Japan to hand over new Kamuzu International Airport terminal building to Malawi
Japanese Government says will hand over newly constructed terminal buildings and radar to Malawi government at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe on March 29, 2019.
In an interview, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) spokesperson, Godfrey Kapalamula said the newly constructed terminal buildings and radar equipment at KIA are part of the Japanese government grant project worth K25 billion.
He said the main aim of the six-year-project was to expand and improve the passenger terminal building capacity of KIA and to install a new craft surveillance system to enhance safety of aircraft operations in the country.
“The expansion and rehabilitation of the airport will increase the overall capacity of the airport to accommodate passengers and ensure the safety of aircraft operation through the installation of more advanced aircraft surveillance system,” he said.
The spokesperson said the Japanese Government provided basic training to engineers after the installation of the equipment, there is an ongoing capacity building project for both air traffic controllers (ATCs) and engineers on how to operate and maintain the surveillance system.
In a separate interview, Airport Commandant, Donnie Chimtengo said KIA had no radar system since mid-1990s after the one that was installed at the inauguration time of the airport in 1983 broke down.
He added that since then, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) have been providing the air navigation services manually by either using visual observation of aircraft or pilot position reports via radio communication only.
“All engineers who knew how to maintain the then radar equipment retired,” he said.
Senior Air Traffic Controller (ATC), Chikondi Chadza said the new radar equipment is capable of detecting and tracking aircrafts on a monitor from as far as 370 km away from KIA.
“All the necessary information such as flight number, aircraft type, speed, direction and altitude are displayed on monitor,” she said.
She added that the information makes it possible for them to provide more accurate information not only to aircraft landing or departing from KIA but also to all the aircraft flying over Malawi.
The routine training sessions offered by JICA experts will continue to ensure that officer performances of duties are stable and reliable.
Kamuzu International Airport is the largest airport in Malawi playing an important role in transport network of the landlocked country.
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POINTS OF CORRECTION My attention has just been drawn to this article. The event of 29 March 2019 was only for handover of the radar equipment which combines SSR and ADSB from the Japanese contractors who installed it, NEC, to the Department of Civil Aviation. The installation of the radar is one component of the project for Expansion of the Terminal Buildings at Kamuzu International Airport. Handover of the terminal buildings and official opening of the new facilities will be done when everything is completed and communication to that effect will come from relevant authorities. The project period is not… Read more »
Guys tapangani Google muone air port yomwe inamangidwa ku senegal simatuvi akumangidwa kunowa. Inu tikusalilatu ife. Mzathu akupia mchisogolo. Kaya dziko ili landikwana bad
Iiih, operating without a radar all these years. You guys are great and indeed Malawi is a poor country. I hope soon mumanga njanje ya train from airport to city centre. Komatu, osakwezamo tomato kukagulitsa ma staff ku airport. Kkkkkkkkkk zochezatu. Musandikhazule ndangonena.
Taonga chomene
We need a hotel right at the airport! We need a train from the airport to City Centre . More shops in the airport
25bn seriuosly? maybe ife tikamakakwera ndege timaona udyo
The airport is part of 25 billion project osati airport terminal yakwana 25 billion. Kumamvetsetsa musanapange comment
Thank you JICA for assistance, but with that kind of money were you not supposed to build an upright and more beautiful terminals to match with our friends in other countries as KIA is our main Airport here. K25billion is alot of money considering u were using your own Japanese contractors. That’s our concern . Next time we need 3 or more storey structures if it’s possible . We are really grateful for your continued support though
The main terminal building in the middle is a three storey structure and includes the ground floor. It seems that this a second phase of KIA project. From a model of the KIA airport that was on displayed at the Air Malawi pavilion at the trade fair grounds between August and September 1978, it was disclosed that in future a passenger rail link from Kanengo would connect to the airport beneath the ground floor. This was intended for those wishing to travel cheaply by rail to the town where they would be able to board city line buses to their… Read more »
kkkkKIA largest indeed in malawi.with poor facicilities right fromthe entry doors. hope muli aircondition. and better toilet facilities.mxiiiii.hoping si terminal ya VIP
atimangilaso… kkkkkkk tidzamangako liti zathu ndi nzeru nzathu
You guys are great from mid 1990 no ladar system , you have been working without the equipment and the airport was still functional wooowooo , when they said Malawi is one of the poorest country its true