest to exercise the powers conferred by this Act — (a) by statutory notice and for the purposes of this Act, declare that the Republic or any part of the Republic is, a danger area, restricted area or, in consultation with the Minister responsible for defence, a prohibited area; Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 567 (b) in the statutory notice referred to under paragraph (a), issue orders and instructions in respect of a danger area, restricted area or prohibited area or part of the danger area, restricted area or prohibited area regulating, restricting or prohibiting the — (i) navigation of all or any description of aircraft; or (ii) use, erection, building, maintenance or establishment of an aerodrome or flying school; or (c) assign to an authorised person any of the powers specified in paragraph (b) relating to a danger area, restricted area or prohibited area.; and Insertion of sections 8A and 8B Flying or navigating within airspace of Republic, danger areas, etc. (b) in subsection (3), by the deletion of the words “restricted area” and the substitution therefor of the words “danger area, restricted area or prohibited area”. - 4 Verify source ↗
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
The principal Act is amended by inserting new sections after section 8.
4. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new sections immediately after section 8: - 8A Verify source ↗
(1) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft flying or navigating
A pilot-in-command must follow Authority-established air routes and must not fly in danger, restricted, or prohibited areas.
8A. (1) A pilot-in-command of an aircraft flying or navigating within the airspace of the Republic shall — (a) comply with air routes that the Authority shall establish; and (b) not fly or navigate within an airspace declared as a danger area, restricted area or prohibited area under section 8. (2) An aircraft that deviates from an air route established by the Authority under subsection (1)(a) or flies or navigates within a danger area, restricted area or prohibited area shall be considered to be an unauthorised operation and the pilot-in-command of that aircraft shall — (a) take immediate corrective measures to resume the established air route; and (b) comply with any special instructions given by a competent authority, including an instruction to land the aircraft at a designated location. - 8B Verify source ↗
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires
This section defines “danger area,” “prohibited area,” and “restricted area” for this Part.
8B. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires — “danger area” means an airspace of defined dimensions where an activity which is dangerous to the flight of an aircraft exists at specified periods; Interpretation of Part “prohibited area” means an airspace of defined dimensions within which flight of an aircraft is prohibited; and 568 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment) Amendment of section 73 “restricted area” means, in the case of an — (a) aerodrome, an area, building or place, in respect of which — (i) (ii) access control has been instituted for security purposes; or the Minister has directed the management of that area, building or place or a person conducting business at the area, building or place to institute access control and the access control is instituted; and (b) airspace, an area of defined dimensions where the flight of an aircraft is restricted in accordance with specified conditions. - 5 Verify source ↗
Section 73 of the principal Act is amended in
This provision amends section 73 by replacing references to “Annex 17” with “the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security” and updating the wording in subsection (2).
5. Section 73 of the principal Act is amended in — (a) subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “Annex 17” and substitution therefor of the words “the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security”; (b) subsection (2), by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of the following: (a) the compilation, revision and development of a national civil aviation security programme in compliance with the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security;; and (c) subsection (3), by the deletion of the words “Annex 17” and the substitution therefor of the words “the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to civil aviation security”. Amendment of section 75 - 6 Verify source ↗
Section 75 of the principal Act is amended in
This section amends section 75 of the principal Act by deleting “and Annex 9” from subsection (1) and replacing subsection (2)(a) with a new requirement about a national air transport facilitation programme.
6. Section 75 of the principal Act is amended in — (a) subsection (1), by the deletion of the words “and Annex 9”; and (b) subsection (2), by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of the following: (a) compilation, revision and development of a national air transport facilitation programme in accordance with the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements relating to facilitation;. Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 569 - 7 Verify source ↗
Section 76 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
Section 76 is amended by deleting paragraph (a) and replacing it with a new paragraph creating a National Air Transport Facilitation Committee.
7. Section 76 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of the following: Amendment of section 76 (a) a National Air Transport Facilitation Committee for the purposes of coordinating the activities of the national air transport facilitation programme;. - 8 Verify source ↗
Section 80 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
Section 80 is amended to replace the existing penalty with a higher maximum fine and longer maximum imprisonment term.
8. Section 80 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of the words “to a fine not exceeding forty thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or to both” and the substitution therefor of the words “to a fine not exceeding three million penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding thirty years, or to both”. Amendment of section 80 - 9 Verify source ↗
Section 136 of the principal Act is amended
This amendment updates section 136 by replacing one paragraph and adding new airport and aircraft safety offences.
