Namibia preps for aviation safety audit
ICAO audit slated for April 2024
Namibia's aviation stakeholders have appointed a steering committee to ensure everything is in order for Namibia to pass an international aviation safety audit next year.
Namibia’s aviation sector is unlikely to be affected by the standoff between Menzies Aviation and Paragon regarding a ground handling contract at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has said.
Namibia is putting in all the preparatory work to ensure that it would pass an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit scheduled to take place next April, NAC CEO Bisey /Uirab said during a consultative meeting held to discuss the recent impasse.
"We are getting ready, ourselves, the regulator, and even other players – even the private partners are getting ready for this audit, and we remain confident as a state that we should pass this process," /Uirab said of efforts to ensure Namibia passes its safety audit.
"I don’t think it will have an impact... the ICAO audit is not on the NAC only; it is state-owned; the entire aviation industry is affected; that is the normal process," he added.
Addressing shortcomings
He emphasised that Namibia's aviation stakeholders appointed a steering committee to ensure that everything was in order and that the country would pass the audit.
"The steering committee met, and we are addressing issues where we feel there will be shortcomings. Again, there will never be a time when you will have 100% compliance or everything. There will always be something identified; that is normal. The question is now, are you in a position to address these shortcomings identified, and that is the process we are going through," /Uirab said.
Ground handling dispute
Menzies Aviation, which provided ground handling services at the airport, was recently evicted from the airport after the contract to provide ground handling services was handed to Paragon.
Menzies has since challenged the eviction and has now also launched a challenge to the tender process amid claims that Paragon does not have the requisite knowledge or experience to provide ground-handling services at the airport.
Namibia is putting in all the preparatory work to ensure that it would pass an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit scheduled to take place next April, NAC CEO Bisey /Uirab said during a consultative meeting held to discuss the recent impasse.
"We are getting ready, ourselves, the regulator, and even other players – even the private partners are getting ready for this audit, and we remain confident as a state that we should pass this process," /Uirab said of efforts to ensure Namibia passes its safety audit.
"I don’t think it will have an impact... the ICAO audit is not on the NAC only; it is state-owned; the entire aviation industry is affected; that is the normal process," he added.
Addressing shortcomings
He emphasised that Namibia's aviation stakeholders appointed a steering committee to ensure that everything was in order and that the country would pass the audit.
"The steering committee met, and we are addressing issues where we feel there will be shortcomings. Again, there will never be a time when you will have 100% compliance or everything. There will always be something identified; that is normal. The question is now, are you in a position to address these shortcomings identified, and that is the process we are going through," /Uirab said.
Ground handling dispute
Menzies Aviation, which provided ground handling services at the airport, was recently evicted from the airport after the contract to provide ground handling services was handed to Paragon.
Menzies has since challenged the eviction and has now also launched a challenge to the tender process amid claims that Paragon does not have the requisite knowledge or experience to provide ground-handling services at the airport.
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