The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has told Citi Business News it will intensify its oversight on the use of ageing aircraft by airline operators this year.
It follows the ratification of the Cape Town Convention by Parliament.
The Convention, among others is to promote the use of newer aircrafts due to the increased economic costs and safety concerns associated with over aged aircrafts.
This is also to reduce risks borne by manufacturers and owners of aircraft in cases of accidents.
Prior to ratification of the Cape Town Convention, airlines (lessees) have had to pay about US$500,000 per month to their lessors for the use of the lessor’s equipment on wet lease.
The cost of aircraft leasing is expected to reduce by some 20-30 percent following ratification of the Convention.
Though Ghana does not have a cap on the number of years for using aircrafts, the Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Simon Allotey says prospective airline operators will be required to consider using modern aircrafts.
“What we are doing at GCAA is to increase our oversight, ensure stricter oversight on older aircrafts. So technically, an old aircraft is still very safe what is important is to make sure maintenance is good,” Mr. Allotey said.
“What we are going to do following the ratification of the Cape Town Convention is to meet the Ghanaian and prospective airline operators over the benefits they could derive in terms of aircraft leasing or outright purchase,
“We will not put a cap for any operator but for would be operators, we will encourage them.” He added.
