Comav planes hit by safety concerns

AVIATION company Comav faces being grounded as the Directorate of Civil Aviation intensifies its clampdown on alleged safety violations committed by the company.

The questionable condition of Comav’s aircraft is set to severely disrupt Air Namibia’s domestic schedule this month. The aircraft it leases from the company have not been given the green light to fly by the DCA because of what the aviation department says are “major safety concerns”.Air Namibia said on Friday that it had hired three Beechcraft 1900 aircraft from South Africa to fill the gap in its schedule.In an interview yesterday, Deputy Director of Aviation Safety and Security Larry Makanza told The Namibian that he could not specify the Comav aircraft on Air Namibia’s Air Operator Certificate, which came up for renewal last week, because the aircraft would jeopardise passenger safety.Air Operator Certificates have to be renewed annually on a given date by the DCA, stipulating that the airline meets a variety of regulations on safety and technical issues related to operating specific routes.”Aircraft kill people.My responsibility is to look after passengers,” said Makanza.”This has to do with the nation.It’s so dangerous (flying the Comav aircraft) that I don’t even want to think about it.”Approached for comment, Comav General Manager Frank Aldridge said yesterday that the company would respond to the claims today.Air Namibia leases five B1900 from Comav to service its domestic routes.The national airline doesn’t own any of its own aircraft.The matter has erupted in a legal battle, with Comav late on Thursday evening taking the DCA to court to force it to allow its aircraft to fly for Air Namibia.The case was stalled on technical hitches.’a very serious matter’ So serious is the matter, that it is understood that Minister of Works, Joel Kaapanda, will be approached today to support the DCA in its intentions to ground all Comav aircraft.Makanza said the DCA was not only concerned about Comav aircraft used to fly Air Namibia passengers between the capital and Ondangwa, Katima Mulilo and Victoria Falls, but said Comav was also violating regulations regarding the use of the same aircraft to fly cargo.Comav is alleged to be flying aircraft larger than permitted between Eros and Johannesburg for transporting cargo, while at the same time also transporting passengers on these flights without the necessary precautions in place to secure cargo and ensure passenger safety.This matter also came before the courts last month, but was settled out of court.However, Makanza said this matter had still not been settled to the DCA’s satisfaction, and that the Directorate stuck by its assessment that the maintenance of Comav aircraft was poor.”The aircraft are not being properly maintained.My job is to protect Air Namibia passengers.They can’t use aircraft that I know to be unsafe.I’m not colluding with Air Namibia.I’m colluding with the passengers.Their [Comav] maintenance is shoddy,” claimed Makanza.He said he believed that Comav was plagued by “genuine safety problems” and was exposing those who used their aircraft to “exceptional risk”.Air Namibia has successfully renewed its Air Operator Certificates for international and regional destinations, and these flight schedules are not expected to be affected by the Comav issue.”Air Namibia is pleased to confirm that it met all the regulatory requirements set by (the) Department of Civil Aviation and regional and international operations have been retained with all operating aircraft being listed on the Aircraft Operator Certificate,” said a statement issued by Air Namibia General Manager for Public Communications, Ellison Hijarunguru.”Therefore all regional and international operations will continue to operate unhindered,” he added Comav’s Air Operator Certificate comes up for renewal again in September, but the DCA has the right to summarily ground its aircraft if it does not meet the regulations.The DCA is known to be severely understaffed, making it difficult for it to carry out its work extensively and catch wrongdoers in the act.Meanwhile, Air Namibia has announced the cancellation of flights from Windhoek to Ondangwa on June 17 and 24.Until June 27, only three flights will operate between Windhoek and Katima Mulilo – on June 12, 15 and 19.There will be no flights between Windhoek and Victoria Falls between June 9 and 23.The lack of aircraft meant that Air Namibia also cancelled flights between Windhoek and Ondangwa on Saturday and between Windhoek and Katima Mulilo on Saturday and Sunday.Passengers booked and holding tickets on the cancelled flights have been requested to contact