Kiponge vs Casa, minister in public spat

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Rex Kiponge                                 Walter Schnaubelt                 Benedict Oraka

Kiponge vs Casa, minister in public spat

PORT MORESBY: The is a shameful spat in public between the National Airports Corporation (NAC) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa), the regulator of the industry.

And the country and public are paying the price for the gross public and international embarrassment.

NAC boss Rex Kiponge is blaming Casa director Benedict Oraka and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt for the 10-hour closure and chaos of Jackson International Airport’s Domestic Terminal on Saturday (Nov 12, 2022).

And Casa has charged Kiponge with illegally operating two airports, Nadzab and Kiunga, without valid operating certificates.

The National reported the public spat:

NAC boss blames cops and Casa for 10-hour airport closure

November 15, 2022The NationalMain Stories

NATIONAL Airports Corporation (NAC) managing director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge has blamed police and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) officials for causing a closure of Jackson airport’s domestic terminal on Saturday.
He said NAC issued the Notam (Notice to Airmen) because 17 policemen stormed into the sterilised and highly restricted areas in the airside through the arrivals gate without going through the proper security process.
“The closure was not a direct result of my arrest (by police on Friday),” he said.
“The Notam was imperative and lawful to carry our security risks assessment in the contaminated areas from landside to airside to give clearance for normal operations to resume.
“The Notam from 3am to noon was a direct consequence of the security breach by the agents of the Casa director and the minister and has nothing to do with my arrest.”
He said the statement released by Civil Aviation and Transport Minister Walter Schnaubelt and Casa director Benedict Oraka were (allegedly) identical, biased and self-serving.
“Both have gone to the public claiming that the Notam issued by NAC as a direct result of my arrest is far from the truth,” Kiponge said.
Kiponge said he had written on numerous occasions to the Casa director that the Aerodrome Operating Certificate for Nadzab and Kiunga, which he was charged with (operating illegally), were matters before the court and it was not proper for the parties to discuss the matters further.
“The Casa director as the regulator and minister responsible for safety and security of the civil aviation sector have now (allegedly) set a dangerous precedent and is sad to see both defending their actions with impunity,” he said.

Schnaubelt firm, MP calls for sacking

November 15, 2022The NationalNational

TRANSPORT and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt says the Government expects heads of departments, agencies and State-owned enterprises to conduct themselves professionally and responsibly.
Responding to the arrest of National Airport Corporation managing director and chief executive Rex Kiponge on Friday, and the charges against him over illegally operating Nadzab and Kiunga airports without valid aerodrome operating certificates, Schnaubelt said: “He (Kiponge) had been invited to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority headquarters on Sept 13, 14, 15 and 21, and Oct 21 for questioning in relation to breaching a Civil Aviation Act 2000.”
Meanwhile, Opposition MP Patrick Basa called on Prime Minister James Marape to sack Schnaubelt for not managing the aviation sector.

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