Cars For The World

Zambian registered airplanes may soon fly into Europe

Time Posted: January 29, 2013 7:03 am
Private planes for white farmers and other organisations parked at the Livingstone airport

Private planes for white farmers and other organisations parked at the Livingstone airport

The European Union may soon lift the ban on Zambian registered airplanes from flying into European airspace following the successful resolution of significant safety concerns.

The development now means that the Zambian government can engage the EU over the possible removal of the EU ban.

Transport, Communications and Works Minister Christopher Yaluma made the revelations during a media briefing this afternoon.

“This is good news for us as a country. For the past three years, no Zambian planes have been flying to the European airspace but this is a crucial step towards lifting that ban,” Mr. Yaluma said.

In 2009, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had conducted an audit on the Zambian civil aviation sector which revealed 98 findings including one significant safety concern.

The significant safety concern was a result of non-compliance to the five phase air operator certification process which ICAO had introduced to ensure that operators applying for air service permits complied with international safety requirements.

Mr. Yaluma said the development is a crucial step towards the removal of Zambia from the ICAO safety watch list and subsequently from the EU ban list.

He expressed optimism that the department of civil aviation will be able to maintain standards and recommended practices demanded by the Convention on Civil Aviation and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

“The Zambian department of Civil Aviation has been engaged with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, through mutually developed corrective action plans detailing how the findings and the significant safety concerns were being addressed step by step through correspondence and exchanging electronic data.”

He added, “Prior to the validation mission, both parties were satisfied that the issues leading to the significant safety concern and other safety related findings were adequately addressed.”

39 Comments

  1. vote
    flag Mwanakayaya Suntwe says: Mwanakayaya Suntwe
    January 29, 2013 at 7:20 am |

    Hon. Minister with due respect, why can’t the same ICAO check the European planes flying our air spaces in Africa. Take for example how many BA aircrafts have had serious faults in our backyard? Emergency landing in Uganda, numerous delays due to technical faults. Emirates the same way. Now my question is why doesn’t DCA in Zambia make a formal complaint and ban all the aged planes from covering these long distances into Africa to continue polluting the air while they themselves have banned these planes? These are double standards that we should not tolerate as country. We will pay a very high price should we continue on this path. Europeans should be told that Africans are humans and they equally deserve the same treatment that they themselves demand on their people.

    Reply
    1. vote
      flag What world do you live in? says: What world do you live in?
      January 29, 2013 at 10:46 am |

      Do you honestly believe that developed countries don’t enforce international standards on their own aircraft? That’s the thing about standards – they apply to everyone!

      Even if someone wanted to accept your racist argument that there are double standards and the airline industry doesn’t care about the safety of African passengers, then why do the airlines board their own nationals (and all other nationals) on the very same aircraft? Flying is inherently risky (but still safer than driving, or even crossing Kafue road on foot!) and no airline (….not even an African one?) would ever risk its reputation or the wrath of regulators for brazenly turning a blind eye as you would have us believe! Think about it.

    2. vote
      flag Shakes Head says: Shakes Head
      January 29, 2013 at 11:58 am |

      Yes in the abstract what you have said makes sense. The reality is however that they keep sending faulty planes here. So whilst the standards quite rightly apply to everyone in law this is not the case in fact.

    3. vote
      flag 50 Cent says: 50 Cent
      January 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm |

      @What world do you live in!!! I do believe developed nations enforce air safety for their aircrafts but what suntwe is saying is somehow true. BA has just presented to many problems for the zambian govt to say something about it. I mean look at whats happening to the new boeing 787 dreamliner. Two minor faults and only one emergency landing and the plane has been grounded by the US govt. This has nothing to do with race and the evidence is just right in front of you to see.

  2. vote
    flag Octopus Paul Bwalya says: Octopus Paul Bwalya
    January 29, 2013 at 7:32 am |

    ANOTHER 90 DAYS DREAM FROM MY FRIEND FROM A POOR FAMILY (PF), IF IT WAS NOT SATA RULING, OOOH SORRY, WE HEAR YOU HALLUCINATE SO MANY THINGS SO GO CHEAT YOUR CADRES BWANA MINISTER NOT US NOERMAL ZAMBIANS

    Reply
    1. vote
      flag Google says: Google
      January 29, 2013 at 10:06 am |

      Maybe you are not normal after all

  3. vote
    flag Exhaust blown Diffuser says: Exhaust blown Diffuser
    January 29, 2013 at 7:35 am |