their nearest Air Namibia offices to make alternative arrangements.Hijarunguru said Air Namibia was working round the clock to bring the situation back on track.The aircraft it leases from the company have not been given the green light to fly by the DCA because of what the aviation department says are “major safety concerns”.Air Namibia said on Friday that it had hired three Beechcraft 1900 aircraft from South Africa to fill the gap in its schedule.In an interview yesterday, Deputy Director of Aviation Safety and Security Larry Makanza told The Namibian that he could not specify the Comav aircraft on Air Namibia’s Air Operator Certificate, which came up for renewal last week, because the aircraft would jeopardise passenger safety.Air Operator Certificates have to be renewed annually on a given date by the DCA, stipulating that the airline meets a variety of regulations on safety and technical issues related to operating specific routes. “Aircraft kill people.My responsibility is to look after passengers,” said Makanza.”This has to do with the nation.It’s so dangerous (flying the Comav aircraft) that I don’t even want to think about it.”Approached for comment, Comav General Manager Frank Aldridge said yesterday that the company would respond to the claims today.Air Namibia leases five B1900 from Comav to service its domestic routes.The national airline doesn’t own any of its own aircraft.The matter has erupted in a legal battle, with Comav late on Thursday evening taking the DCA to court to force it to allow its aircraft to fly for Air Namibia.The case was stalled on technical hitches.’a very serious matter’ So serious is the matter, that it is understood that Minister of Works, Joel Kaapanda, will be approached today to support the DCA in its intentions to ground all Comav aircraft.Makanza said the DCA was not only concerned about Comav aircraft used to fly Air Namibia passengers between the capital and Ondangwa, Katima Mulilo and Victoria Falls, but said Comav was also violating regulations regarding the use of the same aircraft to fly cargo.Comav is alleged to be flying aircraft larger than permitted between Eros and Johannesburg for transporting cargo, while at the same time also transporting passengers on these flights without the necessary precautions in place to secure cargo and ensure passenger safety.This matter also came before the courts last month, but was settled out of court.However, Makanza said this matter had still not been settled to the DCA’s satisfaction, and that the Directorate stuck by its assessment that the maintenance of Comav aircraft was poor.”The aircraft are not being properly maintained.My job is to protect Air Namibia passengers.They can’t use aircraft that I know to be unsafe.I’m not colluding with Air Namibia.I’m colluding with the passengers.Their [Comav] maintenance is shoddy,” claimed Makanza.He said he believed that Comav was plagued by “genuine safety problems” and was exposing those who used their aircraft to “exceptional risk”.Air Namibia has successfully renewed its Air Operator Certificates for international and regional destinations, and these flight schedules are not expected to be affected by the Comav issue.”Air Namibia is pleased to confirm that it met all the regulatory requirements set by (the) Department of Civil Aviation and regional and international operations have been retained with all operating aircraft being listed on the Aircraft Operator Certificate,” said a statement issued by Air Namibia General Manager for Public Communications, Ellison Hijarunguru.”Therefore all regional and international operations will continue to operate unhindered,” he added Comav’s Air Operator Certificate comes up for renewal again in September, but the DCA has the right to summarily ground its aircraft if it does not meet the regulations.The DCA is known to be severely understaffed, making it difficult for it to carry out its work extensively and catch wrongdoers in the act.Meanwhile, Air Namibia has announced the cancellation of flights from Windhoek to Ondangwa on June 17 and 24.Until June 27, only three flights will operate between Windhoek and Katima Mulilo – on June 12, 15 and 19.There will be no flights between Windhoek and Victoria Falls between June 9 and 23.The lack of aircraft meant that Air Namibia also cancelled flights between Windhoek and Ondangwa on Saturday and between Windhoek and Katima Mulilo on Saturday and Sunday.Passengers booked and holding tickets on the cancelled flights have been requested to contact their nearest Air Namibia offices to make alternative arrangements.Hijarunguru said Air Namibia was working round the clock to bring the situation back on track.