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Passengers urged to consider checks routine at airports
2006-05-11 09:51:16
By Angel Navuri
Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) has urged passengers to consider inspections and security checks at the airports routine, in the wake of international terrorism and drug smuggling.
Speaking in Bagamoyo, the Airports Compliance Officer, Thomas Kimata said some passengers have in the recent past been caught with dangerous weapons in the country’s major airports.
He said recently, a passenger was caught with a knife stashed in his belt at the Mwalimu Julius K. International Airport. Kimata said the weapon could not have been detected were it not for the screening machine.
He said to secure civil aviation services airport’s security program is a legal requirement.
’’Let us have an understanding that successful safety and security of our airports need active responsiveness,’’ Kimata said.
He disclosed that TCAA was striving to secure the airports by building a perimeter wall.
Kimata was optimistic that in some airports construction work was complete while in others the construction work was between 50 per cent and 70 per cent complete.
The aviation official underscored the need for the media to take a leading role to highlight crucial matters touching on the aviation industry and the airports in the country.
He appealed for objective reporting on aviation issues as a matter of national interest and urged for intensification of co-operation between the media and the stakeholders in the aviation industry.
He said the role of TCAA was to ensure that airport operations in the country are in compliance with international Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other state applicable legislation.
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