Walvis airport close to international take-off

NAMIBIA is seven months away from inaugurating a second international airport with the upgrading of the Walvis Bay airport expected to be completed by October 6.

With improvements such as a lengthened and widened runway, a new taxiway, apron, air-traffic control technology and a modern lighting system located along the centre of the runway, the airport will meet the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding large aircraft. Being able to accommodate the world’s largest planes such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 747, even in harsh weather conditions, the airport is also expected to become a stopover and refuelling station for inter-continental flights.The new and improved Walvis Bay airport is envisaged to trigger a boost in trade and exports to and from Europe and the USA.Works, Transport and Communications Minister Joel Kaapanda visited the airport on Friday to witness the progress.Earthworks for lengthening the runway by 1 300 metres to 3 440 metres are close to completion.Widening the runway from 30 to 60 metres was a more difficult task.It had to be done without hampering the airport’s normal traffic, but progress is such that it would not delay the date set for completion.New power generators, regulators to control runway lights, transformers and improved air-traffic control and communications systems are already operational.The Walvis Bay airport upgrade is part of a larger project funded by the Spanish government to the tune of more than N$250 million.The aim is to improve Namibian civil aviation infrastructure, including the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport in Windhoek as well as the Luederitz airport.Three Spanish companies, Ineco, Page and Defex, combined in the Inepade consortium, were appointed to carry out the work together with the Ministry of Works, while Windhoek Consulting Engineers supervised and advised Government.In addition to improvements to the runway, the project provides for firefighting and crash rescue vehicles, which arrived at the Hosea Kutako, Walvis Bay and Ondangwa airports in 2005.Kaapanda said Namibia was not interested in second-rate products.”We won’t settle for anything but the best product.It must adhere to our Government’s standards as well as international benchmarks.”He said the Walvis Bay Airport was set to become a strategic location for trans-Atlantic travellers and would open new doors to trade with Europe, especially for fresh fish products.He believes the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa would introduce the airport to new levels of functionality.He referred to the arrangement between Namibia and Spain as concrete relations with economic value and content.Spain’s Ambassador to Namibia, María Victoria Scola, also attended the event.She said bilateral agreements such as the airport upgrade were beneficial to both Namibia and Spain.Being able to accommodate the world’s largest planes such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 747, even in harsh weather conditions, the airport is also expected to become a stopover and refuelling station for inter-continental flights.The new and improved Walvis Bay airport is envisaged to trigger a boost in trade and exports to and from Europe and the USA.Works, Transport and Communications Minister Joel Kaapanda visited the airport on Friday to witness the progress.Earthworks for lengthening the runway by 1 300 metres to 3 440 metres are close to completion.Widening the runway from 30 to 60 metres was a more difficult task.It had to be done without hampering the airport’s normal traffic, but progress is such that it would not delay the date set for completion.New power generators, regulators to control runway lights, transformers and improved air-traffic control and communications systems are already operational.The Walvis Bay airport upgrade is part of a larger project funded by the Spanish government to the tune of more than N$250 million.The aim is to improve Namibian civil aviation infrastructure, including the Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros Airport in Windhoek as well as the Luederitz airport.Three Spanish companies, Ineco, Page and Defex, combined in the Inepade consortium, were appointed to carry out the work together with the Ministry of Works, while Windhoek Consulting Engineers supervised and advised Government.In addition to improvements to the runway, the project provides for firefighting and crash rescue vehicles, which arrived at the Hosea Kutako, Walvis Bay and Ondangwa airports in 2005.Kaapanda said Namibia was not interested in second-rate products.”We won’t settle for anything but the best product.It must adhere to our Government’s standards as well as international benchmarks.”He said the Walvis Bay Airport was set to become a strategic location for trans-Atlantic travellers and would open new doors to trade with Europe, especially for fresh fish products.He believes the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa would introduce the airport to new levels of functionality.He referred to the arrangement between Namibia and Spain as concrete relations with economic value and content.Spain’s Ambassador to Namibia, María Victoria Scola, also attended the event.She said bilateral agreements such as the airport upgrade were beneficial to both Namibia and Spain.