National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called for stricter aviation safety regulations and heightened caution during adverse weather conditions following the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngéno and three others.
Speaking in the wake of the tragedy, the Speaker urged members and users including pilots to exercise extreme caution and strictly adhere to established safety protocols such as pre-flight weather forecasting, avoiding thunderstorms and heavy rainfall and maintaining minimum visibility standards.
“You need to realise the vagaries of the weather at this particular time.
We should consider limiting the use of helicopters,” he cautioned.
Speaker Wetang’ula revealed that he and his entourage had used the ill-fated aircraft barely two weeks before it went down even as he demonstrated the unpredictability and risks associated with air travel, particularly during unstable weather conditions.
He called on Members of Parliament to urgently review regulations governing the use of air services to strengthen safety standards and minimise accidents.
“In other parts of the world, no helicopter can take off unless cleared by the aviation authority.
We need to improve on the existing framework and have more robust regulations,” he said.
The Speaker emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of aviation rules and enhanced coordination between operators and regulatory agencies maintaining that safeguarding lives must take precedence....
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