Korongo Airlines (Lubumbashi) has announced the suspension of all domestic Congolese flights with immediate effect. The carrier said the move was as a result of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) directive declaring all Congolese navigational aides to be non-compliant with international standards.
"In 2003, the ICAO gave the DRC an ultimatum to recalibrate its equipment. Ten years later nothing has been done. The Congolese civil aviation authority (Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République Démocratique du Congo - RVA) has therefore been forced to notify operators that all navigation aides on Congolese territory (VOR and ILS) are out of service. As a result, we can no longer operate under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)," it said.
Korongo went on to add that its Johannesburg O.R. Tambo flights will not be affected by the moratorium as the RVA had not deactivated the ILS at Lubumbashi. However, domestic flights from/to Kinshasa N'Djili and Mbuji Mayi have been suspended with effect from 17h00L on Monday, June 2, 2014.
The RVA has appealed to the ICAO for a grace period to allow it to fly in a specialized aircraft to recalibrate the aides though it is currently unknown whether the organization has agreed or not.
