The Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) has sensationally claimed that the Kenya Airways Chief Pilot is unqualified to hold the position.
“In defiance of the law, Kenya Airways has over the last two years had a Chief Pilot who is unqualified to hold the position, as required by KCAA regulations,” says KALPA.
KALPA, the body of pilots working for Kenya Airways that has threatened to go on strike, claims that having the unqualified Chief Pilot in charge is among a string of non-adherence with civil aviation regulations by the national carrier.
“It is unfathomable that a national carrier can continue running its operations without following the laid down regulations by the industry regulator, in this case, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA),” said KALPA.
“KCAA has issued KQ with an Air Operator Certificate which is the airline’s licence to operate. The AOC’s continued validity is dependent upon, amongst other things, the operator maintaining a management team who are qualified as dictated by the law.”
The umbrella of pilots further says that despite its repeated queries, the Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Allan Kilavuka has failed to address or rectify their concerns.
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This, they say, has wilfully placing the airline’s AOC in jeopardy.
“The minimum qualification for a Chief Pilot is clearly spelled out in the regulations which Mr. Kilavuka is required to be familiar with in his role as accountable manager,” said KALPA.
“He is either unaware of, or knowingly flouted regulations, which calls to question his suitability for the position he continues to hold.”