NAC stops flights to Buka over safety issues

THE National Airports Corporation has stopped all flights to and from Buka airport starting this week due to “heightened safety and security risks”.
In a notice to the local government, it said Buka Airport “will be closed to aircraft operations for an indefinite period”.
National Airports Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Richard Yopo, pictured, said in a statement aircraft operations into Buka had that always been, and still is, a high safety risk.
“Many incidents have been reported by aircraft on landing and taking off, of pedestrians, animals and vehicles crossing the runway during aircraft operation,” he said.
“Interfering with, and damaging PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) lights, pedestrians and animals crossing, vehicles driving on the runway, runway strips being used as playground by nearby villagers and Buka town residents, have been a norm.
“All the reported incidents, compliance audit reports by NAC, airlines and regulator resulted in securing funds for the fencing of the airside of Buka Airport.
The project commenced in January last year. Duration of the project was to be 12 months, meaning the current fencing project should have finished in December 2017.
“The project has gone over its time line due to constant interference and stoppage of work by former landowners, constant threat against employees of the contractor and NAC plus theft of fencing materials, lack of intervention by ABG authorities to resolve former landowner issues.”
Yopo said for the airport to be reopened, NAC would require all the issues resolved by the ABG authorities, and commitments and strategies put in place to ensure law and order was maintained, so the contractor could continue its work without hindrance.