SWACCA a Royal Start to a New Aviation Era

SWACCA A royal start to a new aviation era

www.swacaa.co.sz SWACA A A royal start to a new aviation era The opening of King Mswati III International Airport was the proudest moment to date for the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority (SWACAA) and its Director General, Solomon Dube, who spoke to us of his vision for Swaziland’s prosperity SWACAA

Mr James Danga (SADC),Mr Serge Divounguy (ICAO TCB) Mr David Waller (EASA),Mr Solomon Dube (SWACAA) Mr Jacinto Lopez Naval (EASA)

n March 7 this year King Mswati Like all civil aviation activity in Swaziland, King General Solomon Dube. “The State of III of Swaziland officially opened Mswati III International Airport is administered Swaziland had been audited in July 2007 O the new international airport, also by the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority “It became necessary to under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit known as King Mswati III. A key component (SWACAA). This organisation was established establish an autonomous Programme agreed to by International Civil of the Millennium Development goals (MDG) in 2009 as a parastatal organisation, with the Aviation Organisation (ICAO) member programme, the $280 million project is not mandate to provide, on a commercial basis, air body that would focus states in an assembly of 2004. The overall unattended by controversy, but is seen as transport services and the regulation of civil on the growth and level of effective implementation (LEI) essential if Swaziland is to make the most of aviation activities in Swaziland in accordance of ICAO standards and recommended its geographical advantages and become a with international standards. professional management practices was found to be 16.7 percent.” mini hub within southern Africa, providing a A robust regulator was much needed, of the industry” Clearly this would not do. A corrective complementary role to OR Tambo Airport as Swaziland was not up to speed with action plan (CAP) detailing what Swaziland only a couple of hundred miles to the west. international practice, explains Director needed to do to correct the deficiencies SWACAA

found by the audit was submitted to inauguration of the authority set the stage ICAO and Dube, who had been involved in for modernisation of civil air communications developing the CAP, was appointed to lead in Swaziland, and by far the biggest task in the newly set up authority. hand was the construction of the new Sikuphe Dube is the only executive member of the International Airport, now renamed King Board. As managing director of SWACAA he Mswati III, as a fitting gateway to the country presides over Executive Committee (senior for the tens of thousands of tourists who fly in management) meetings. “As civil aviation is annually to visit Swaziland’s game parks and a very technical and heavily regulated global the nation’s rich culture. industry,” he explains, “it became necessary The new airport can accommodate fully to establish an autonomous body that laden Boeing 747 Jumbo jets and other would focus on the growth and professional large aircraft like the Boeing 777 and Airbus management of the industry, with the Minister 340. KMIII is located on flat terrain with of Transport as its political head.” The good visibility and is a strategic gateway to

“To attract foreign direct investment and foreign Aerial view of King Mswati III exchange, overseas visitors to the country and International Airport the region need direct access”

Swaziland and the surrounding the airport staff offices; and region for tourism and business. Did you know? on the first floor a further The new airport will boost passenger concourse and arrival Swaziland tourism because the 300 and departure lounges. old airport in Matsapha could Hourly passenger KMIII is now the Kingdom’s receive only regional aircraft. capacity at KMIII major international hub Tourists used to have to land in connecting Swaziland directly South Africa and take a bus to $280 million with the world. The airport is get to Swaziland, and cargo from Cost of the designed to accommodate all over the world was dropped new airport projected future air passenger in South Africa and had to be and cargo demands for the brought in on trucks or by rail. region, and incorporates This is a thoroughly 21st terminal buildings, a VIP century facility that currently passenger lounge, air navigation has more bells and whistles than the amount and ground handling equipment, and all of tourist traffic – currently around one million associated airport operations equipment. a year – really requires. The 7,000 square Despite a slow start two airlines have now metre passenger terminal can handle and confirmed operations at the airport with process about 300 passengers an hour, while additional flights to Johannesburg, South the parking area caters for 200 vehicles. Africa and new routes directly to Durban, Aviation Security Officers: The three levels of the terminal building Mozambique and Cape Town. Saneliso Mabuza and Likhwa Dlamini house, from the bottom up: the passenger The former international airport will now concourse and baggage handling facilities; be used for other ventures since the new SWACAA

facility can cope with all the international and regional traffic for a long while to come, continues Solomon Dube. “The plan is to develop Matsapha Airport into an army base and general aviation facility. There is also a viable proposal on the table to develop an aviation training centre there – Swaziland is the ideal place for pilots to learn their skills because of our quiet skies!” Though SWACAA will now have the job of attracting more international carriers to join in with Swaziland Airlink and choose Swaziland as a destination or stopover, further development is already being planned, says Dube. “Phase 1 was just enough to enable aircraft to land on a certified airport. Phase two is planned but will only be implemented once there is a business case in response to traffic demand. Swaziland is close to the tourism nodes of South East Africa. It is peaceful and friendly with all African countries. The potential exists to create an alternative gateway for tourists to the SADC region and more specifically to the East Three Route developed by the tourism departments of Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. 3.6 km runway of King Mswati III There is also a substantial number of people International Airport from East Africa who visit Swaziland for training purposes. It is expected that as Africa increases its use of air transport, there will be an increased number of direct flights a simple but elegant manner to the highest countries and ICAO Technical Cooperation 1.2 million population of Swaziland to start between cities.” international standards.” Bureau to give practical on job training to using air transport .He would also like to see But tourism is the sector that must at all SWACAA has been tasked by the our inspectors. An ICAO Validation Mission an increasing flow of goods and cargo, in costs be targeted, he continues: “In order to government to make sure that ICAO’s CAP is planned for April 2015. And we are both directions, through the airport. All of attract foreign direct investment and foreign is fully implemented and good progress implementing compliance with the ICAO these objectives are brought into focus by exchange, overseas visitors to the country has already been made towards raising the safety management systems standard, the presence of the new airport, he says, and and the region need direct access. The new scores. “We have led the implementation which encourages safe working practices SWACAA will continue to work tirelessly to airport provides that access and does it in and also roped in experts from developed among employees at all levels. deliver them. Strategic objectives for SWACAA over the next twelve months include growing traffic at KMIII, and developing the entire air transport swacaa industry in Swaziland, not forgetting the “Swaziland is the ideal place for pilots to learn Nhlangano airstrip in the southern part of (00268) 2518 4390 their skills because of our quiet skies!” the country, which is predominantly used [email protected] by the forestry farming community. Dube www.swacaa.co.sz would also like at least ten percent of the SWACCA

(00268) 2518 4390 [email protected] www.swacaa.co.sz

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