Kenya Airports Authority To Auction Fifteen Aircraft Abandoned At Wilson Airstrip

Kenya Airports Authority has listed Fifteen aircraft abandoned at the Wilson Airport for an auction.

The abandoned aircraft had been declared a safety risk by KAA over 3 years ago.

KAA which heads operations, safety and security at all Kenyan airports issued a one month notice to claim the aircraft after which they will be auctioned to recovery the accumulated parking and landing fees.

KAA has also demanded that the politician owners of the aircraft must pay all incidental costs including the Gazette publication.

“The auction shall be defrayed against any incurred charges and the balance if any shall remain at the owner’s credit but should there be a shortfall, the owner shall be liable thereof ”  Reads a Kenya Gazette notice published by KAA

One of the abandoned planes is owned by a former Presidential aspirant and the current proclaimed face of opposition.

The abandoned Dutch model F27 with a wing span up-to 29 meters, is registered under 5X-FFD, which is a Ugandan registration number series. Local aircraft bare 5Y as their registration series.

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Canadian owned Knight Aviation planes are also listed on the auction.

They have abandoned 3 smaller models of HS 748, a medium-sized turboprop airliner, and Beechcraft Baron (BE200 and BE)90.

Phoenix Air, IAP Group Australia and Superior Aviation companies are also among-st owners the abandoned aircraft.

KAA officials speaking to investigators of this site did not disclose the fees and penalties owed by the abandoned airlines.

Our Wilson Airport sources say most of the aircraft have been abandoned for more than a decade.

The charges and arrears of those flights have an accumulated value of millions of shillings.

KAA said will auction those who are in serviceable condition and sell others as scrap metal after parts.

KAA is also said to be closely monitoring 100 helicopters packed in Kenya which only fly duty free during electioneering period.

Politicians and Business-people has invested heavily in buying helicopters but can’t afford to foot them consistently.

According to KAA figures seen by this writer, It costs up to Sh170,000 per hour to lease a light plane in Kenya.

Parking and landing is also charged by KAA which makes Owning, operating and maintaining a helicopter an extremely expensive thing in Kenya.