Airports to undergo N$256m upgrade

THE planned upgrading of the Walvis Bay airport will make it one of only 14 airports in the southern hemisphere that can accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 747.

This will be one of the end results of the euro 32,268 million (N$256,5 million) project for the rehabilitation and upgrading of airports and civil aviation infrastructure nationwide that was launched by President Sam Nujoma at the Walvis Bay airport yesterday. He said the installation of a state-of-the art landing system would make Walvis Bay an ideal stop over for flights operating between southern Africa and the US, or between Asia and South America.The system would make the airport accessible to aircraft under all weather conditions, including foggy conditions, day and night.The President emphasised the importance of effective transportation links, saying national or global economies would not be able to develop to their full potential without them.”In Namibia’s case this could have negative effects on the growth of tourism, trade and overall social and economic development of our country.”The nationwide project is being implemented through a Namibian-Spanish co-operation agreement.A Spanish group of companies, consisting of Defex, Page and Ineco, referred to as Inepade, will work with the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication on the two-year project.It entails civil works, aeronautical and airport equipment and fire fighting and crash rescue vehicles.Transport Minister Moses Amweelo provided details of the project.At Walvis Bay the runway will be lengthened and widened to 3 440 m and 60 m, making it bigger than Namibia’s main Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) outside Windhoek.A new taxiway, apron and access road will be build and a 10 km long security fence erected.Runway and approach lights will be installed to adhere to the International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations.The project further makes provision for the installation of aeronautical and airport equipment at HKIA, Eros and Luederitz.Remote radio stations at Oshakati, Opuwo, Outjo, Rehoboth and Keetmanshoop will be provided with modern equipment.Five new stations will be established at Maroelaboom, Roessing Mountain, Omaere, Stampriet and Luederitz to provide optimum coverage around the country.Seven fire fighting and crash rescue vehicles will be provided to meet international requirements.One aspect the project does not cover is the human resources side of civil aviation.The country is still experiencing a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers.Christian Sell, Chief Air Traffic Controller of the Directorate of Civil Aviation told The Namibian that seven positions were vacant.Four students were recently recruited to fill the positions, but it takes four years to become fully qualified.He said qualified controllers had to be withdrawn from smaller airports to go to Windhoek.Pilots have to make use of unmanned procedures when landing at the smaller airports where there are no controllers employed currently.Tukondjelanee Nghihalua, CEO of the Namibia Airports Company said only HKIA and Walvis Bay were financially viable with HKIA contributing to 98 per cent of the NAC’s revenue.He said the installation of a state-of-the art landing system would make Walvis Bay an ideal stop over for flights operating between southern Africa and the US, or between Asia and South America.The system would make the airport accessible to aircraft under all weather conditions, including foggy conditions, day and night.The President emphasised the importance of effective transportation links, saying national or global economies would not be able to develop to their full potential without them.”In Namibia’s case this could have negative effects on the growth of tourism, trade and overall social and economic development of our country.”The nationwide project is being implemented through a Namibian-Spanish co-operation agreement.A Spanish group of companies, consisting of Defex, Page and Ineco, referred to as Inepade, will work with the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication on the two-year project.It entails civil works, aeronautical and airport equipment and fire fighting and crash rescue vehicles.Transport Minister Moses Amweelo provided details of the project.At Walvis Bay the runway will be lengthened and widened to 3 440 m and 60 m, making it bigger than Namibia’s main Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) outside Windhoek.A new taxiway, apron and access road will be build and a 10 km long security fence erected.Runway and approach lights will be installed to adhere to the International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations.The project further makes provision for the installation of aeronautical and airport equipment at HKIA, Eros and Luederitz.Remote radio stations at Oshakati, Opuwo, Outjo, Rehoboth and Keetmanshoop will be provided with modern equipment.Five new stations will be established at Maroelaboom, Roessing Mountain, Omaere, Stampriet and Luederitz to provide optimum coverage around the country.Seven fire fighting and crash rescue vehicles will be provided to meet international requirements.One aspect the project does not cover is the human resources side of civil aviation.The country is still experiencing a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers.Christian Sell, Chief Air Traffic Controller of the Directorate of Civil Aviation told The Namibian that seven positions were vacant.Four students were recently recruited to fill the positions, but it takes four years to become fully qualified.He said qualified controllers had to be withdrawn from smaller airports to go to Windhoek.Pilots have to make use of unmanned procedures when landing at the smaller airports where there are no controllers employed currently.Tukondjelanee Nghihalua, CEO of the Namibia Airports Company said only HKIA and Walvis Bay were financially viable with HKIA contributing to 98 per cent of the NAC’s revenue.