    Even the presidential jet is banned

    Reply
    1. vote
      flag Zedspetetor says: Zedspetetor
      January 29, 2013 at 10:15 am |

      The presidential jet is registered in South Africa. It’s on lease until paid for in full it’s not Zambian owned

    2. vote
      flag Zedspetetor says: Zedspetetor
      January 29, 2013 at 10:26 am |

      Planes cannot have dual nationality according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules. Zambian registration is 9J written usually on the tail of the plane
      I hope this was helpful

    3. vote
      flag Meek Mill says: Meek Mill
      January 29, 2013 at 10:45 am |

      9J-ONE is the jets registration so it very Zambian

    4. vote
      flag Fool me once says: Fool me once
      January 29, 2013 at 10:52 am |

      Malawi announced yesterday that it is selling it’s Presidential jet to save costs and help pay for development. What value does Zambia’s jet add to this nation?

    5. vote
      flag . says: .
      January 29, 2013 at 11:45 am |

      The presidential jet is just for convenience and privacy nothing more

    6. vote
      flag Distant Drums says: Distant Drums
      January 29, 2013 at 2:49 pm |

      In Zambia the presidential jet is even available to the ‘first lady’ to go on joyrides or is joy flights.

    7. vote
      flag 50 Cent says: 50 Cent
      January 29, 2013 at 5:33 pm |

      I remember reading something about that Jet been bought and paid in full by the then Chiluba govt. I dont think its banned from the european air space. I mean that Jet costs around 25 million US dollars!

    8. vote
      flag TEe TEe says: TEe TEe
      January 29, 2013 at 6:52 pm |

      The Presidential Jet is registered in Zambia. With a number 9J-ONE.

    9. vote
      flag Zedspetetor says: Zedspetetor
      January 29, 2013 at 10:29 pm |

      Thank you very much for your correction guys

  4. vote
    flag Mwansa Kabinga says: Mwansa Kabinga
    January 29, 2013 at 7:46 am |

    We wonder as to which national airline is Zambia flagging to fly into Europe. So far I would rather fly southward and connect from Oliver Tambo Airport, of fly to Kenya or Ethiopia and connect from Nairobi or Addis Ababa enroute to Europe. Let Mahtani revive his Zambian Express for which we are ready to shun in the spirit of tit-for-tat. This man has caused more damaging havoc to this country.

    Reply
  5. vote
    flag Enka Rasha says: Enka Rasha
    January 29, 2013 at 7:58 am |

    Only three countries in sub sahara have a respectable aviation sector- Ethiopia,Kenya and South Africa. Zambia and the rest of the african crowd are just pretenders and should remain banned till we get serious business-wise and in safety standards.

    Reply
    1. vote
      flag bla bla says: bla bla
      January 29, 2013 at 9:10 am |

      I wonder how well informed your opinion is. I for one would add RwandAir to your list…a relatively young airline which has brand new planes in it fleet and flies to not only regional destinations in East Africa but also to Southern (JHB) Africa and West (Lagos) and international destinations such as Dubai and Brussells. There level of service is at par or may be even superior to the three you mention

    2. vote
      flag Fool me once says: Fool me once
      January 29, 2013 at 10:54 am |

      Oh yeah…. RwandAir. I remember them – they’re the airline that taxied a plane though the window of their own terminal building a few years ago.

  6. vote
    flag CM Pa Zed says: CM Pa Zed
    January 29, 2013 at 9:11 am |

    By the way which airline does this article refer to? Lifting the ban depends on the aircraft in use by the registered airline. At the moment, we dont have an airline and we dont have aircrafts!!! This story is bullocks!!!

    Reply
  7. vote
    flag jongosh says: jongosh
    January 29, 2013 at 9:13 am |

    “White farmers” – What does that even mean??

    Reply
  8. vote
    flag wusakili says: wusakili
    January 29, 2013 at 9:49 am |

    the minister is just wasting our time. we don’t even have an airline. so no need to worry whether it is lifted or not.

    Reply
  9. vote
    flag GBM@hotmail.com says: GBM@hotmail.com
    January 29, 2013 at 9:56 am |

    YAYAYAYA day dreaming at breakfast

    Reply
  10. vote
    flag sana says: sana
    January 29, 2013 at 10:52 am |

    CANT WAIT FOR TODAY VERY EXCITED.
    ZAMBIA BALANGE!

