State issues fresh guidelines after attack on Raila chopper
The government yesterday issued new strict guidelines on the operations of flights used by politicians in their campaigns to up their safety and that of the public.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has issued a raft of guidelines, among others, a ban on the landing of flights at unidentified sites.
KCAA Director-General Captain Gilbert Kibe says the move has been necessitated by recent incidences of people hanging onto skids of helicopters and the stoning of a chopper ferrying Azimio-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga in Uasin Gishu county a fortnight ago.
The guidelines also come at a time when there has been great concern over the safety of VIPs amid reports that some helicopters land anywhere without KCAA authority while others have a poor maintenance record.
Kibe further says there have also been cases of helicopters lifting amidst a crowd within very close proximity thereby posing danger to the people and safety of passengers.
Consequently, the KCAA boss says their attention has been brought to a recent incident of a video that went viral on social media showing a helicopter taking off with uncontrolled crowds milling around it.
Serious concerns
“These unsafe operations have been undertaken against a background of a KCAA facilitated sensitisation of helicopter operators, which took place on March 1. The authority would like to express serious concerns in the manner in which helicopter operations are undertaken outside controlled aerodromes or heliports,” a letter dated April 6 by Kibe to all helicopter operators in the country states.
With immediate effect, Kibe says, all operators are required to put in place safety measures that include written Standard Operating Procedures and work instructions to be strictly adhered to by all crew involved in ferrying and transporting VIPs.
“You are reminded that the authority will not hesitate to take enforcement action on the operator (s) and /or crew who engage in negligence operation of aircraft that jeopardises the safety and security of the aircraft, person on board and ground and property,” Kibe warns.
Before taking off on journeys to ferry VIPs, helicopter operators are required to make arrangements for securing the aircraft when landing in unmanned locations through the local administration and National Police Service.
The regulator has also warned helicopter operators that they risk losing their licences or a fine of up to Sh1 million for safety breaches, including fitting planes with modified colours and banners — a move that is set to hit politicians who have been branding their choppers in party colours.
Kibe also states that night operations without Instrument Fly Rule authorisations for both pilot and helicopter operators as well as the hoisting of banners on aircraft without permission from the agency is against aviation regulations.
He says that up to 90 per cent of helicopters do not have the provision to fly at night but pilots have been flouting this regulation by flying late from political rallies, while the deadline to fly is 6 pm.
Pulling activities
Besides, pilots are required to ensure the helicopters are operated safely, including judgment on where to land and take off.
“The guideline is to land and take-off at least 3km from activity venues and ensure at least a 30-metre radius from people. Liftoff amid crowds or where there is insufficient distance between the aircraft and the crowd is a gross violation of safe operation or aircraft regulations,” Kibe says.
Kibe has also directed operators to ensure their clients are sufficiently briefed by the crew to make sure they do not engage in activities that jeopardise the safe operation of the aircraft.
“This includes addressing crowds around the aircraft or engaging in crowd-pulling activities while in or near the aircraft,” Kibe states.
He further states: “Operators and pilots of helicopters are reminded that it is their responsibility under the operation authorisations issued and licenses held to ensure safety and security of the aircraft and its occupants as well as persons on the ground.”
