Country receives $8-million in Airspace revenue annually, 60 percent share.

THE country continues to receive SBD8 million annually, collected from our upper Airspace revenue.

Speaking before parliament during the first session and fifth meeting of the Tenth Parliament yesterday, Minister of Aviation and Communication Hon Peter Shanel Agovaka said the $8million revenue collection comes from 60 percent the country shares with Australia.

He told parliament that the distribution of revenue between Australia and Solomon Islands is 40 – 60 percent where Solomon Islands get 60 percent and Australia Air Space Service gets 40 percent annually.

Hon Shanel explained that the distribution was made due to the non-commissioning of Air Traffic equipment the country purchased last year and that the country is currently relying on Australia Air Service to managing our upper Airspace.

“Our equipment is sitting at Henderson and are non-commissioned.

“It is not properly connected and it’s not working as such we are unable to manage the airspace ourselves, we don’t have the expertise and equipment to carry out this very important service so at the moment Australia Air Service is collecting our Air Space Revenues and then give us our shares,” he said.

Hon Shanel said his ministry has consulted the supplier of the non-commissioned Air Traffic Equipment last year and that further assessment and installation of the equipment is expected to be carried out this year.

He said the country is currently using Non Direction Beacons (NDB) system – a ground-based, low frequency radio transmitter used as an instrument approach for airports and offshore platform to control international and also domestic flights.

Meanwhile Hon Shanel said the Ministry of Communication and Aviation is currently undergoing review as part of the government’s Air Space Policy and Arrangement.

He said part of the review is to make sure the management of Air Traffic system returns to the country.

Hon Shanel said the Ministry has made consultation with Australia Air Traffic Service to help the country with technical support towards improving our Air Traffic System.

He adds that the Ministry has also made successful negotiation with Singapore Air Service to provide training opportunity for our local staffs to undergo Air Traffic Management training in Singapore.

Hon Shanel said suitable candidates will be identified and sent to Singapore to undergo Air Traffic Management this year.

He said both Australia and Singapore are looking forward to assist the country in this very important development.

Hon Shanel told parliament that expected timeframe for the country to take full control of our Air Traffic System is two years.

He adds that the goal is to attain absolute management of our airspace, in which the revenue collected will 100 percent be injected into the economy – not just 60 percent, as is current.