Korongo suspends domestic flights after ICAO declares Congo as a
country in default and non-compliant.
Congo DR, already notorious in the world of aviation for all the wrong
reasons, has done it again as after a lapse of a nearly 11 year period
to accomplish compliance with international standards, has ICAO
declared all navigational aids for domestic airports as in default and
non-compliant. It is understood that all VOR and ILS equipment serving
Congo's domestic airports, is out of service, forcing airlines to fly
their approach under VFR conditions which in this day and age of jet
aviation is ordinarily reserved for light aircraft traffic but not for
commercial jets on scheduled or non-scheduled flights.
As a result has the country's only EU certified airline, Korongo,
announced the immediate suspension of all domestic services as of
yesterday's evening flights.
Korongo, a locally registered airline, has Brussels Airlines as a
major shareholder and complies fully with EASA standards and
regulations, the only Congolese airline to do so. The following
statement was availed overnight shedding more light on the situation:
Start quote:

In 2003 ICAO had given a moratorium to the DRC to recalibrate its
equipment. 10 years later nothing has been done. RVA has therefore
been forced to notify operators that all navigational aids on
Congolese territory (VOR, ILS) are out of service. Thereby we can no
longer operate under IFR conditions (instrument flight rules). In
accordance with the prescribed regulatory national and international
guidelines are we de facto forced to suspend all of our domestic
flights from tonight 5: 00 pm. [Yesterday 02nd
June 2014] [Our flight to] Johannesburg is not affected because the
RVA has not suspended the system ILS in place on the [flight path
into]Lubumbashi. We therefore maintain our flights to / departing from
Johannesburg. The RVA is in contact with ICAO to request a final grace
period that would allow to [accomplishing compliance]. Given the
stakes, it is obvious that Korongo Airlines and its shareholder
Brussels Airlines shall make every effort to assist the DRC in the
search for solutions.
Waiting for a response from ICAO, we have cancelled this evening
flights ZC105/106 and tomorrow ZC103/104.
[As a] precautionary measure we also closed the sale [for] flights
ZC103/104 on Wednesday.
We'll be sure to keep informed our partners and our passengers of any
new development.
We are aware that we may be the only ones to take our responsabilities
[seriously] but we remain convinced that the commitment of Korongo
Airlines to operate in full compliance with the relevant Congolese and
international[aviation safety standards] is the only way, the only one
to make a difference in the interests of our passengers.
We are aware that our passengers are the first affected by this
situation, we hope that the Congolese authorities will take all
necessary steps to allow us a resumption of flights in complete safety
and in accordance with the regulations in force.
A regular source from the airport in Goma was swift to comment on the
development by saying: 'The priorities of the regime in Kinshasa are
clearly not focusing on such crucial infrastructure elements on which
aviation depends. The system is fundamentally corrupt and the capacity
of the regulators in terms of monitoring and enforcement is simply not
up to international standards. Lacking qualified personnel who are
well trained and well paid opens the entire system to abuse. I mince
no words, this is the main reason why the record of accidents in Congo
is so bad. Check tomorrow which airlines continued to fly for the
motive of profit and it tells the story'.
It is understood from additional information received that Congo's CAA
until last evening continued to fly and there is no indication of
flights being suspended in the morning, making Korongo's decision all
the more courageous and commendable. Clearly here is an airline which
puts safety first before profits. . Watch this space for breaking and
regular aviation news from across Eastern and Central Africa.
http://www.google.ca/gwt/x?gl=CA&hl=en-CA&u=http://wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/korongo-suspends-domestic-flights-after-icao-declares-congo-as-a-country-in-default/&source=s&q=Korongo+suspends+domestic+flights+after+ICAO+declares+Congo+as+a+country+in&sa=X&ei=lAaNU4-ePKy-sQS4vIG4Ag&ved=0CCIQFjAA
--
SIBOMANA Jean Bosco
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Posted by: Jean Bosco Sibomana <sibomanaxyz999@gmail.com>
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