Pilots warn of airport chaos

Tony Carnie

The chaos at King Shaka International Airport on the afternoon of Durban’s World Cup semi-final last year could be replicated in even worse form when the city has a major UN climate change conference later this year, the Airline Pilots’ Association of SA warns.

Thousands of delegates and government leaders are expected to fly in to Durban for the COP 17 climate change conference in November and early December.

“We have told the Airports Company (Acsa) that there will be serious problems and we fear that the congestion and chaos at King Shaka airport during the coming conference is going to be even worse than what we saw during the World Cup semi-final last year,” Captain John Herselman of the pilots’ association said.

Apart from advising Acsa on how to avoid similar embarrassment, his association hoped to meet eThekwini city manager Michael Sutcliffe to discuss difficulties associated with bidding for major international events.

Herselman pilloried the findings of an internal review report by Acsa into the July 7 World Cup air traffic fiasco, which led to scores of fans missing the Durban semi-final because of the cancellation of at least six commercial flights and the diversion of several private charter flights.

“It’s a bit like a criminal being the judge at his own trial,” he said of Acsa’s finding that “unprecedented operational challenges” were largely to blame.

Similar criticism has been raised by aviation editor Tom Chalmers in the latest edition of World Airnews magazine.

Chalmers said local pilots and airline operators had described the findings of the Acsa investigation as a “whitewash”.

Sutcliffe said the association’s concerns were misplaced.

“We are talking about two quite different things here. The climate conference will be spaced out over three weeks, whereas the World Cup semi was a 90-minute event on a single day – and no one knew who was going to be in the semis until the last moment,” he said.

“So we will have a far longer period of time involved and we will be well organised in advance for COP 17. The major problem with the World Cup was that there were literally six private aircraft blocking up the runway.

“Most of the delegates to the climate conference, however, will be on scheduled flights and I would urge these pilots to come and meet us before making any press statements. Certainly we will meet with them and there will be formal communications, and I think they can rest assured that this will be a much more organised affair.”

Commenting on suggestions that Acsa would ensure that there were “law enforcement agencies” on standby at future events to compel pilots to move their aircraft or park at other airfields, Chalmers queried whether King Shaka International was to become a “mini police state”.

Herselman said he had received unconfirmed reports that Acsa intended to station officers on the apron to arrest pilots who failed to obey directives.

“There is going to be untold grief if President Barack Obama’s pilots are arrested on the tarmac if there are not enough parking facilities during the COP 17 meeting – to say nothing of all the pilots bringing in politicians and dignitaries from Germany, France, Greece and elsewhere.”

‘Huge problems’

Between 15 000 and 30 000 visitors were expected for the meeting, compared to a capacity crowd of 60 000 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“There might be fewer visitors to Durban during the COP 17 meeting, but the difference is that most soccer fans came in on scheduled airlines.

“But President Obama alone could close down Durban’s airport because he comes in with anywhere between five to seven airplanes and is accompanied by the military and heaven knows what else. So I think we have some huge problems ahead of us.”

Herselman said his association had recommended that Acsa build new parking space opposite the air-traffic control tower, and a new taxiway.

Acsa should also consider reopening the old Durban International Airport, as Virginia Airport would not be able to accommodate larger aircraft.

Herselman said it was clear that the unprecedented congestion problems during the World Cup were the result of “a failure of consultation and a lack of foresight”.

“Acsa should have kept the old airport open, but it was absolutely dogmatic (about handling all arrivals at the newly opened King Shaka airport).”

Acsa spokesman Solomon Makgale did not respond to queries.

tony.carnie@inl.co.za