Distress aircrafts’ safety anticipated

Published: Sunday, 24 February 2019 03:59

The CCAA launched an awareness campaign on behalf of the central region on Tuesday 12 February in the presence of actors involved on the issue.

Assisting any aircrafts in distress and its occupants is an obligation for Cameroon. The recommendation of the Civil Aviation community required states to seek ways and means to find any aircraft in distress as soon as possible and to provide assistance to its occupants. However, it should be noted that the location of aircrafts in distress and the rescue of its occupants is not always easy.

The case of the Kenya Airways flight, flight 507, in 2007 and the incident in Nyangadou between Cameroon, Gabon and Congo in 2011 represent such examples.

The CCAA therefore launched this awareness campaign on aircraft search and rescue to discuss about strengthening the coordination between the Search and Rescue Service (SAR) and the different stakeholders called to intervene. It was therefore a day to update the directory of focal points of the relevant administrations in search and rescue, the organization of civil protection, contingency plans and disaster relief.

Another important point was to present the organization of searches and rescues of aircraft in distress and to sensitize the actors on their respective roles.

This campaign, which starts with all the departments of the central region, will later be extended to other regions of Cameroon.

It should be noted, for example, that, efficient search, in December 1995, prompted the expedite localization of the Boeing 737-200 flight 3701 in the Douala airport zone saving some survivors.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the CCAA Technical Advisor No. 1 in the presence of many other administrations. The public was also treated to an exhibition of rescue equipment.