Someplace You May Not Want to Fly...
 

http://www.reuters.com/news_article....StoryID=957851
Someplace You May Not Want to Fly...

May 14, 2002 09:55 AM ET Email this article Printer friendly version





MBABANE (Reuters) - Swaziland's international airport has no working control tower or radar system and lighting for night time landings is so poor that pilots are forced to fly by memory, the government has been told.

Transport Minister Titus Mlangeni told a shocked Swaziland Senate in closed session Monday that lightning destroyed the airport's radio 18 months ago and had not been fixed.

"The Senate expressed surprise at the unsafe state of the airport, and at a lack of security. The machine that screens baggage does not work," Senate deputy speaker Abadnego Dlamini told Reuters Tuesday.

Jabu Ngubane, a senior air traffic controller, confirmed severe problems at Matsapha airport.

"Instruments to record wind velocity and direction are inoperative, and with the radio broken there is no way for the control tower to communicate with aircraft," he said.

The Transport Ministry has said it is aware of the problems, and intends to address them, but has given no timeframe.

But carriers flying into the airport warn that the state of the airport makes it an accident waiting to happen.

"Conditions are extremely dangerous in fog, rain and at night. It is just a matter of time before a plane crashes in Swaziland," said Dwayne Elderkin, operations manager of Stephen Air Charter Services, one of two regular operators flying into the airport.

aaaish!

This sounds like the norm, as in Africa everything mechanical or electrical exists in only two states 1; broken 2; f***ed:rolleyes:
The latter normally being the case where some wealthy individual or government (read colonialist.....) needs to supply huge sums of cash to right the injustices of the past.................


As if we need to spend another 50 Billion on weapons for SA???
The three "M" s theory now holds true for every single African country. (Monuments, Machine-guns and Mercedes):D :D :

Africa wins again:confused:

:) I need my eyes testing! For a while there I thought it was talking about Switzerland!!:rolleyes:

Posts from Tokoloshe seem to be right on the Money. R50 Bil for arms?? What for, someone going to war we dont know about. I remember looking at the Rooivalk Prototypes and seeing the same mistakes made here in the states. A great airframe, designed for the Army, with a purpose and possible sales. Then the Air Force gets its toys on there, then the Navy gets their toys. Pretty soon it looks like its so heavy it will never get off the ground and further who is buying it??
I will say we buy SA 223 ammo here in the states cheaper than we can reload it..... I just wish SA would export more of its great wine than its ammunition.....
Priorities........
I think the three Ms are right on also. Its seems here in the states evrytime I turn around We are spending a ton of money on "Memorials". Too bad folks dont learn from the memories......

YO!!!,

I.M.:

I've noticed your posts previously and you seem to have a "chip" in your "carry-on" Baggage.

If you don't like the conditions stay away.

You would never make it in the Congo with your apparent "inflexibility".

Please pray you get recalled to whatever "major" you are furloughed from, and stop bothering those of us who fly in the 3rd world. (either by choice or otherwise)

Downin3green Whazz Up ?
 

Downin3greens, looking at your "expert" opinions on Africa andseeing that you willingly / unwillingly accredited yourself with being of origin Naples, US of A nogal boet ... and you wanna shout the odds... as a matter of interest what makes YOU an expert on Efriken Eviation (evolution) :p

Cheers (on holiday in SA) and LUVING it !:cool:

I think he knows of what of he speaks!
 

Not to speak for DI3G, but with his track record of African/Third World Aviation operations. I would give the man the credit and respect of his opinion that he has earned (the hard way).

Best regards,

G3

Gunship,

I think that you will find that DI3G knows what he is talking about :)
There is a big difference between "home" and "place of residence"....

Mutt.

Ohhh ok so he is a kewl dude
 

Ok accept the fact that 3 greens down and locked is a kewl dude. Just do not see the commentsd in relation to the country of origin but fine ... except my appologies ... downin3 greens KNOWS Efrika :D and all our Bru's ...

Have a great flying week wherever you are ... I am starting tp phone up the local gliding club : 7 months since I last flew in command so a bit frustrated right now with pax flying in Africa - see my comments about Ghana Airways and others.

Best regards,