GCAA gets tough on safety

Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey (Rtd.), the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), says the Authority is to enforce its strict safety standards to all carriers operating within the countries airspace.

“The GCAA will be very strict on safety issues [on both existing operators and new comers],” he said.

Commodore Mamphey (rtd.), Director-General of the GCAA, was speaking at the presentation of the Air Operating Certificate to Eagle Atlantic Airlines -- an indigenous carrier that will be operating regional flights out of the Kotoka International Airport -- by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) at a ceremony at the Kotoka International Airport.

“The airline has shown perseverance and professionalism during the processes leading up to the certification, proving that the personnel are capable of managing the airline. Although the process which began in February 2010 was very thorough and challenging at times for the airline, it was in line with the highest International Civil Aviation Organisation standards,” Commodore Mamphey (rtd.) said.

Dr. Emmanuel Osei-Acheampong, the Chief Executive Officer Eagle Atlantic, said the airline intends to fill the gap that has been left by the demise of Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines (GIA). He said Eagle Atlantic’s operation will help to facilitate the ECOWAS ideal of free movement for its citizens.

The airline, Dr. Osei-Acheampong said, will create a lot of jobs for Ghanaians and also encourage skills-transfer from its expatriate staff to their local counterparts.

The airline will begin operations on August 16, with flights from Accra to Abidjan, Robertsville- Monrovia and Freetown on an MD 82 aircraft with 147 seats: 12 business class and 135 Economy.

There are currently four local carriers of which two -- Starbow and Fly540 -- have designation to some countries within the sub-region.