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Some
statements have been made through the media purporting that
the Kenyan airspace is unsafe following the industrial action
by some sections of the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA)
staff. These statements have clearly misrepresented the facts
and deserve some clarification.
Immediately
after some DCA personnel commenced their strike action on
30/3/2002, the Department set in motion a contingency plan
using middle and senior Managers who quickly contained the
situation and were later joined by other staff following the
appeal to return to work.
The
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) contingency
plan was never invoked as there was no total breakdown of
services but the Department was in contact with ICAO and International
Air Transport Association (IATA), continuously assessing the
situation and the outcome has been satisfactory, in line with
ICAO requirements.
I
wish to confirm that all Air Traffic Control managers used
to contain the situation were practising and qualified personnel
with current validations. The few whose validations were not
current were validated before deployment into active duty.
The contingency programme has worked satisfactorily. However,
to avoid consequences of fatigue more personnel are being
recruited to supplement the DCA staff.
Those
being recruited will undergo aviation medical examination,
retraining and validation, before being deployed to operational
duties. This will ensure that their qualifications, experience
and proficiency conform to the Kenya Civil Aviation Act and
Regulations and the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices
(SARPs).
Measures
have been taken to ensure the safety of air navigation by
temporarily withdrawing some services in domestic airports
during periods when there are no aircraft operating into and
out of those Airports. Consequently, hours of operation at
Malindi, Kisumu, Lokichoggio and Eldoret Airports have been
reduced. The objective of this measure is to strengthen the
Nairobi and Mombasa services by the re-deploying of some of
the staff from these stations.
These
Airports are open during daylight hours. The lighting system
will be available during the normal operational hours as published
in the Aeronautical Information Publication. Aircraft can
therefore, operate visually into and out of these airports.
Hours
of operation at the Moi international Airport have been reduced
temporarily but will be restored in due course. The optimum
hours of operation have been carefully assessed to ensure
minimum impact to flights into and out of the Airport.
I
wish to assure the aviation industry and all airline operators
of our commitment to the highest safety standards in the Nairobi
Flight Information Region. I also wish to reiterate our commitment
to the fair treatment of all personnel involved in the strike.
No
effort will be spared towards the restoration of normal services
as soon as possible.
I
wish to thank all Air Operators, Air travellers and the general
public at large for the support and understanding they have
accorded us during this period.
C.
A. KUTO
DIRECTOR
OF CIVIL AVIATION
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