    Reply
  11. vote
    flag BOOM & WHATEVER says: BOOM & WHATEVER
    January 29, 2013 at 10:56 am |

    We can do without European airlines flying into Zambian airspace and Europeans are fully aware of this fact. Europeans need us more than ever in the sense that African economies are performing better than the traditional European ecnomies. Despite the fact that the EU is one still one the biggest markets on the globe, it’s influence is diminishing at a much faster rate than previously thought.
    This is one of the bargaining chips we can use in our negotiations with Europeans in balancing their conducts in business dealings which have significant influence on all africans.
    We can only succeed if we identify areas we can neutralise so as to benefit both stakeholders in a given transactions involving Africans and Europeans.

    Reply
  12. vote
    flag Tim says: Tim
    January 29, 2013 at 11:47 am |

    Hurry up! I can’t wait, man.

    Reply
  13. vote
    flag chills says: chills
    January 29, 2013 at 12:08 pm |

    Our leaders are really letting us down.All this is due to greed and lack of planning.Can we please demand that we restore some pride into our nation

    Reply
  14. vote
    flag Mbambande says: Mbambande
    January 29, 2013 at 12:19 pm |

    Ba Yaluma you talk like your boss. Multitudes of hollow words. European Union is not an institution to mock around as you mock Zambians with 90 days, districts, constitution making or even corruption on others and shield PF cadres. You will never fly a Zambian place into European air space with the calibre and incompetence of the current Zambian leadership. EU may simply ask you to comply to democratic norms or human rights code of conduct (though nothing to do with air freght business) ask Mugabe. Compliance regulations of lifting the ban go beyond those utterances you are making. The world is too complicated for PF govt. to fit with.

    Reply
  15. vote
    flag katombola says: katombola
    January 29, 2013 at 12:28 pm |

    Muzungu, the trouble maker with insults.

    Reply
  16. vote
    flag Kamuganda Westerner says: Kamuganda Westerner
    January 29, 2013 at 1:17 pm |

    Jean-Fidele Diramba (born June 15, 1952), is a former football referee from the African state of Gabon. He is known for having officiated the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Diramba officiated the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Algiers between Algeria and Nigeria.[1]
    Jean-Fidele Diramba was the referee in a World Cup USA ’1994 qualifying match between Morocco and Zambia. Morocco won the match 1-0. The officiating created a lot of controversy from the Zambian side due to a number of decisions. Being from Gabon, off whose coast the Zambian team perished, increased the tensions since the Gabonsese allegedly were impeding the progress of the investigation into the airplane crash. Protests were held in Lusaka the following day. FAZ (Football Association of Zambia) filed a…

    Reply
  17. vote
    flag Distant Drums says: Distant Drums
    January 29, 2013 at 2:53 pm |

    Are those potholes I can see on that Livingstone airstrip tarmac?

    Reply
  18. vote
    flag Jay Jay says: Jay Jay
    January 29, 2013 at 2:53 pm |

    Minister be realistic even if the ban is lifted which private airline in Zambia can afford to fly to Europe and also compete on price with the big international airlines….unless you are still have your archaic nostalgic idea of creating an airline.
    Please just focus on important issues at home like front line services and don’t think of silly ways to waste tax!

    Reply
  19. vote
    flag Ntweno says: Ntweno
    January 29, 2013 at 3:23 pm |

    The ban is lifted until such a time that we have planes to fly into Europe. That is when it will be re-introduced. As at now they are just trying to make the mini-star happy knowing there is no plane anyway.

    Reply
  20. vote
    flag 50 Cent says: 50 Cent
    January 29, 2013 at 5:30 pm |

    point

    Reply
  21. vote
    flag Mike says: Mike
    January 29, 2013 at 6:23 pm |

    Why should we allow double deeping happening to us when we can actually make stringent measures work in our favor.Seriousness is needed bagovernment naimwe.

    Reply
  22. vote
    flag Virtual airline says: Virtual airline
    January 30, 2013 at 1:11 am |

    Which airlines do we have that are capable of flying to europe? Minister is saying irrelevant things.

    Reply
  23. vote
    flag Mwana_Nkana says: Mwana_Nkana
    January 30, 2013 at 4:31 am |

    planes to europe futi…hmmm dream on or is mama masebo planning on using the planes to steal animals …like ‘tigers’and sell them in europe..napapata sana!kwena aba abantu ba la sabayila

    Reply
  24. vote
    flag Great Electronic Cigarettes says: Great Electronic Cigarettes
    February 11, 2013 at 3:07 am |

    We stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking into your web page for a second time.

    Reply

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