By Buffalo City Reporter
20 August 2008

WITH the completion of its R70-million upgrade last week, Bhisho Airport was now ready for potential investors to come forward with their proposals, according to the roads and transport MEC, Gloria Barry.

She said expected proposals included further development of the airport facilities for businesses, vehicle hire, shuttle services, catering services and other ventures.

“Our doors are wide open for any investor who wants to come forward and add value in this project, which seeks to breathe new life into the Bhisho Airport.”

The upgrade forms part of the Blue Skyway Aviation Strategy, unveiled by the Eastern Cape department of roads and transport in October 2006 in an effort to maximise the potential of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports and to bring new life to the province’s rural airstrips.

The main objective of the strategy is to ensure adherence to the national policy that the government should not be involved with operating airports, but should encourage private sector involvement.

“The government, however, remains responsible for ensuring that airports contribute to the socio-economic development of the area,” Barry explained.

Already benefiting from the changes were 16 Rwandan students, who were receiving advanced pilot training at 43 Air School. Another group of students was also expected to benefit.

“Later this year, 180 student pilots and 120 aircraft technicians from southern Sudan are expected to start their training programme for a period of three year years. These students will arrive in phases and by December 2008, a group of 66 students will be receiving training at Bhisho Airport.”

To ensure the complete revival of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports, the Eastern Cape Geographic Names Committee is working towards renaming the facilities, in consultation with the relevant municipalities - Buffalo City and King Sabatha Dalindyebo - and local communities.

“The Eastern Cape department of transport would like to put it on record that any person or institution that wants to make a proposal in the renaming of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports will have to understand the governing regulations as these two airports belong to the provincial government,” Barry concluded.