Geingob ditches unsafe Eros
President Hage Geingob has stopped flying to and from the Eros Airport due to safety concerns linked to the dilapidated runway.
The poor state of the Eros runway has now forced the presidential jet to land and take off from Hosea Kutako International Airport, which is situated about 45km outside Windhoek.
Other operators at the Eros Airport have also raised concerns about the safety of the runway. Acting Namibia Airports Company (NAC) CEO Albertus Aochamub said yesterday that upgrades were needed at the Eros Airport. “The president does not fly from here anymore because of the old dilapidated runway.” Aochamub said there were also safety concerns among operators using the airport. The works ministry's budget vote was debated and approved on Monday. “The government is serious about what we have promised with regards to transport infrastructure,” works and transport minister John Mutorwa said. He said the government had attempted to provide a significant amount of money to upgrade transport infrastructure in the country. He however stressed that the NAC should not wait until the budget was signed off by Geingob before starting planning.
“Once the budget is signed there will not be enough time for practical implementation. I want to see that your plans are ready.” According to Mutorwa money was allocated for Eros Airport. “As soon as money is available, we will address these issues and safety concerns at the airport,” said Aochamub. Lithon Project Consultants has been appointed for the rehabilitation of the Eros Airport runway and taxi ways and apron extensions, with construction to start by the middle of this year. The runway was built in 1956 and the upgrades will cost more than N$500 million. In 2016, Eros Airport handled an incredible 74 356 passengers and 17 620 aircraft movements by commercial, private and scheduled traffic, ranging from high-performance jet aircraft to Cessna 201 aircraft, which is the most commonly used aircraft for charter and fly-in safaris in Namibia.
ELLANIE SMIT
The poor state of the Eros runway has now forced the presidential jet to land and take off from Hosea Kutako International Airport, which is situated about 45km outside Windhoek.
Other operators at the Eros Airport have also raised concerns about the safety of the runway. Acting Namibia Airports Company (NAC) CEO Albertus Aochamub said yesterday that upgrades were needed at the Eros Airport. “The president does not fly from here anymore because of the old dilapidated runway.” Aochamub said there were also safety concerns among operators using the airport. The works ministry's budget vote was debated and approved on Monday. “The government is serious about what we have promised with regards to transport infrastructure,” works and transport minister John Mutorwa said. He said the government had attempted to provide a significant amount of money to upgrade transport infrastructure in the country. He however stressed that the NAC should not wait until the budget was signed off by Geingob before starting planning.
“Once the budget is signed there will not be enough time for practical implementation. I want to see that your plans are ready.” According to Mutorwa money was allocated for Eros Airport. “As soon as money is available, we will address these issues and safety concerns at the airport,” said Aochamub. Lithon Project Consultants has been appointed for the rehabilitation of the Eros Airport runway and taxi ways and apron extensions, with construction to start by the middle of this year. The runway was built in 1956 and the upgrades will cost more than N$500 million. In 2016, Eros Airport handled an incredible 74 356 passengers and 17 620 aircraft movements by commercial, private and scheduled traffic, ranging from high-performance jet aircraft to Cessna 201 aircraft, which is the most commonly used aircraft for charter and fly-in safaris in Namibia.
ELLANIE SMIT
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