By SIMON ERORO
NATIONAL Airport Corporation (NAC) Managing Director Rex Kiponge said that the issuance of NOTAM after his first arrest on the 11th of November, 2022, must not be misunderstood and the public must not be misled.
Mr Kiponge explained that although he is the current MD of NAC, that does not mean he makes the decision to issue NOTAM and similarly, he was not the person who gave all clear to resume operation and to start off with, he had no powers to stop the process although he is the man in control of that area.
He further explained that the airport is highly technical and regulated by CASA and ICAO therefore, by the CASA and ICAO laws, NAC Safety and Security Committee is expected as a RULE of Law to send NOTAM to Airline Operators for their passengers and aircraft Safety and Security.
He said the NOTAM or STOP notice is and was a must by law which states that once Airport operator comes into knowledge of foreign objects including people in the restricted and regulated area without NAC staff knowledge, the airport part contaminated must be closed regardless.
On the issue of why NOTAM or STOP was issued Mr Kiponge said that NOTAM was sent out on Saturday morning which NAC could not do on Friday evening immediately after the 17 policemen and one CASA Director as foreign objects.
“The law required NAC Safety and Security Committee to conduct Risk Assessment on foreign object touched areas: technically spelled out as contaminated area contaminated by foreign objects.
“So, safety and Security Committee duty then was to execute and so executed that legal process and once cleared, NAC with advice from Safety and Security Committee sent out all clear at 12 noon advising Airline Operators that the contaminated area of the airport was lifted safe and active,” Mr Kiponge said.
He said so many citizens are confused and misinformed.
Mr Kiponge said the CASA Act required safety and security of passengers and staff involved in the operation of the airports and the CASA and ICAO states how NAC should operate to manage the risks associated with the airports for the safety and security of passengers and staff with properties involved.
“Establishment and implementations of NOTAM system was to achieve the requirements of the CASA Act; NOTAM was required by CASA Rules and Orders of the Act and NOTAM was issued and cleared by the legally recognized and delegated Safety and Security Team of NAC.
“This is the safe and secured security system NAC delivers to the passengers, Airliners and all other stakeholders of both national and international communities,” Mr Kiponge said.
NAC MD knows like CASA Director knows like any other qualified and experience persons in this technical area know that the NOTAM issued was in order according to CASA and ICAO standards.
