Ronald Lodiong, the acting Director East African Civil Aviation Academy told URN on Tuesday evening on phone from Kampala that he was informed about the incident but was waiting for a detailed report from the chief flight engineer.
Susan Kataike, the Senior Public Relations Officer in the ministry of works and transport, told URN on Phone that, the institution cannot admit students because they current students are not through with their courses .
Lodiang also didn’t disclose how much is needed to restore the lights on the run way and whether or not they have a plan to do so in the near future.
An instructor who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity says despite receiving their salaries, they can’t spend it on house rent because it is too little.
Ronald Lodiong, the Acting Director East African Civil Aviation Academy, Soroti declined to comment on the request by the students saying they are yet to meet and discuss the matter.
Bliika Musheshe, the Guild President East African Civil Aviation Academy they are meant to study for only two years but because of the challenges the Academy is facing some students spend up to seven years.
Information obtained by URN from the East African Civil Aviation Academy shows that the Certificate of Airworthiness expired on October 28, 2013. A certificate of airworthiness is renewable after every 12 months.
Two propellers were discovered to have fresh cracks last week, while the portion of the third planes’ propeller broke off while the instructor and students were flying thereafter. This happens barely a month after the propellers were taken to Nairobi for routine maintenance.
In 2010, government procured six Cessna 172 aircrafts for Soroti Flying School at the tune of 4 billion shillings. However, the aircrafts are grounded because they are overdue for service.
