Letters | Wednesday, 28 January 2009

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Reference is made to Dr Mallia’s article (page 13, MaltaToday 14 January, 2009).
Firstly it must be clarified that in line with the Civil Aviation Act, Chapter 2332, it is the Department for Civil Aviation which is the authority responsible to regulate all activities related to civil aviation in Malta and Gozo.
As already announced by government, this legislation will be amended during this year to brace the department’s fuactions as well as boost the registration of aircraft in Malta. Irrespective of the department’s or organisation’s structure, the DCA places and will continue to place aviation safety and security as its top priority in carrying out all of its regulatory duties.
Dr Mallia seems to question this department’s authority and impartiality within the industry and her interpretation of regularity practices in other countries is not quite accurate.
Dr Mallia’s main argument is that by allowing the erection of the Lufthansa Technik hangars at the airport, the height limitations in the airport zone have changed. This is not the case.
The example given by Dr Mallia regarding the DCA’s objections to the development of a nursery close to the airport cannot be considered comparable. The proposed nursery location was in the approach area regularly used by aircrafts landing on runway 23, which is statistically considered to be a potentially high risk accident area. It has consistently been the DCA’s recommendation for reasons of public safety to limit development in such an area.
It is important to note that DCA’s objections in he case of the nursery and other similar proposals for development were based on concerns of public safety and not related to their proposed height.
On the other hand, the Luftahnsa Technik hangars do not fall within the approach area of any runway at Luqa. Consideration here is based upon obstacle clearance limitations and not on public safety zone considerations.
It is true that the location and size of the Luftahnas hangars required certain measures to be taken including that of the relocation of the airport radar in order to ensure that the overall safety level of operations are not compromised. One must also bear in mind, however, that the radars still had to be replaced once they reached an advanced stage within their lifetime.
It is to be noted that the DCA’s position to endorse the project was based upon a safety cases submitted by Malta International Airport.

A. Gatt
Director General
Civil Aviation

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