9. Section 136 of the principal Act is amended — (a) by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the substitution therefor Amendment of section 136 of the following: (c) places, or causes to be placed, on a civil aircraft in service, by any means, a device or substance which is likely to destroy the aircraft or cause damage to the aircraft, render the aircraft incapable of flight or endanger the safety of the aircraft in flight; (b) by the insertion of the following new paragraphs immediately after paragraph (h): (i) commits an act of violence against a person, using a device, substance or weapon, at an airport and that act of violence — (i) causes, or is likely to cause, grievous harm or death; or (ii) endangers, or is likely to endanger, safety at that airport; (j) causes the destruction of, or serious damage to the facilities of, an airport or a civil aircraft not in service located at the airport if the destruction or damage endangers, or is likely to endanger, safety at that airport; and (k) causes the disruption of services at an airport if the disruption endangers or is likely to endanger safety at that airport;; and (c) by the renumbering of paragraphs (i) and (j) as paragraphs (l) and (m), respectively. 570 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment) Insertion of section 151A Designation of general agent - 10 Verify source ↗
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the
This section says the principal Act is amended by inserting a new section immediately after section 151.
10. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new section immediately after section 151: - 151A Verify source ↗
(1) An air operator or a foreign air operator operating in
Air operators and foreign air operators operating in the Republic must designate a general agent in writing and notify the Director-General; the general agent has listed duties and cannot represent the operator in court unless legally qualified.
151A. (1) An air operator or a foreign air operator operating in the Republic shall designate, in writing, a person in the Republic, as a general agent to act on behalf of the air operator or foreign air operator for the purposes of this Act. (2) A general agent referred to under subsection (1) shall — (a) submit documents to the Authority that may be required by the Authority under this Act, the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements, an order, a notice, process, circular, requirement or directive made under this Act; (b) undertake an act or procedure under this Act or regulations required to be undertaken by an air operator or a foreign air operator; (c) facilitate operational logistics of an air operator or a foreign air operator; and (d) perform other functions as may be authorised by an air operator, a foreign air operator or the Authority. (3) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall notify the Director-General of the designation referred to under subsection (1) and the notification shall consist of the following documents: (a) a certified copy of the instrument of designation of a general agent; (b) a written acceptance of the designation by a general agent; and (c) any other documents as the Director-General may require. (4) The Director-General may, within fourteen days of receipt of a notification referred to under subsection (3), approve or reject the designation. (5) The Director-General shall, where a designation meets the requirements of this section, approve the designation. (6) The Director-General shall, where the Director-General rejects a designation under subsection (4), inform the air operator or foreign air operator, in writing, stating the reasons for the rejection. (7) A general agent designated under this section shall not, unless the general agent is a legal practitioner, represent an air operator or a foreign air operator in quasi judicial or judicial proceedings. Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 571 (8) The designation of a general agent under this section shall not relieve an air operator or a foreign air operator of its statutory obligations or liabilities under this Act. (9) An act or omission of a general agent designated under this section shall be considered to be an act or omission of an air operator or a foreign air operator. (10) An air operator or a foreign air operator may substitute or revoke a designation under this section. (11) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall, where the air operator or foreign air operator substitutes or revokes a designation under subsection (10), notify the Director-General of the substitution or revocation within fourteen days of the substitution or revocation. (12) A general agent shall cease to act on behalf of an air operator or a foreign air operator immediately after the Director- General receives a notification under subsection (11). (13) An air operator or a foreign air operator shall, where the Director-General rejects a designation under subsection (6) or receives a notification of a revocation or substitution of a designation under subsection (11), designate another general agent and the provisions of this section shall apply relating to the approval of the designation. - 11 Verify source ↗
The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 163
This section repeals section 163 of the principal Act and replaces it with new text.
11. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 163 and the substitution therefor of the following: - 163 Verify source ↗
A civil aircraft engaged in air traffic operations shall
A civil aircraft engaged in air traffic operations must carry the listed documents on board.
