By: Malinta Yopolo
Rural Airstrip Agency aims to establish 500 rural airstrips by 2027. This was revealed at the launch of its first 5 year Corporate Plan on the evening of Friday 15th of December at APEC Haus, Port Moresby.
Having achieved a decade of service delivery, RAA Chief Executive Officer, Kim Opiti affirmed that RAA can make lasting impact on the aviation landscape of rural PNG, leaving no communities behind and reaching one airstrip at a time, and by 2027 the agency can reach 500.
RAA Chairman of Board of Directors, Stephan Charlesworth revealed the two Position Statements of RAA, rural airstrips are critical to the integrated transport network of PNG and the future social and economic development, and RAA to become a government authority for the right legislation to be put in place and to work with the government transitioning what is currently a public-private partnership into governments authority that will take responsibility for overseeing rural airstrip and supporting rural aviation
These position statements will be aligned to the governments Draft Aviation Policy.Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation Walter Schnaubelt, in his keynote speech said RAAs 5year corporate plan has holistically captured the importance of connect PNG in the aviation space.
He further affirmed his commitment to RAAs positions statements in converting RAA into a government authority.
