Government urged to review aviation laws

Mr Jonathan Porter, the Managing Director of Waasps Flight Training School, has appealed to the government to review the aviation laws to enable engineering firms to build light aircraft with the capacity to carry more than four passengers.

He said light aircraft could play an important role in the nation’s socio- economic, political and security development.

Mr Porter was addressing journalists in Tamale after arriving in the region with four pilots including Ms Patricia Nyekodzi, a female Ghanaian pilot.

The four pilots were embarking on a three-day nationwide tour with an ultra light aircraft built in Ghana by Ms Nyekodzi.

The tour seeks to help promote interest in the aviation and attract investors to invest in that the sector.

Mr. Porter said only two per cent of the nation’s aviation potentials had been harnessed leaving about 98 per cent, “this is a big business which government or any private person can venture into to make a lots of money”.

He said the level of interest in light aviation industry was low and there were many places including islands where vehicles cannot travel to.

For instance hospitals can use it to convey personnel, relief items, accident victims and in emergency cases as well as the mass spraying of mosquitoes.

In the agriculture sector light aircraft can be used for spraying insecticide on crops whiles the security agencies can use it for surveillance.

The education sector can use it to transport educational material as well as electoral materials to polling stations during elections.

Mr. Porter appealed to the government to re-structure the education sector to enable the youth to develop their potential and contribute their quote to the development of the nation.

“The overwhelming challenges facing education in this country calls for holistic tackling of issues instead of piecemeal approach”, he said.

Citing Ms Patricia as an example, he said although she had the potential hidden until she was by chance asked to assist in fixing bolts in a light aircraft, her talents would have been in vain.

“I have realised that in this country there many people with great talents but they are encouraged to pursue university degrees and they normally end up in the wrong profession”, he said.

He said the potentials in many young people could be developed if they were exposed to the right education and environment.

Ms Nyekodzi said what keeps her dream alive was self motivation, passion for success, planning and hard work.

Source: GNA