AVIATION NEWS - Plettenberg Bay Airport is again in the news following a report in the online publication, Businesstech, posted on 1 September highlighting proposed developments at the airport.
Plett Airport remains closed following a safety ruling by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) in June.
While attributing some information in its article to Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH), much of the Businesstech information was already reported by KPH in February this year. See the links to our previous articles at the bottom of this report. Businesstech did not report that Plett Airport has been closed to all air traffic since 31 July.
The SACAA issued a Level 1 notice (Notam) on 27 June, also reported by the KPH, for the airport to be closed to all air traffic, including general aviation, while the runway undergoes investigation about its safety.
Cemair, the only commercial operator into the airport, cancelled flights to Plettenberg Bay from June 2 and no aviation activity, not even for general aviation like light aircraft, has been permitted.
A joint statement by Bitou Municipality and Garden Route AERO (GRA), a subsidiary of rsa.AERO, issued on 7 June, said Plettenberg Bay Airport is to close on July 31 to undergo a detailed assessment on the state of the runway relating to safety issues.
The Businesstech article has again started tongues wagging about the airport development based on the successful bidders rsa.AERO, being awarded the tender to develop the airport in February this year.
The article revisits the plans reported by the KPH on a presentation of a master plan rsa.AERO made in its bid documents to the Bitou municipality.
Previous articles:
Headwinds but no closure for Plett Airport
Plett Airport taking off into the future
Plett Airport tender takes off
A tender moment for Plett Airport's future
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