People of Tari urged to take ownership of airport

THE people of Tari and Hela have been urged to take ownership of the Tari Airport as it reopens to larger aircraft on Monday.
Deputy National Airports Corporation chairman Jerry Agus made the call yesterday in front of Hela administrator William Bando, LinkPNG (Air Niugini subsidiary) general manager Bruce Alabaster, NAC chief executive Richard Yopo and contractor Micah Vines of Parohu Engineers..
Tari Airport has been closed to
Dash-8 aircraft for the past three months because of ongoing lawlessness in the Hela capital, as well as damage caused by the February 26 earthquake.
“Airport infrastructure is important to all of us,” Agus said. “This is especially so for the citizens of this country.
“Due to the unforgiving terrain of the country, air transport is very important.
“Those of us who already have airports really need to look after them because airports and the aerodrome area is a highly regulated area.
“There must not be any interference or disturbance around the airport area.
“It is very important for all stakeholders, especially the landowners and people living in and around the airport to really look after this facility.
“National Airports Corporation cannot compromise the safety and security of our operators who are operating in these airports, and the safety and security of our passengers.
“If we get any reports, or anything of any nature about disturbance of anything around the airport, we have no choice but to put a temporary or stop.”
Alabaster said LinkPNG operated by rules and safety.
Alabaster commended NAC and the Hela government for making it possible to resume flights to Tari.
Bando thanked NAC and Link-PNG for restoring the air services saying that Hela government spent K160,000 to upgrade the airport.