A helicopter flies over a part of Kisumu.
Helicopter pilots and crew will not be allowed to operate more than eight hours a day, if new regulations aimed at strengthening aviation safety are approved by Parliament.
The Civil Aviation (Operation of Aircraft Helicopter) Regulations 2026 prohibit operators from scheduling crew members for more than seven flights in commercial air transportation during any period of 18 consecutive hours.
The regulations, currently under consideration by the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation, empower members not to accept an assignment for flight time in commercial air transportation, if that flight crew member’s total flight time or total flights exceed limitations prescribed by the proposed law.
The regulations, tabled by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, impose a fine not exceeding Sh2 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both to a person who contravenes any provision.
“A person shall not schedule any flight crew member and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment for flight time in commercial air transportation, if that flight crew member’s total flight time will exceed 8 hours in any 24 consecutive hours,” the regulations state.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.
The rules define “flight time" to mean the total time from the moment a helicopter’s rotor blades start turning until the moment it finally comes to rest at the end of the journey. The new rules also define “rest period" to mean any amount of time on the ground during which a flight crew member is relieved of all duties by the operator.
“A person shall not schedule any flight crew member and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment as a required crew member for more than 7 flights in commercial air transportation during any period of 18 consecutive hours, whichever comes first.”
The new set of aviation safety rules also require a flight crew member not to accept an assignment if his or her total flight time exceeds 30 hours in any seven-day period.
“A person shall not schedule any flight crew member and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment for flight time in commercial air transportation, if that flight crew member’s total flight time will exceed 100 hours in any 30-day period,” the regulations add.
“A person shall not schedule any flight crew member and no flight crew member shall accept an assignment for flight time in commercial air transportation, if that flight crew member’s total flight time will exceed 1,000 hours in any 12- calendar month period.”
The regulations give the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) power to approve a special flight duty scheme for an operator.
“Each operator shall maintain records for each crew member and flight operations officer/flight dispatcher of flight time, flight duty periods, duty periods, and rest periods for a period of 24 months,” the rules state.
According to the KCAA Act, 2013, the Authority’s mandate is to plan, develop, manage, regulate and operate a safe, economically sustainable, and efficient civil aviation system in Kenya.
Helicopter crashes
The new regulations come at a time the country has witnessed incidents of helicopter and light aircraft crashes.
On Monday June 1, 2026, a light aircraft veered off and crash landed within Ol Kombo airstrip in Maasai Mara Game Reserve when the nose gear failed to lock down. The three occupants — the pilot, his wife and an employee of Serengeti Camp — survived the crash. No casualties were reported in the morning incident.
A screengrab from footage at the scene in Maasai Mara on June 1, 2026.
In February, 2026, a helicopter carrying former Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ng'eno crashed in Chepkiep area of Mosop Constituency, Nandi County, in the North Rift region, shortly after the helicopter attempted to fly amid poor weather conditions.
The aircraft burst into flames killing all six occupants on board.
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