-Air Botswana grapples with getting new aircraft on air -Air Botswana Task Team fails to secure CAAB approvals within time -Our pilots and engineers have not operated this aircraft type- Air Botswana - Kalahari Embraer 175 remains grounded six months later
Six (6) months after its launch, the aircraft dubbed “Kalahari” Embraer 175, remains grounded as the National Airliner- Air Botswana – has failed to enter it into the schedule.
Botswana Guardian has established that Air Botswana failed to perform due diligence and proper assessment before purchasing the aircraft.
Sources have revealed that there was no pre-purchase technical assessment that was done on those Embraer 145’ to determine if they still require further maintenance.
“Two Embraer 145s and One Embraer 175 with an age of about 10 years cost about P150m. Air Botswana’s Embraer 145s are 16 years old, the Embraer 175 is 13 years old,” a source who wondered how Air Botswana justify the P344m spent so far, said.
According to insiders clearly the so-called task team that was established to steer the exercise has failed, or at the least it does not know what it is doing as they had a full year to obtain all necessary CAAB approvals.
“Also it is quite evident they failed as the Minister has recently appointed a task team to assist with bringing that aircraft into service.
“Lastly under which circumstance can you have an aircraft parked on the ground for seven months and not see it as a failure?”, a senior official within the CAAB, asked. Air Botswana is leasing one Embraer 145 from Westair/Fly Namibia, whilst WestAir/FlyNambia is doing maintenance on Air Botswana’ two Embraer 145.
There are concerns that there will be nothing that will motivate Westair/Fly Namibia to finish work on Air Botswana’ aircraft when it is benefiting from the lease arrangement.
Sources pointed out that WestAir makes money by having their aircraft operating on lease for Air Botswana, and the more time they keep the Air Botswana aircraft on the ground in Windhoek the better for them.
FlyNamibia is said to be tipped to operate the two Embraer 145s on behalf of Air Botswana. FlyNamibia is 40 percent owned by SA Airlink, which is a direct competitor of Air Botswana which raises questions as to why Air Botswana will place its assets under a direct competitor.
“Airlink is a direct competitor of Air Botswana, and now has an influence on what happens to Air Botswana assets. Air Botswana had a full year to prepare, so again this change management is a lie, they should have trained engineers and pilots well in advance,” a source said, challenging claims that Air Botswana is currently training their pilots and engineers.
Air Botswana is accused of having known at least one year in advance that they are re-fleeting, but there was no change management done to prepare the organisation for a seamless transition.
“Air Botswana spent USD44m (P600)) on two Embraer 145s and one Embraer 175. We got eight Embraer 170s at USD2.1m each. The current procurement figures are ridiculous,” another source at Air Botswana, added.
Air Botswana Public Relations and Marketing Officer Tony Seabo argued that the aircraft is not grounded but rather awaits CAAB’s approval of Manuals.
According to Seabo maintenance for both aircraft is complete, they are currently undergoing the registration process to enable them to operate.
“Both Aircraft will be operated by Air Botswana. Our pilots and engineers have not operated this aircraft type, as such West Air will be providing training and the necessary support in terms of flying experience,” Seabo said.
Seabo was responding to a questionnaire sent to him. He said that a project team was set up and a change management process was completed.
He indicated that last audited financial statements for the parastatal are for the year ended 31 March 2021. As per requirement, these were submitted to the responsible Ministry and Auditor General, he added.
He explained that the airline only introduces routes that are viable based on traffic volumes determined by MIDT data. “This is the industry data compiled for every city pair by reputable service providers. The allocated budget was P550 million for four aircraft. So far we have spent P344 million in the purchasing of three aircraft,” he said.
Botswana Guardian has established that Air Botswana failed to perform due diligence and proper assessment before purchasing the aircraft.
Sources have revealed that there was no pre-purchase technical assessment that was done on those Embraer 145’ to determine if they still require further maintenance.
“Two Embraer 145s and One Embraer 175 with an age of about 10 years cost about P150m. Air Botswana’s Embraer 145s are 16 years old, the Embraer 175 is 13 years old,” a source who wondered how Air Botswana justify the P344m spent so far, said.
According to insiders clearly the so-called task team that was established to steer the exercise has failed, or at the least it does not know what it is doing as they had a full year to obtain all necessary CAAB approvals.
“Also it is quite evident they failed as the Minister has recently appointed a task team to assist with bringing that aircraft into service.
“Lastly under which circumstance can you have an aircraft parked on the ground for seven months and not see it as a failure?”, a senior official within the CAAB, asked. Air Botswana is leasing one Embraer 145 from Westair/Fly Namibia, whilst WestAir/FlyNambia is doing maintenance on Air Botswana’ two Embraer 145.
There are concerns that there will be nothing that will motivate Westair/Fly Namibia to finish work on Air Botswana’ aircraft when it is benefiting from the lease arrangement.
Sources pointed out that WestAir makes money by having their aircraft operating on lease for Air Botswana, and the more time they keep the Air Botswana aircraft on the ground in Windhoek the better for them.
FlyNamibia is said to be tipped to operate the two Embraer 145s on behalf of Air Botswana. FlyNamibia is 40 percent owned by SA Airlink, which is a direct competitor of Air Botswana which raises questions as to why Air Botswana will place its assets under a direct competitor.
“Airlink is a direct competitor of Air Botswana, and now has an influence on what happens to Air Botswana assets. Air Botswana had a full year to prepare, so again this change management is a lie, they should have trained engineers and pilots well in advance,” a source said, challenging claims that Air Botswana is currently training their pilots and engineers.
Air Botswana is accused of having known at least one year in advance that they are re-fleeting, but there was no change management done to prepare the organisation for a seamless transition.
“Air Botswana spent USD44m (P600)) on two Embraer 145s and one Embraer 175. We got eight Embraer 170s at USD2.1m each. The current procurement figures are ridiculous,” another source at Air Botswana, added.
Air Botswana Public Relations and Marketing Officer Tony Seabo argued that the aircraft is not grounded but rather awaits CAAB’s approval of Manuals.
According to Seabo maintenance for both aircraft is complete, they are currently undergoing the registration process to enable them to operate.
“Both Aircraft will be operated by Air Botswana. Our pilots and engineers have not operated this aircraft type, as such West Air will be providing training and the necessary support in terms of flying experience,” Seabo said.
Seabo was responding to a questionnaire sent to him. He said that a project team was set up and a change management process was completed.
He indicated that last audited financial statements for the parastatal are for the year ended 31 March 2021. As per requirement, these were submitted to the responsible Ministry and Auditor General, he added.
He explained that the airline only introduces routes that are viable based on traffic volumes determined by MIDT data. “This is the industry data compiled for every city pair by reputable service providers. The allocated budget was P550 million for four aircraft. So far we have spent P344 million in the purchasing of three aircraft,” he said.
