1919 - The first aerodrome is constructed at Palapye, measuring 600 x 600 yards

1920 - Temporary aerodromes are made at Serowe, Francistown, and Artesia at which the flying machines landed during the same year. The very first landing of an aircraft takes place at Palapye on March 16, 1920. The first aircraft to land is called the DH9 "VOOTREKKER."

1922 - The British High Commissioner, Cape Town, South Africa, writes the Resident Commissioner for Bechuanaland Protectorate about preparation of Aeronautical maps.

1925 - The first airfield in the country, the Palapye Aerodrome, is reconstructed at the cost of twenty- four Sterling pounds.

1927 - The first overseas aircraft landing takes place in the Bechuanaland. This is by the Royal Air Force aircraft and the landing site is Palapye. The historical landing takes place on April 16.

1935 - Air services negotiations are initiated by the Resident Commissioner, Mr. C.F. Ray, the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, Dr. Huggins and the General Manager of Rhodesian Railways and Chairman of Rhodesian and Nyasaland Airways, Mr. Chapman. The latter is managed by the Imperial Airways in London. According to the proposal, the services are to run bi-monthly as follows: Bulawayo-Palapye-Serowe-Rakops-Maun-Ghanzi- Lehututu-Tsabong-Mafikeng and back.

1937 - Airfields are already established at Francistown, Maun, Palapye, Gaborone and Ghanzi.

1943 - Training plans are being proposed for aviation personnel that would be required once the World War II is over. The training is for various aviation-related professions such as: Pilots, Navigators, Air Traffic Controllers, Meteorologists, Aircraft Engineers, Radio and Signal Engineers, Operational and Traffic Experts, Business Executives, Public Relations Officers, Accountants, and Statisticians.

1945 - The formation of a private company for internal carriage of passengers is suggested. This is to operate small planes of the Rapid type while WENELA is to operate large aircraft of the Bristol Freighter type.

1948 - The first correspondence from International Civil Aviation Organization is received. This is four years since the formation of the world aviation supreme body. The correspondence is signed by L. Bedin, a Paris-based ICAO Representative for the European-African Office. Central African Airways starts an air service from Bulawayo to Mafikeng via Francistown-Mahalapye-Gaborone. The airliner is operating an 8-seater aircraft, the Dove.

1960 - The first Certificate of Registration is issued to Mr. Grail of Ghanzi. His aircraft, Piper PA-22 160, is assigned the letters VQZ-EZ.

1965 - Honourable D.J.C. Morgan becomes the first Minister of Works and Communications, which is responsible for civil aviation in the country. Those who succeeded him in that portfolio are the following: Hon. A. M. Tsoebebe, Hon. A. M. Dambe, Hon. J. G. Haskins, Hon. P.S. Mmusi, Hon. C. W. Blackbeard, Hon. C. J. Butale, Hon. D. N. Magang and Hon. D. K. Kwelagobe, and Hon. D. N. Magang (again).

1966 - The new nation, Republic of Botswana, is born and consequently, the world body, ICAO, assigns the new state new Nationality Marks: A2 instead of VQZ as it was previously.

1967 - The Department of Civil Aviation is established. Some of the expatriate directors were Mr. Burgley, Mr. Lindberg, Mr. Dipper, and Mr. Reynolds.

1972 - Air Botswana is formed and takes over from its forerunner, Botswana Airways Corporation (BAC).

ICAO and the Botswana Government join hands to develop the aviation infrastructure and train appropriate personnel. Under this development assistance project, international experts are contracted to the department, mainly, to train local counterparts, which was consistent with the Government's localisation policy.

1974 - A major air mishap occurs in Francistown, when the WENELA aircraft, DC-4 fatally crashes in April.

1975 - A supersonic flight takes place across the Khalahari Desert.

This is the British Airways Concord on its way from London, UK, to Cape Town, South Africa. This causes some stir among the environmentalists, and generates some research as regards the effects of sonic boom on animals.

1976 - Air Transport (Temporary Air Service Permits) Regulations (ATRs) are published as Statutory Instrument 126, 1976.

1977 - The Botswana Civil Aviation Act (CAA), CAP. 70:01 becomes effective. The Botswana Air Navigation Regulations (ANRs) are enacted by Parliament and published as Statutory Instrument 84, 1977.

