KCAA Opens Probe On Silverstone Over Safety Compliance

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has officially opened investigations into Silverstone Air Services to determine its safety compliance following multiple incidents involving the airline, the recent one on Monday that saw a wheel drop off one of its aircraft on takeoff.

Kenyans have been asking the appropriate bodies to investigate the airlines fleet. KCAA Director-General Gilbert Kibe said the probe was necessitated by an outcry on safety concerns following the incidents. On monday, flight Dash 8-300 heading to Nairobi from Lodwar lost the number 3 wheel assembly after takeoff when it took off from Lodwar Airstrip.

The investigation will be carried out by the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) under the Ministry of Transport. “KCAA is currently carrying out an audit inspection on the airline after various air incidents and an accident involving Silverstone Air Services…The audit is being performed in order to determine the level of compliance with the current civil aviation regulations and their own company approved manuals and procedures.” Said Mr Kibe.

Members of Parliament have also summoned Silverstone Air managers over the same. The National Assembly Transport committee chaired by David Pkosing has also summoned the Transport ministry leaders, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to the Friday meeting.

KCAA will be required to report to the committee it’s findings in the probe on Silverstones fleet of aircrafts and all other airlines operating through Wilson Airport. “We also want details of the entire fleet that operate through Wilson Airport. We also need details of the age of all aircrafts currently operating from the said terminal,” Pkosing said.