KIA risks being blacklisted
Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) risks being blacklisted by the International Civil Aviation Organiation (Icao) if it does not upgrade its standards by 2020, the airport’s commandant Macletcher Bongwe has confirmed.
Some of the equipment that needs upgrading includes the radar system.
Said Bongwe: “Icao will in the year 2020 start blacklisting airports that will be without airport surveillance system and KIA is at the moment one such airport. So, if by that time we will be in our present state, then we will risk being blacklisted.”
He said this on Tuesday when members of the Japanese Team of House of Councillors visited the airport.
Bongwe, however, expressed optimism that KIA would not be affected since the Japanese government has embarked on a project to expand KIA and install modern equipment, in addition to capacity building of some key staff at the airport.
Airport Development Ltd (ADL) chief executive officer Rodrick Chattaika said the airport project is scheduled to start in March this year and is expected to run for three years.
He said: “At the moment, some works have started where we are moving water pipes and electricity cables in preparation of the actual work and what will follow before March will be clearing of the project area.”
Speaking on behalf of the Japanese delegation, Iwao Horii said the team was pleased with what they saw in the country pertaining to Japanese sponsored projects.
The team also visited Masauko Chipembere Highway in Blantyre, Mangochi Bridge, honey producing locals in Mangochi and one of the secondary schools in Lilongwe which represented the country’s interventions in the education sector. n
