From Today's Post Courier; it's getting worse!
Many airports in PNG may be closed: CAA
By TODAGIA KELOLA
Many airports in the country would be forced to close if the National Government failed to fund the urgent maintenance and
certification of airports and airways systems.
Chief executive officer and director of Civil Aviation Authority Joseph Kintau issued this warning at the weekend.
The threat if taken will seriously affect many travelling public especially areas where the only link to the outside world is with
air transport
“Safety issues with CAA are not new. These issues have been on successive governments’ agendas, even before the inception of the CAA
act in 2001. We are talking about facilities that were in place for more than 30 years. Most of these facilities have fallen into
disrepair; the only option is to replace them,” Mr Kintau said.
The problems according to Mr Kintau had been communicated to the National Government to ensure that adequate funding was provided.
In an interview with the Post-Courier, Mr Kintau said CAA was moving and transforming but the organisation badly needed initial help
from the Government
“I am disappointed that airports and airstrip maintenance and development program received nil funding from the 2007, 2008 and 2009
budget allocations.
“The road system receives adequate funding, but for some reason, the same priority is not given to air navigation and airports
infrastructure. Year after year, since 2004, CAA has been submitting comprehensive work plans for maintenance and development of
airport infrastructure but to no avail.
“I have informed the Treasury and Planning departments about the safety and risk issues facing CAA’s operations, prior to the 2009
budget but nothing was allocated in 2009
“They obviously are not taking these risks seriously. We are talking about lives and an attitude that completely ignores the
seriousness of the matter reflects how much we care about human lives, let alone our reputation as a contracting state with the
International Civil Aviation Organisation,” he said.
Meanwhile Mr Kintau admitted that there was an incident at Nadzab airport on Wednesday last week.