By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU
Morobe Governor Luther Wenge wants inspections done on abandoned airstrips in the province.
In his question to the Minister for Civil Aviation and Transport Walter Schnaubelt in Parliament last week, Wenge said Morobe province has the highest number of rural airstrips in the country (30), of which twenty are abandoned.
Wenge said he has asked the people to clean the abandoned airstrips, which they have done and they now want inspectors to visit and certify the airstrips.
“I want you to give me an inspector to inspect those airstrips,” he said.
“I don’t need money; just the inspector to come down and see those airstrips that the people have cleaned for certification.”
Schnaubelt, in his response, told Wenge to seek assistance from the office of the Rural Airstrips Agency(RAA), who are in charge of all the rural airstrips in the country.
“Do approach the RRA,” he said.
“I am happy to give you their contact details and am also willing to take you there and liaise for you.
“With that, all you also need is an undertaking and agreement with the agency.
“They will then facilitate a schedule for engineers to come down to those airstrips you want operational.
“They will bring their expertise and I am willing to put my stamp of approval.”
