In a milestone for the country’s aviation industry, Tanzania in 2024 successfully assembled its first locally made aircraft — three Skyleader 600 planes — at Airplanes Africa Limited’s facility in Morogoro. The ultralight two-seaters marked the achievement with their maiden landing at Julius Nyerere International Airport, officially beginning operations.
The Skyleader 600 is designed for business travel, offering an affordable alternative for short-distance flights within Tanzania and to neighbouring countries. Powered by petrol rather than jet fuel, the aircraft combines lower operational expenses with minimal maintenance requirements, making it an attractive option for private owners, air taxi operators, and regional service providers.
The project was developed in partnership with Czech engineers, whose expertise guided the assembly process while transferring valuable skills to local technicians. This collaboration not only boosted technical capacity but also created jobs, strengthening Tanzania’s footprint in Africa’s emerging aerospace manufacturing sector.
Beyond the Skyleader 600, there are plans to diversify production to include models such as the Skyleader 500, tailored for agricultural applications like crop spraying and aerial surveys. This expansion signals Tanzania’s ambition to position itself as a regional aviation hub, capable of producing versatile aircraft to meet both commercial and industrial needs.
By blending international expertise with homegrown talent, Tanzania has taken a significant step toward building a sustainable, skill-driven aviation sector — one that could inspire similar advancements across the continent.
