Chileka Airport to have navigation aid system soon—govt

Malawi Government says Chileka International Airport in Blantyre will soon be provided with navigation aid system called Instrument Landing System (ILS) to direct landing on the runway particularly during bad weather and at night.

The installation of the ILS is expected to stop delayed landing of planes currently being experienced at the airport.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Public works Moffat Chitimbe told Business News this week that government is yet to complete payment of the system.

He, however, said the delay to finish paying for the machine has come about because the ministry is yet to get funding.

“We placed an order for the machine some time back from a South African company which cost about $691 000 [K284 million]. We managed to pay a little sum of money for the machine and hope to finish the instalment as soon as possible,” said Chitimbe.

He said government is aware of the problem that results due to the absence of the machine and will ensure it is planted as soon as payment is completed.

On Monday, planes failed to land at the airport while some started landing late in the day due to bad weather and the malfunctioning of the ILS.

Malawian Airlines public relations officer Maganizo Mazeze said their company hopes government will soon provide the ILS to the airport, stressing that delaying planes following bad weather is inconveniencing to the company and its passengers.

He said Blantyre is more of a hub for air travel than Lilongwe as such their operations are greatly affected.

“Airlines are forced to cater for extra costs some of which include feeding the passengers, parking space fees, resulting in spending more thereby making losses,” said Mazeze.

“Considering that this is a natural cause, the airline hopes that the airport will soon be provided with the necessary equipment that would enable aircrafts operation even in bad weather as is the case in other countries,” he said.

According to records, the airport has ILS category one but is not functioning.