IPC flags Walvis airspace downgrade

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has raised concerns over the downgrading of the airspace at Walvis Bay International Airport to Class G, warning that the move could compromise aviation safety and disrupt commercial operations.

IPC shadow minister of works and transport Nelson Kalangula said the downgrade followed concerns over delays and inaccuracies in Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs), which provide critical weather information to aircraft operators.

According to IPC, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Wednesday indicated that the airport’s airspace had been downgraded to Class G, meaning uncontrolled airspace. The party described the development as a “major operational setback” for Namibia’s aviation sector and its secondary international gateway.

IPC said the downgrade was particularly concerning given Walvis Bay’s coastal fog and poor-visibility conditions. It argued that the absence of mandatory air traffic control separation services would require commercial flight crews to rely on self-sequencing.

-STAFF REPORTER