By Alpha Abu
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is to inspect the new Freetown International Airport in four months’ time, according to Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bonapha. The air transport regulator’s last visit left a poor impression and Sierra Leone’s air gateway was never certified as a worthy facility meeting international standards.
I was part of a team of over thirty Journalists and Civil Society Activists,that boarded one of the water taxis, Seabird to be precise, on Wednesday 15th February 2023, on a journey to have on- the- spot view of the new Freetown International Airport that’s nearing completion.
Ministry of Transport and Aviation officials led by their deputy minister, first took us to the Old Airport which I think was a well-intentioned motive for us, to be able to present at the end of the day, the stark differences between the old structure, and the new one being constructed by Turkish contractors named Summa Group. And sure enough the gulf between the two is like night and day.
I would for the benefit of readers share at first, my impression upon being taken on a conducted tour of the new airport that has been the crux of so much argument by those who say it’s an extension of the old piece whilst others are of the firm conviction that it is a brand new complex.
Approaching the new airport’s terminal, one is immediately greeted by the very impressive looking façade; huge blue tinted glass and well-crafted watered lawns that have just started to sprout what will eventually become flowering shrubs.
Going into the building itself from the February humidity and searing heat , the central cooling system makes its presence immediately felt, thanks to an expansive solar farm on the approaches to the terminal.
We took the escalator (the first of such device to ever grace a building in Sierra Leone) to be shown the exquisite top floor with its already designated space for a Duty Free Shop, an elegant looking waiting room for ministers and other executives. And there is a decent looking final checking lounge before boarding and also for the first time, a standard airport footbridge and chute all fully air-conditioned through which passengers will have to pass through, on their way to the aircraft. The baggage areas are huge with up to date conveyor belts one was set running to dem
Travellers using our old airport had to put up with toilets with no running water but the new structure has an efficient supply of water, and even the taps there have sensor devices and a demonstration by the deputy minister saw water gushing out as soon he place his hand under one of the taps.
The ground floor of the magnificent structure contains a waiting hall for departing passengers which would this time separate those embarking on short journeys from the far- bound ones. All around are display panels that will be showing passengers their flight schedule, and as Bonapha pointed out, there would be seldom use for the public address system.
Also on the ground floor are well-planned exit provisions for passengers, with those who are to use the water taxis having theirs with the boldly written ‘Sea Transport’, above an arrow symbol further directing the way .
Another exit leads passengers out to a huge car park which can accommodate some 200 vehicles. According to transport ministry officials, the new exiting arrangement will prevent the chaotic scenes witnessed at the old airport especially during peak seasons with all passengers including those arriving, having to use one passage.
A passenger touching down the airport that may have to hang around for a while after checking out, has a cafeteria and comfortable sitting accommodation to relax in and wait.
One of the most progressive aspects of the new airport is that the old existing runway and the taxiway have been massively extended to take in the biggest airliners around.
Unlike the old structure that accommodate three aircrafts at a time, this new one can have up to ten planes .According to officials, the old airport has never been given standard certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO), having failed the last test many years ago.
But with this latest development ICAO officials are expected to conduct another thorough inspection in May this year. And they will be coming to a wholly different environment devoid of pitfalls of the old structure which largely contributed to Sierra Leone being certification in the past. They will find a modernised Control Tower with elevator, a well- equipped Fire Engine Department, a big Cargo Terminal Building and a nice looking Police Station.
Some metres away from the main terminal, there is the Presidential lounge that will be hosting global leaders and dignitaries.
Another significant development worth mentioning is the apportioning of a special screening room for airport workers which is essential in the security setup of the facility.
And the Regional Manager for Summa Group, Erdem Arikan was quick to point out that every part of the airport complex has CCTV camera installed.
I also found quite amusing a Masjid(Mosque) and Christian prayer room for passengers who may want privacy to honour their faith.
One can truly understand why the facility has been classed as one of the best in this part of Africa. Sounding very upbeat , Bonapha said this is a top-notch airport every well -meaning Sierra Leonean should be proud of, as it is of international standard.
He described the old airport as an obsolete piece that was an embarrassment to us as a nation. He unequivocally asserted that President Julius Maada Bio initiated the idea of having an airport that would uplift the image of the country, devoid of regional or political biases.
Already Ethiopia Airlines, Egypt Airlines, ExeJet and a host of other airlines have all indicated a strong desire to start coming to Sierra Leone because of a new face to the name of the country’s airport.
On the 3rd May this year the $270 Million masterpiece will be formally commissioned by President Bio and opened to air traffic. For the next 25 years Summa will manage it under a Build,Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement it struck with the Government of Sierra Leone.
Officials say all local workers are being re-employed and would have all their severance packages paid, after Summa took full management control of the facility a few weeks ago. This is a brand new airport, and every progressive individual would love it. As for the old facility it will for now be guarded by state security until a decision is reached as to how best to utilise it again. It was an eyesore and never a good impression for a first time visitor to Sierra Leone. We were told how it has just one room for body-searching suspicious travellers, which was very embarrassing. As we found out , the new structure has got 3 separate rooms for level 1,2 and 3 searches in conformity to best practice. Sierra Leone should celebrate this latest positive development.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (17/02/23)
