Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MBABANE197
2008-07-09 14:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Mbabane
Cable title:  

PROBLEMS STILL PLAGUING SWAZI AIRPORT

Tags:  ECON EAIR ELAB CASC ASEC TSA WZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 091438Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3145
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
UNCLAS MBABANE 000197 

DEPT FOR AF/S (MNAYLOR)
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTB, AF/S, DS/IP/AF (CLISENBEE)
DAKAR FOR FAA REP
ROME FOR TSA REP
NAIROBI FOR TSA REP
FAA FOR NANCY ANGELO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ELAB CASC ASEC TSA WZ
SUBJECT: PROBLEMS STILL PLAGUING SWAZI AIRPORT

REF: (A) MBABANE 0014, (B) MBABANE 0081, (C) Mbabane 000130


UNCLAS MBABANE 000197

DEPT FOR AF/S (MNAYLOR)
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTB, AF/S, DS/IP/AF (CLISENBEE)
DAKAR FOR FAA REP
ROME FOR TSA REP
NAIROBI FOR TSA REP
FAA FOR NANCY ANGELO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAIR ELAB CASC ASEC TSA WZ
SUBJECT: PROBLEMS STILL PLAGUING SWAZI AIRPORT

REF: (A) MBABANE 0014, (B) MBABANE 0081, (C) Mbabane 000130



1. SUMMARY: Since January 2008, safety conditions at Swaziland's
Matsapha International Airport have attracted increasing attention
from the local press and public. The main problems affecting the
airport are unreliable back-up generators, bird strikes, and an
unresolved labor union dispute. In 2006, a negative International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) report on conditions at Matsapha,
combined with Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland's (GKOS)
refusal to respond to European Union (EU) flight safety inquiries
led the EU to ban their officials (but not private travelers) from
flying on all Swazi registered air carriers. Swazi fixed-wing
aircraft are also prohibited from flying in EU airspace. A new
airport is currently under construction in anticipation of South
Africa hosting of World Cup 2010. Request for action, paragraph 7;
post would appreciate information regarding latest FAA study of
airport. END SUMMARY

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON


2. Over the last six months, Swaziland's sole airport, Matsapha
International Airport, has experienced erratic power outages because
of a shortage of electricity generating capacity and an unreliable
power grid. In January, air conditioners in the control tower
stopped functioning, leading the air traffic controllers to abandon
the control tower due to excessive heat. Back-up generators were
purchased, but required repair to correct a minor timing delay. They
were replaced with second-hand non-functioning generators, creating
backup failures. According to the airport's Operations Manager,
these generators were second-hand and non-functioning, creating
frequent blackouts. Currently, Matsapha airport has no functioning
back-up generators. On June 22, a power outage struck the area and
the back-up generators failed to start, forcing a Swazi Airlink
flight arriving from Johannesburg to return to South Africa, because
the runway lights were off.

BIRDS AND PLANES DON'T MIX


3. Matsapha airport has fairly frequent bird strikes. While bird
strikes are an unfortunate reality in aviation, airport authorities

have not taken any steps to minimize their occurrence. On June 26,
the Swazi Airlink flight carrying Southern African Development
Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Tomas Salomao suffered engine
failure due to bird ingestion on take off from Matsapha. Local media
has reported that three similar incidents have occurred in the last
three months. According to an airline official, the GKOS ended the
previous policy of culling birds in the airport area for
environmental reasons, leading to a rapidly increasing bird
population in the area. Swazi Airlink undertook the purchase of a
siren-equipped vehicle to disperse bird flocks on the runway before
aircraft take-offs and landings. While they acknowledge that this
is not a very effective strategy, Airlink believes it is better than
doing nothing.

LABOR ISSUES


4. In a dispute dating back to 2003, GKOS does not pay overtime to
airport workers outside of airport operating hours of 0700-2030
daily. Airport staff regularly have to work beyond standard
operation hours due to regular delays and as well as VIP flights
commonly landing after hours. In January, air traffic controllers
went on "wild-cat strikes" and in June the airport workers' union
announced a work slow-down in protest of the non-resolution of their
overtime pay dispute. Serious challenges remain in resolving the
labor dispute, as union demands exceed GKOS and airport
administrators' limits.

SIKUPHE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT


5. GKOS, with significant funding by the government of Taiwan, is
building a new airport, Sikuphe International Airport, in
anticipation of a large tourism influx from the 2010 World Cup in
South Africa. The new airport, built at the request of the King, is
located about a two hour drive east of Mbabane. Sikuphe will be
capable of handling the largest commercial aircraft in the world
(B747, A380),and has an expansion potential of up to five passenger
terminals, as well as a VIP terminal. In contrast, Matsapha
International handles five daily turbo-prop commuter flights from
Johannesburg. No new commercial operators have announced they will
commence service to Sikuphe. The new airport plans to open before
the World Cup tournament in June 2010, but even if that date is met,
there seems to be no corresponding preparation of the technical and
service work force that is necessary for support.


6. COMMENT: Embassy is not aware of the air worthiness of Swazi
registered aircraft servicing Matsapha. Poor record keeping by the
Swaziland Civil Aviation Authorities and limited oversight of the
registration of aircraft makes it difficult to collect information
regarding safety conditions at Matsapha and aboard Swazi Airlink
aircraft. Embassy does not foresee a quick end to Matsapha's
continuing electrical and labor problems. An encouraging sign is
that South African Airways provides all maintenance and safety
checks on Swazi Airlink aircraft. Nevertheless, on July 4, a local
newspaper reported that a "faulty" Swazi Airlink aircraft aborted
its landing at Matsapha airport the previous evening due to
non-functioning communications equipment on the plane and pilot
error, creating additional questions about aircraft safety.


7. Embassy has growing concerns for the safety of passengers using
Matsapha Airport and Swazi Airlink aircraft, but is not prepared to
request authorization to join the EU in prohibiting travel by U.S.
Citizens aboard Swazi Airlink flights at this time. We believe a
study should be conducted by the U.S. Transportation Safety
Administration (TSA) to determine the safety of Matsapha Airport and
Swazi registered aircraft.


PARKER