Air Botswana pleads for mercy
Asks the CAAB to absolve them from payment of over P1million penalty fee Owns up to the mess, promises to take necessary steps including disciplining those concerned
Air Botswana has sent an SOS distress signal to the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana ( CAAB) requesting the Regulator not to impose a monetary penalty of P1million for its violation of Regulations, but instead temper justice with mercy, Botswana Guardian Investigation can reveal.
Last month, CAAB penalised the national airline for a total sum of P1 110.000.00 for contravening certain provisions of the Civil Aviation, Aircraft Operations, Regulations 2022, Regulations 134, Air Botswana OMD 3.2.2.4 which clearly could have been a sign of negligence of duty by some of the high ranking officials of Air Botswana. The crime committed offended CAAB regulations by allowing two of their cabin crew members to operate with expired competency checks on numerous occasions, allegedly up to more than 15 times. However, in their response to Botswana Guardian questionnaire, Air Botswana was evasive. A response from its Corporate Spokesperson, Kefilwe Kebafetotse states that Air Botswana has received communication on the preliminary charge from the CAAB regarding biannual proficiency checks for two of its Flight Attendants. “The airline is currently investigating the matter and is following internal processes on circumstances that could have led to the occurrence, since there are internal adequate controls in place to avert such instances. While we are establishing the circumstances around the matter, the airline confirms that the two Flight Attendants are fully compliant and operational,” the response states. Furthermore, “the airline is in continuous engagement with the authority to ensure compliance and upholding of the highest operational safety and security standards.”
CAAB discovered during their investigations on the matter that an Air Botswana aircraft bearing the Botswana national registration A2- ABM was used to do commercial errands with the two cabin crew members. Information reaching Botswana Guardian from the government enclave indicates that in its appeal, Air Botswana has not only acknowledged the findings but recognise the importance, implications and effects on its operations, and that indeed there have been lapses which are being addressing.
Reports indicate that Air Botswana is asking for the unthinkable for pleading with the Regulator to absolve them from payment of the penalty in its totality. It said that Air Botswana has cited amongst others the effects of COVID- 19 which hit hard on the aviation industry globally. As such the Airline has stated that they are operating in financial dire straits, a matter which makes it impossible to settle the fine within the stipulated 30 days given, let alone to do it in short, medium and long term. Reports further state that as part of its plea, the Airline has acknowledged lapses in their controls and worked around the clock to strengthen them, further taking steps to ensuring compliance in future. The Airline has also instituted disciplinary action against those who were investigated in accordance with their internal processes. In addition, they state that they have done “competency checks and recurrent” training for the two cabin members in question and have since arranged for their training that is to happen soon, as well as having conducted the risk analysis of the violation. It said that Air Botswana also talked of reviewing its standard operating procedures, systems to ensure smooth operation and cooperation that makes the organisation not only maintain high standards, but to also remain compliant throughout.
Further, the National Airline is said to have promised the reviewing of its pre- flight documents check forms so that they give them enough detail particularly the regulations concerning the cabin crew members. The national airline has also promised that their training department will develop training plans for the crew and ensure that it is availed to stakeholders for monitoring and coordination, which will be done on a monthly basis depending on training needs of the cabin crew.
Besides the above, Air Botswana is said to be in the process of reviewing their contract with external service providers to prescribe a better service levels, checks and balances.