Air Zaïre airline was also operating Curtiss C-46s and DC-4s equipment, leased from Aerovias Panama Airways to complement the Sabena-leased aircraft. After the Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960, the Belgian national airline Sabena continued to operate routes in the country. Plans for the formation of a Congolese airline were delayed due to the Congo Crisis; however, in January 1961 a protocol was signed with Sabena for the creation of a limited liability company to be named "Air Congo". On the company was formed, and incorporated on 28 June with Sabena providing technical assistance and personnel. The Congolese
Sabena Flight Academy operation. In 2004, the school was sold to two former managers of Sabena and became the Sabena Flight Academy. It was finally absorbed in 2008 by the Canadian group CAE. The acquisition of SFA by CAE was conducted as part of a larger program to complete a global training network: the CAE Global Academy. The school has two subsidiaries: To gain a place on the course it's necessary to complete an assessment at Sabena Flight Academy. The assessment is designed to test candidates: If successful in completing the assessment to the necessary standard then applicants are welcomed to join the