The Roberts Flight Information Region (RFIR) achieved a landmark milestone in West African aviation with the signing of a contract and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aireon for the deployment of Space-Based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology across the combined airspace of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The agreement was signed during CANSO Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, marking a transformative step toward modernizing aviation surveillance and strengthening regional airspace management within the Mano River Union (MRU) states.
The introduction of Space-Based ADS-B technology represents a major advancement in aviation safety, efficiency, and regional cooperation. Unlike traditional ground-based radar systems, Space-Based ADS-B uses satellite networks to provide continuous, real-time surveillance of aircraft, including those operating over remote, oceanic, and hard-to-monitor areas where conventional radar coverage is limited.
This technology will significantly enhance air traffic management, improve flight safety, optimize routing efficiency, and strengthen search-and-rescue capabilities throughout the region.
The agreement underscores the commitment of RFIR and Aireon to align regional aviation operations with international standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It also demonstrates the determination of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to work collectively in managing and securing their shared airspace while fostering greater confidence among international airlines operating in the region.
The MoU was signed by RFIR Secretary General Emil Rogers and Aireon Chief Executive Officer Donald L. Thoma. More than a technology agreement, the MoU serves as a blueprint for regional cooperation, bringing together three sovereign nations under a shared vision of seamless, safe, and integrated airspace management.
“This agreement is the strongest statement yet that the future of African aviation will be built on integration, not isolation,” said Rogers.
“For decades, the airspace of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has required efficient surveillance, yet it has been constrained by gaps between national systems and the physical limitations of ground-based radar.”
Space-Based ADS-B eliminates those gaps by leveraging Aireon’s satellite constellation to provide RFIR with 100 percent real-time visibility of aircraft operating throughout its airspace over land, ocean, and remote terrain.
“The real breakthrough is both political and operational,” Rogers added. “Three sovereign nations are committing to one standard, one system, and one shared responsibility for the safety of our skies.”
Describing the MoU as a turning point for the region, Rogers emphasized the broader significance of the agreement:
“Today, we are not simply signing for technology. We are signing for trust. For too long, regional integration has been a concept discussed in speeches. Today, it becomes a reality through a satellite signal. This MoU means that an air traffic controller in Monrovia, a pilot flying over Conakry, and a rescue team in Freetown are all connected by the same real-time information. That is what true integration looks like.”
He further noted “When Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone move forward as one in managing our shared airspace, we send a powerful message to the world and to ourselves. The Mano River Union is not merely a geographical region; it is a functioning mechanism for cooperation. Space-Based ADS-B demonstrates that regional challenges can be solved through regional solutions. We are no longer waiting for the future we are building it.”
The MoU is expected to deliver several immediate benefits to regional cooperation and aviation development, including establishing common operational standards, joint training programs, and integrated procedures across the three member states.
Providing RFIR controllers with a unified, real-time surveillance picture, enabling coordinated traffic flows and harmonized safety protocols. Allowing airlines to plan more fuel-efficient routes through a seamless airspace structure, reducing operating costs and carbon emissions while improving the region’s competitiveness as an international transit corridor. Strengthening regional search-and-rescue capabilities through precise, real-time aircraft tracking, eliminating delays caused by surveillance gaps. Enhancing the collective influence of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone within ICAO and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), giving the three countries a stronger voice in shaping global aviation policy.
Highlighting the strategic significance of the agreement, Rogers stated “RFIR is proving that regional cooperation is the fastest path to achieving global standards. This MoU does not diminish sovereignty, it strengthens it. Sovereignty is strongest when you have complete visibility of your airspace, and that is precisely what we are delivering for the Mano River Union.”
The MoU takes effect immediately, initiating a joint implementation process between RFIR and Aireon. Technical teams from both organizations will begin integrating Space-Based ADS-B data into the region’s air traffic management systems, with full operational capability expected to follow.
Beyond technological integration, the agreement establishes a long-term framework for RFIR to operate as a unified entity in areas such as technology deployment, personnel training, operational coordination, and crisis management.
The signing of this agreement on May 28, 2026, will be remembered as a defining moment in West African aviation a day when three nations chose to view their airspace as common ground and embraced a shared future of safety, efficiency, and regional integration.
For passengers, it means safer flights. For airlines, it means more efficient routes. For the Mano River Union, it provides a practical model of regional cooperation that can inspire progress in other sectors.
The Roberts Flight Information Region is a multinational air navigation service provider responsible for managing the upper airspace of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Named after Roberts International Airport in Liberia, RFIR provides safe, orderly, and efficient air traffic services across a critical portion of West African and Atlantic Oceanic airspace.
As a successful example of regional aviation integration, RFIR works to harmonize procedures, optimize air routes, and ensure compliance with ICAO standards throughout its member states. Under the leadership of Secretary General Emil Rogers, RFIR has prioritized modernization, safety, and cooperation as key pillars of regional development.
RFIR is headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia. Aireon operates the world’s first space-based air traffic surveillance system. Its technology utilizes ADS-B receivers hosted on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation to provide 100 percent global, real-time tracking of ADS-B-equipped aircraft.
Unlike traditional radar systems, Aireon’s technology provides coverage across remote, oceanic, and polar regions without requiring ground-based infrastructure. The system is operational and approved for air traffic management applications worldwide, including major deployments across the North Atlantic in partnership with NAV CANADA and NATS.
Aireon’s services support enhanced aviation safety, reduced aircraft separation, optimized flight paths, and improved search-and-rescue operations. The company is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, USA, and its technology is recognized by ICAO as a key enabler of the Global Air Navigation Plan.