Starbow directed to train staff and review its operational procedures

The Minister of Aviation, Madam Cecilia Dapaah, has disclosed that, almost defunct domestic airline, Starbow has been directed to retrain and ensure that it employs qualified and certified staff.

According to the Aviation Minister, the Starbow one of the two domestic airliner which was in operation, has also been directed to review its operational procedures to avoid any accidents in the future.

Answering an urgent question in parliament, she said, the new directive was contained in specialized investigative report by a committee constituted by the ministry to ascertain the circumstances leading to the Starbow plane crash last November.

The Member of Parliament Kwame Agbodzah filed an urgent question on the circumstances leading to the Starbow accident in November last year which has lead to the domestic airlines halting operations.

She also disclosed that, Ghana Airport Company has also been directed to also review its standard operational procedures and responses in the event of an accident.

Again, Starbow was directed to arrange the retraining of its personnel on cockpit resource management and aborted take-off procedures.

Meanwhile, the committee also recommended that the management of the Air Traffic control at GCAA must also ensure that all staff members are familiar with all requirements of accidents and incidents that happen.

The GCAA is also expected to establish a standing preliminary investigative team with approved procedures including medical tests for victims of accidents

Starbow halts operations

Starbow last November, halted operations, following a crash involving one of its aircrafts at the Kotoka International Airport which resulted in five minor injuries,The aircrafts accident occurred after the aircraft skidded off the runway during its take-off run at the Kotoka International Airport involving one of its aircraft, ATR72-500 with registration 9G-SBF.

This incident added to previous mishaps involving Starbow flights in 2014 and 2015.

After the accident at the Kotoka International Airport in November last year, the airline went ahead to lay-off its operational and ground staff

A letter sighted by thebftonline.com and signed by the CEO of the company, James Eric Antwi, stated that contracts of workers have been terminated effective November 30, 2017, directing the workers to submit all their IDs and other company assets in their possession to the administration.

The letter further stated that, “upon receipt of these items, the payment of any outstanding amounts as stated due will be authorized.”