11 Rwandans have graduated from their course to fly helicopters earlier this week, after completing their certification from the Akagera Aviation Flying School which is based at the international airport in Kigali.

Launched in 2004, the school can now look back at 10 years of operations with helicopters with various makes, among them the Robinson R44, the Agusta 109 and the MIL MI1. Services also include pilot training after the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority had granted the airline a training license, the only such specialized academy in Rwanda. In addition, Akagera holds a RCAA license as MRO to maintain helicopters.

Among the graduates were pilot students sponsored by the Rwandan police and the Rwandan armed forces though privately sponsored aspirants can equally acquire pilot wings with on average of 55 hours of actual flying training and at least 5 weeks in the classroom.