Investigations into aircraft crashes ongoing

BONIFACE KEAKABETSE
Correspondent | Tuesday June 19, 2012 00:00

 

Molefhi said investigators are readying a final report that will establish the causes of the accidents and once the investigations have been concluded, the findings will be made public. He said this when officiating at the third aviation Pitso held in Maun lodge last week.

In October last year, the country was hit by two crash accidents, the first one involving Moremi air, which was carrying 12 people on board. Eight people including the British pilot and tourists from Britain, Sweden and France died on the crash.  A second aircraft owned by Delta Air crashed after take off just a day after the Moremi air crash. Fortunately, no one was injured in the four French tourists, South African pilot and a Namibian on board.

Molefhi said without attributing the accidents to any organisation they are many airfields and landing strips in Botswana which he said are privately owned. He said as per the aviation requirements, all the Aerodromes whether privately owned must be inspected by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and said CAA is annually undertaking the inspections to ensure their operationality.  He said the inspection is a standard demanded by the international civil aviation organisation of all parties of the Geneva Convention such as Botswana.

On other issues, Molefhi revealed that Botswana this year concluded with the government of Zambia letters of agreement on search and rescue. He said Botswana will also sign with Namibia and Zimbabwe similar agreements before the end of this year to ensure the country is covered on all sides in event of accident.

He added that government is serious about the intention to turn Botswana in to transport and cargo hubs for Southern Africa considering the countries the geographical position that gives her a competitive and comparative advantage. He said due enormous investments on stadiums it is now possible for bigger airlines from across the world to fly into Gaborone, Maun and Francistown airports. The government has also entered in bilateral agreements with various countries to enable them fly here.

He also said  a new airline is being registered in accordance with government policy to liberalise the domestic passenger service. However, he  said the process was delayed by the drafting of the legislative frame work for the licensing of new airlines.