The Commission of Inquiry probing the copter crash heard that “less qualified” police pilots were used for VIP transport.
Executive Director of the
Kenya Association of Air Operators, Colonel Karumba Waithaka, said an
audit report by a committee of experts on the Police Airwing showed
pilots without the required qualifications undertook VIP flights.
Col
Waithaka was the chairperson of the experts that handed over the report
to the late minister in November last year. The report has not been
made public.
“We found out pilots holding private license were
assigned to fly VIPs, which is rather unusual in aviation practice. That
license is the lowest in the field,” he said.
He explained that
flying has categories of licenses beginning with the Private Pilot’s
License, followed by the Commercial Pilot’s License, which is the second
highest. The highest is the Airline Pilot Transport License.
The expert said less qualified pilots were also used in flying on remote and dangerous missions.
In
response to questions from lawyer Fredrick Ngatia, for the late Prof
George Saitoti’s family, the expert said the Airwing should develop a
clear policy on transporting VIPs by assigning the most qualified
pilots.
Grounded aircraft
Waithaka added safety systems at the Airwing as well as maintenance procedures needed to be improved urgently.
The
Airwing has many grounded aircraft, thanks to long procurement
procedures within the Government to get spares. The report recommended
the police be exempted from the official procurement regulations to
enable them get spares directly from manufacturers.
“All their
aircraft were uninsured and that was a major concern to us. We
recommended that they be insured immediately,” he said.
“If the report is made public and implemented fully, it would make the Kenya Police Airwing a viable and safe entity,” he said.
The
report finalized in April last year has since remained under wraps.
Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the
report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all
aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them
after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how
mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would
boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
The
report finalised in April last year has since remained under wraps.
Airwing Commandant Col Rodgers Mbithi lamented he has never received the
report.
Waithaka also called on the Government to release all
aircraft accident reports rather than sitting on them or releasing them
after editing.
“The reports would help air operators trace how
mistakes happened and prevent recurrence of the same. The move would
boost aviation safety. It is not a matter of passing blame,” he said.
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