ASSI charters first jet to land at St Helena Airport
The business jet brought an ASSI team of five personnel to St Helena to assess St Helena Airport.
The flight departed from Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday morning, calling at Walvis Bay, Namibia, for refueling and a weather update.
On board the aircraft were three pilots and eight passengers connected to the Airport project – including DFID Airport Project Manager, Nigel Kirby, and Certification Manager, Alan Shaw. The ASSI team will be led by Senior Aerodrome Inspector, Justin Rothwell, who first visited St Helena last year.
From Monday 11 April 2016, the ASSI team undertook its key on-site audit as part of the certification process.
The Bombardier jet will conduct several flights during the visit for Air Traffic Control and other purposes.
It is expected that the aircraft will depart St Helena on Friday 15 April 2016, at around 08.30hrs.
The ASSI team will return to the UK, prior to issuing their formal response regarding certification of St Helena Airport.
The airport will revitalise the British Overseas Territory of St Helena – one of the remotest islands in the world – which is currently only accessible via a week long boat journey from South Africa. It should eliminate the island’s reliance on aid in excess of £20 million from the UK every year.
The St Helena airport project has been funded by Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) and will provide the island with a much needed stimulus to boost tourism and reinforce economic development, eventually leading to self-sufficiency.
South African construction firm Basil Read was awarded the contract to design, build and operate the island's airport for the Government of St Helena.
Thales was selected by Basil Read to supply and install air traffic management equipment and solutions for the new airport.
Marion Broughton, head of Thales UK’s aerospace business, said: “Thales is delighted to be working with Basil Read on this prestigious project and is committed to ensuring that airports such as St Helena’s are fitted with cutting-edge systems to keep their skies safe.”