Cubbie
3rd May 2008, 08:27
Anybody Know how many arms an R44 can hold.., 1 pilot + 1Ak= maum??!..
The Zimbabwean
Friday, 02 May 2008 12:54
HARARE - Zimbabwe's military junta has shutdown all airstrips in and
around Harare in a bid to limit the use of small private aircraft,
ostensibly because they pose a security risk.
The Zimbabwean on Sunday heard that orders went out a week before the
controversial March 29 poll that all airstrips be shutdown because of
"security concerns." The orders were renewed last Friday.
This is not the first time that government has placed restrictions on
flying.
The restrictions in Harare were enforced, sources said, after it was
rumoured that Movement for Democratic
Change president Morgan Tsvangirai was shuttling between Zimbabwe and
neighbouring countries using a light aircraft. The MDC has dismissed
reports of the alleged secret visits by Tsvangirai.
In the run-up to the general election, a helicopter that was due
to be used by Tsvangirai to access far remote places such as
Matabeleland North, was impounded by the authorities and the pilot
arrested but later released without charge.
The chopper had been chartered for Tsvangirai by exiled MDC
treasurer general Roy Bennett. Mugabe intimated at a rally then that
the helicopter could be used to bring in arms caches.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager Ben Ncube was
not immediately available for comment. But a senior CAAZ officials
confirmed the closure of the airstrips and the flying restrictions
saying this was for security reasons.
"I can confirm that this has been going on since the election as a
security measure but I do not have any other details," he said.
A week prior to the election CAAZ and the Airforce of Zimbabwe issued
a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) instructing the closure of all airstrips
within a 25 nautical miles (46km) radius of Harare International
Airport with the exception of Charles Prince Airport in Mt Hampden
north-west of Harare.
The NOTAM was supposed to be in force until a week after the election
but security organs have ordered a renewal of the restriction, with
the latest coming last Friday. Aviation sources said the authorities
wanted to prevent all flying activity from any airstrip. Planes cannot
even be flown into Charles Prince to operate from there in future, the
sources said. The ban is adversely affecting farmers and business
people.
The Zimbabwean
Friday, 02 May 2008 12:54
HARARE - Zimbabwe's military junta has shutdown all airstrips in and
around Harare in a bid to limit the use of small private aircraft,
ostensibly because they pose a security risk.
The Zimbabwean on Sunday heard that orders went out a week before the
controversial March 29 poll that all airstrips be shutdown because of
"security concerns." The orders were renewed last Friday.
This is not the first time that government has placed restrictions on
flying.
The restrictions in Harare were enforced, sources said, after it was
rumoured that Movement for Democratic
Change president Morgan Tsvangirai was shuttling between Zimbabwe and
neighbouring countries using a light aircraft. The MDC has dismissed
reports of the alleged secret visits by Tsvangirai.
In the run-up to the general election, a helicopter that was due
to be used by Tsvangirai to access far remote places such as
Matabeleland North, was impounded by the authorities and the pilot
arrested but later released without charge.
The chopper had been chartered for Tsvangirai by exiled MDC
treasurer general Roy Bennett. Mugabe intimated at a rally then that
the helicopter could be used to bring in arms caches.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager Ben Ncube was
not immediately available for comment. But a senior CAAZ officials
confirmed the closure of the airstrips and the flying restrictions
saying this was for security reasons.
"I can confirm that this has been going on since the election as a
security measure but I do not have any other details," he said.
A week prior to the election CAAZ and the Airforce of Zimbabwe issued
a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) instructing the closure of all airstrips
within a 25 nautical miles (46km) radius of Harare International
Airport with the exception of Charles Prince Airport in Mt Hampden
north-west of Harare.
The NOTAM was supposed to be in force until a week after the election
but security organs have ordered a renewal of the restriction, with
the latest coming last Friday. Aviation sources said the authorities
wanted to prevent all flying activity from any airstrip. Planes cannot
even be flown into Charles Prince to operate from there in future, the
sources said. The ban is adversely affecting farmers and business
people.