No complaints about safety at Tanzania’s airports: authority

Josephine Christopher is a senior business journalist for The Citizen and Mwananchi newspapers

Mwananchi Communications Limitted

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Authority speaks out after Bukoba Airport came in the spotlight following last Sunday's accident involving a Precision Air plane which 19 people died.

However, since the accident occurred, there have been some complaints regarding the quality of some airports in the country, with the secretary of Tanzania Pilots Association (Tapa), Captain Khalil Iqbal revealing that pilots were finding it difficult during take off and landing at Bukoba and Arusha airports.
“These two airports give pilots very tough times during take-off and landing,” he told Mwananchi earlier this week, noting that mountains close to the two airports and inclement weather in the two regions were a causefor concern.
He said there were a number of incidents whereby planes destined for Arusha were forced to do emergency landing at the Kilimanjaro International Airport while those destined for Bukoba land at Mwanza Airport.
But in an apparent reaction to such views, TAA director general Mussa Mbura, said yesterday that they have not received any official complaint regarding the safety and security of any of the 58 airports under its jurisdictions.
“Even before the accident there, we have never received complaints or concerns from any pilot or passengers regarding the safety of our airports, not just Bukoba but all of the airports,” Mr Mbura said yesterday.
He said according to the recent assessment of international technical and safety standards by The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Tanzania achieved a 67 percentile in airport safety and security which is above the minimum requirement of 60 percent.
Apart from the 58 airports under the TAA, there were hundreds of other airports and airstrips which are owned by the government and its different institutions while others are owned by private sector institutions such as individuals, businesses, mines, and others
“We do not have any single airport that has been categorised as unsafe. All our airports are safe,” he said.
Regarding the availability of rescue equipment and personnel at the airports to handle aviation emergencies, Mr Mbura said safety was one of the priorities and that all airports are well equipped.
“At every airport, there are fire stations, where there are rescue equipment and trained personnel who are tasked to handle any incident.
“We also use technology, which assists on making timely communication queries and flight handling. Technology is also applied in our rescue efforts, “said Mbura in a statement that must leave pundits wondering as to where were these people when fishermen were rescuing victims of Sunday’s PW crash.
He said the rescue personnel is also receiving frequent training both locally and internationally, such response training includes emergency drills that according to international starboard be done every year at every airport.
“These practice procedures that respond to an emergency are created to measure the preparedness and capabilities of an airport. People have also seen those here in Tanzania more than once, we have it,” he said.
TAA also said it’s in full coordination and cooperating with other aviation authorities and experts that are tasked to investigate the accident.
“We are ready to receive any recommendation suggested to us from the investigation report,” said TAA boss Mbura.