1978 - The above-stated ANRs are amended as Statutory Instrument 82, 1978. The above-named ATRs are amended as Statutory Instrument 121, 1978.

1980 - Air Navigation (Prohibited Areas) Order (ANO) is established as Statutory Instrument No. 32, 1980.

1981 - Mr. M.J.M. Moatshe becomes the first national to take up the directorship of the DCA. Around the same time, a few other positions in the department are localised.

1982 - New Gaborone Airport (Controlled Area) Order (NGAO) is established as Statutory Instrument 71, 1982.

1983 - The Botswana Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (CARs) are enacted by Parliament and published as Statutory Instrument 49 & 66, 1983.

1984 - Construction of Sir Seretse Khama is completed and it is opened for use in December.

The first major international carrier to fly into SSKA is the former British Caledonia. Other carriers have been Comair, Air France, British Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Zimbabwe, Zambian Airways, and others.

1986 - Air Botswana recruits the first two Batswana pilot trainees. These are Patrick Leburu and Lobby Nshakashokwe.

1987 - Air Botswana becomes a Corporation and moves its base from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Gaborone, Botswana. Lobby Nshakashokwe becomes the first Motswana civilian pilot trainee to die during training. This tragic incidence takes place at Air Service Training, Perth, Scotland. The first aircraft maintenance organisation is established in Maun. Bill Cochran becomes the first chief engineer for Northern Air Maintenance and this provides relief to the Maun-based general aviation industry as well as other transiting or visiting aircraft.

1989 - Official opening of Sir Seretse Khama Airport takes place.

- The construction of the new Kasane Airport commences.

A Piper Chirokee aircraft crashes in Kasane, at the old airfield, and kills all six people on board including the pilot. For the first time, the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) is a national of Botswana.

1990 - The new Kasane Airport is complete and the old airstrip is closed.

1991 - The Flight Information Region (FIR) project is completed and Botswana takes control of her air space.

1992 - Moses Sekwakwa becomes the first national to be an airline captain. An Islander aircraft crashes at Pandamatenge and kills two Batswana pilots, a Tanzanian pilot, and another Motswana, a passenger. One of the Botswana Laws, Civil Aviation (Accidents Investigation) Regulations, is put under test. For the first time in the history of aviation in this country, an aircraft accident report is reviewed by the Board. This was the Kasane accident of 1989.

The former Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. Moatshe, transfers to the Ministry's headquarters as the Deputy Permanent Secretary and Mr. K.J. Mosupukwa succeeds him. The latter had localised the position of Chief Telecommunications Officer within the same department in 1982.

1993 - The inauguration of the Flight Information Region project takes place. Among the dignitaries is the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Linda Choka. The first nationwide seminar on Aviation Safety takes place at Thapama Lodge in Francistown during the month of August. It lasts for two days and is preceded by a mini seminar in Gaborone only lasting half a day. Those attending ranged from police officers, nurses, medical doctors, metereological experts, air traffic controllers, army officers, etc and speakers are drawn from across the floor. This is a real learning experience for many people who attended.

1994 - Mr. Joshua Galefolorwe becomes the first local Chief Executive Officer or the General Manager for the national carrier, Air Botswana. He takes over from Capt. Brian Pocock. Sakhile Nyoni is the first Motswana female pilot to become an airline captain. ICAO celebrates its 50th Anniversary and Botswana joins the celebrations.

1995 - The new Kasane Airport is inaugurated and at the same time Maun Airport extension works are nearing completion. The Maun runway extention is complete and in use. Air Botswana's BAe 146 is, therefore, able to fly in and out of Maun.

1996 - The official opening of the extended Maun Airport takes place.

1998 - The Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. K. J. Mosupukwa, becomes SADC Representative to the ICAO Council in Montreal, Canada. This is a three-year assignment. The US President, Bill Clinton, pays official visit to Botswana and his Air Force I lands safely at SSKA. He later flies into Kasane Airport on his way to a safari resort in the Delta

1999 -Mpule Kwelagobe becomes Miss Universe and is transported by the national carrier, Air Botswana, into SSKA for a warm home coming.

The country records the first accident ever to involve a national carrier.

This work couldn't have been possible without the assistance and support of the National Achieves staff.  Most information here, especially in the 1970s and before, was retrieved from the National Achieves.