More Troubles For Ghana Airways

Attempts by officials of Ghana Airways to do maintenance checks, popularly called C-checks on the airline's only DC 10-aircraft have failed. The airline's maintenance contract with Alitalia has collapsed due to its indebtedness to the Italian company. As a result, the aircraft, which had been due for servicing in Rome on the 17th of this month, remains in operation.

JOY FM has learnt that the plane's airworthiness expired on the 17th July and that the plane should have been grounded accordingly. However, engineers of Ghana Airways have reportedly taken advantage of a clause in the air operators' certificate to extend the flight airworthiness by an additional month.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has recognsied the extension and taken the expiration of the airworthiness of the DC 10 to the 17th of next month.

Some observers say Ghana Airways could be operating illegally in contravention of its air operators' certificate since Alitalia has withdrawn its engineering support. But Richard Abu of the Maintenance Department of Ghana Airways says the option being exercised now is not new.