State hopeful of EU flight ban lifting

GOVERNMENT is hopeful that the ban imposed on local airlines by European Union’s international operational safety audit will be lifted this year following a number of safety measures put in place.

Communications and Transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga said Government is working to ensure that the blacklisting of Zambian operators into the EU market is lifted this year.

In an interview, Mr Sichinga said the problem that resulted in banning of local airlines flying into the European Union zone was the inadequate capacity of safety staff.

He said Government is aware of the challenges facing the aviation department and is committed to addressing them.

He said Government has increased funding to the Department of Civil Aviation and embarked on training personnel to ensure that the safety of travellers is not comprised.

Mr Sichinga said his ministry is seeking more funding from the Treasury to train more people to undertake safety measures.

“We are sending personnel from the Department of Civil Aviation to train abroad and locally. We are also working with the private sector to ensure safety standards are maintained together with officers from the Department of Civil Aviation,” he said.

He said the three million euros pledged by the EU to support the department and Government efforts to ensure that local airlines comply with safety standards is part of the goodwill from co-operating partners.

“We are very hopeful that the ban will be lifted this year. It’s a process that takes time but we are working closely with the Department of Civil Aviation,” he said.

Mr Sichinga said the emergency operation safety standards carried out by National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) at Lusaka International Airport last week was one of the safety preparatory measures in line with the international operational safety audit.

The emergency preparedness plan exercise caused panic in Lusaka as some residents rushed to the airport following reports that a plane had crashed.
The airport was a hive of activity as relatives of some passengers rushed to the airport in panic, after word went round that a plane had crashed.

[Zambia Daily Mail]