NCAA gives Paragon clean bill of health
More airlines suspend Namibian cargo operations
The aviation regulator says the Namibian entity has ticked all required local certification boxes.
The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says Paragon Aviation Services, which recently took over ground handling services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), satisfies all its requirements to provide those services.
Several airlines have suspended cargo operations at Hosea Kutako airport following Paragon’s takeover last Saturday, citing aviation security issues and other cargo handling certifications, approvals and protocols.
Yesterday, Airlink, which owns 40% of local operator FlyNamibia, suspended its cargo operation at Hosea Kutako, citing those very reasons.
"If Airlink continues providing a cargo service at Windhoek without these, the integrity of its operations and international aviation safety and security will be compromised," it said in a statement.
All protocol observed
Paragon replaced British firm Menzies Aviation after a marathon court battle that continues unabated. Menzies were evicted on Saturday night, ushering in a new Paragon era – which has caused a commotion among airlines, with some having diverted their flights to South Africa.
Paragon Aviation, owned by businessmen Desmond Amunyela and Lazarus Jacobs, is in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, a recognised continental leader in the aviation space.
NCAA executive director Toska Sem said Paragon was scrutinised and vetted, removing any doubt that it was not up to the task of providing ground handling services at the airport.
"Paragon’s screening machines adhere to international security protocols, meeting rigorous security protocols," Sem told Namibian Sun on Tuesday.
Meticulous screening conducted
Included in the audit of Paragon’s readiness to operate as a ground handling service provider were continuous assessments carried out on its warehouse, Sem said.
"These meticulous assessments reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to security measures, resulting in the issuance of a probationary regulated agent certificate. Notably, these assessments included robust access control protocols, meticulous screening methodologies and precise cargo storage requisites," he confirmed.
"The outcomes affirmed Paragon’s consistent compliance with these requirements, culminating in the conferment of a probationary regulated agent certificate," Sem noted.
He hastened to point out that NCAA does not have a mandate to issue the RA3 certification, which is issued by the European Union’s validators for cargo exports from non-EU countries into Europe.
It is not clear if Paragon has obtained this certification, with Jacobs telling the media this week that they "don’t have to prove anything to anyone" except the regulatory authorities.
Menzies and Paragon are currently embroiled in a court saga over a ground handling contract that was awarded to Paragon over a year ago. Despite the awarding of the contract, Menzies has insisted it will take a year to fully vacate the airport and cease conducting ground handling services at the airport.
Menzies had been providing ground handling services since 2014 but failed in its appeal against the Namibia Airports Company’s (NAC) request for it to vacate the premises so that Paragon can take over operations.
Naysayers making noise
Reacting to the scrutiny, Jacobs said his company only owes an explanation to the NCAA and NAC, the regulator and custodian of the airport, respectively.
"Paragon doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, except for the NCAA and the NAC, which is the owner of the airport. The rest is just noise," Jacobs said in response to questions about Paragon’s ability to execute ground handling services at the airport.
He added: "Paragon is on the ground with highly qualified staff members and will focus on the operations to ensure that all passengers and airlines are serviced better than ever before."
Why now?
Jacobs also questioned why Paragon’s ability to manage ground handling services was not brought into question when it was awarded the contract last year.
"Do you not find it interesting that you did not pose these questions to us as early as last year, when we won the bid? It is simple – because you were not fed with this information. We honestly don’t have time for orchestrated campaigns and propaganda," he said.
Several airlines have suspended cargo operations at Hosea Kutako airport following Paragon’s takeover last Saturday, citing aviation security issues and other cargo handling certifications, approvals and protocols.
Yesterday, Airlink, which owns 40% of local operator FlyNamibia, suspended its cargo operation at Hosea Kutako, citing those very reasons.
"If Airlink continues providing a cargo service at Windhoek without these, the integrity of its operations and international aviation safety and security will be compromised," it said in a statement.
All protocol observed
Paragon replaced British firm Menzies Aviation after a marathon court battle that continues unabated. Menzies were evicted on Saturday night, ushering in a new Paragon era – which has caused a commotion among airlines, with some having diverted their flights to South Africa.
Paragon Aviation, owned by businessmen Desmond Amunyela and Lazarus Jacobs, is in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, a recognised continental leader in the aviation space.
NCAA executive director Toska Sem said Paragon was scrutinised and vetted, removing any doubt that it was not up to the task of providing ground handling services at the airport.
"Paragon’s screening machines adhere to international security protocols, meeting rigorous security protocols," Sem told Namibian Sun on Tuesday.
Meticulous screening conducted
Included in the audit of Paragon’s readiness to operate as a ground handling service provider were continuous assessments carried out on its warehouse, Sem said.
"These meticulous assessments reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to security measures, resulting in the issuance of a probationary regulated agent certificate. Notably, these assessments included robust access control protocols, meticulous screening methodologies and precise cargo storage requisites," he confirmed.
"The outcomes affirmed Paragon’s consistent compliance with these requirements, culminating in the conferment of a probationary regulated agent certificate," Sem noted.
He hastened to point out that NCAA does not have a mandate to issue the RA3 certification, which is issued by the European Union’s validators for cargo exports from non-EU countries into Europe.
It is not clear if Paragon has obtained this certification, with Jacobs telling the media this week that they "don’t have to prove anything to anyone" except the regulatory authorities.
Menzies and Paragon are currently embroiled in a court saga over a ground handling contract that was awarded to Paragon over a year ago. Despite the awarding of the contract, Menzies has insisted it will take a year to fully vacate the airport and cease conducting ground handling services at the airport.
Menzies had been providing ground handling services since 2014 but failed in its appeal against the Namibia Airports Company’s (NAC) request for it to vacate the premises so that Paragon can take over operations.
Naysayers making noise
Reacting to the scrutiny, Jacobs said his company only owes an explanation to the NCAA and NAC, the regulator and custodian of the airport, respectively.
"Paragon doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, except for the NCAA and the NAC, which is the owner of the airport. The rest is just noise," Jacobs said in response to questions about Paragon’s ability to execute ground handling services at the airport.
He added: "Paragon is on the ground with highly qualified staff members and will focus on the operations to ensure that all passengers and airlines are serviced better than ever before."
Why now?
Jacobs also questioned why Paragon’s ability to manage ground handling services was not brought into question when it was awarded the contract last year.
"Do you not find it interesting that you did not pose these questions to us as early as last year, when we won the bid? It is simple – because you were not fed with this information. We honestly don’t have time for orchestrated campaigns and propaganda," he said.
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