163. A civil aircraft engaged in air traffic operations shall carry on board the following documents: (a) a certificate of registration of the civil aircraft issued under the Civil Aviation Authority Act; Repeal and replacement of section 163 Documents carried on board civil aircraft Cap. 445 (b) a certificate of airworthiness issued under the Civil Cap. 445 Aviation Authority Act; (c) an aircraft journey log; (d) an aircraft radio licence; (e) a list of names of passengers and points of embarkation and destination, where applicable; (f) a cargo manifest, including special loads information; (g) an aircraft technical log; (h) an air operator’s certificate, where required; 572 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment) (i) a noise certificate, where required; (j) an aircraft flight manual or rotorcraft flight manual, where applicable; (k) parts of an operations manual relevant to operations conducted; (l) a minimum equipment list; (m) a category II or category III manual, where applicable; (n) an operational flight plan for all international flights; (o) a filed air traffic control flight plan; (p) a notice to airmen briefing documentation; (q) meteorological information; (r) mass and balance documentation; (s) a roster of special situation passengers; (t) maps and charts for routes of proposed flights or diverted flights, where applicable; (u) forms for complying with the reporting requirements of the Authority and a holder of an air operator certificate; (v) a general declaration for customs for international flights; (w) appropriate licences for each member of the flight crew; (x) a copy of an approval for return to service in force with respect to the civil aircraft, if any; (y) search and rescue information for international flights; (z) a certified true copy of a summary of an Article 83 bis agreement, entered into between the State of Registry and the State of Operator, in an electronic or a hard copy format and an English translation where the summary is issued in a language other than English; (aa) an aerial work certificate for aerial work operators; (bb) a certificate of insurance; and (cc) any other documentation that may be required by the Authority or a State concerned with a proposed flight. Civil Aviation (Amendment) [No. 14 of 2026 573 - 12 Verify source ↗
The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the
The principal Act is amended by inserting a new section immediately after section 166.
12. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new section immediately after section 166: - 166A Verify source ↗
(1) The following institutions shall, on a quarterly or
Specified aviation institutions must submit statistical information to the Authority on a quarterly or annual basis, as the Authority determines.
166A. (1) The following institutions shall, on a quarterly or annual basis as the Authority may determine, submit statistical information to the Authority in a prescribed manner and form: Insertion of section 166A Submission of statistical information to Authority (a) an air operator; (b) a foreign air operator; (c) an airport operator; (d) an air navigation services provider; (e) an approved training organisation; (f) an approved maintenance organisation; and (g) any other institution as the Authority may determine. (2) The statistical information referred to under subsection (1) shall include information relating to — (a) traffic, for commercial air carriers; (b) fleet and personnel, for commercial air carriers; (c) financial data, for commercial air carriers; (d) on-flight origin and destination; (e) traffic by flight stage; (f) airport traffic; (g) airport traffic filling requirements; (h) airport financial data; (i) air navigation services financial data; (j) en-route services traffic statistics; (k) fuel consumption and traffic; (l) aviation personnel; (m) cargo operations; and (n) any other statistical information as may be required by the Authority for safety, security, regulatory or planning purposes. (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable to pay an administrative penalty. 574 [No. 14 of 2026 Civil Aviation (Amendment) Amendment of section 167 - 13 Verify source ↗
Section 167 (2) of the principal Act is amended by the
This provision amends the principal Act so that section 167(2)(cc) now covers air transport economic regulation, including licensing, market access, passenger protection, air operator compensation duties, fair competition, dispute resolution, and enforcement measures.
13. Section 167 (2) of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of paragraph (cc) and the substitution therefor of the following: (cc) air transport economic regulation, including the — (i) licensing and market access conditions for an air operator; (ii) negotiation, implementation and enforcement of bilateral air services agreements and provisions governing traffic rights, designation of air carriers and capacity entitlements; (iii) protection of consumers of air transport services, including passenger rights in cases of death, injury, flight cancellation, delay, denied boarding, baggage loss or damage; (iv) obligations of air operators to provide compensation, assistance and information to a passenger; (v) provision of fair competition in the aviation sector, including prevention of abuse of dominant and unfair trade practices; (vi) provision of dispute resolution mechanisms; and (vii) imposition of penalties, administrative sanctions and other enforcement measures for non- compliance with regulations issued under this Act. General amendment - 14 Verify source ↗
The principal Act is amended by the deletion of the
This section amends the principal Act by replacing several terms with longer forms, including “NASP,” “NFP,” “national facilitation programme,” and “restricted area,” with one exception for sections 8 and 8A.
14. The principal Act is amended by the deletion of the — (a) abbreviation “NASP”, wherever the abbreviation appears and the substitution therefor of the words, “national civil aviation security programme”; (b) abbreviation “NFP” wherever the abbreviation appears and the substitution therefor of the words “national air transport facilitation programme”; (c) words “national facilitation programme” wherever the words appear and the substitution therefor of the words “national air transport facilitation programme”; and (d) words “restricted area” wherever the words appear and the substitution therefor of the words “airport restricted area”, except for where the words appear in sections 8 and 8A.
Provision text is displayed from LexChat’s stored statute record. Use the official source links to verify amendments, commencement, and current legal force.
Ask AI about this statute
Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2026
Sign in to ask AI about this statute
Sign in to start authenticated, citation-grounded statute research.
Sign inLexChat organizes source-backed legal information for research. Verify amendments, commencement, and current legal force with the official publisher before relying on it.