Safety standards don't measure up
MAFIKENG AIRPORT'S licence has been suspended by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) because
of poor standards. The move is tantamount to
closing the airport down
as no aircraft may now land
or take off, and comes at
a time when the North West provincial government's Department of Transport has been considering approving a twice-a-day service from Johannesburg to serve the centre.
Government spokesman Mogomotsi Mogorodi has announced that the CAA
has given the airport until May 4 to meet certain
safety conditions or have
its licence permanently revoked.
"There are major ramifications if we do not do something about it, especially in terms of our plans for IDZ status and international landing rights. Management of the airport will now have to be outsourced to a management company which will have to meet requirements and then make application once again for flying rights."
The airport recently disclosed plans to set up an IDZ to create a free trade zone, and a deal to maintain about 700 Russian aircraft for a company that flies in Africa as well as to Australia and South America.
Large carriers, such as SAA and Lufthansa, have used the airport at times for training purposes and occasional maintenance, while private flyers land there at regular intervals. The CAA has blamed both government and bad management in general for the decision.
