MARSHALL ISLANDS President David Kabua has declared a state of emergency to overcome the problems caused by the grounding of the country's cargo airline by the US Federal Aviation Administration (F), reports Radio New Zealand.
The US government agency grounded Micronesian cargo operator Asia Pacific Airlines, also known as Aero Micronesia, due to concerns about unqualified pilots flying the aircraft.
In a statement on February 7, the F said 'after the company failed to produce records showing that the two individuals who provide proficiency checks for company pilots were properly trained and qualified for the past two years.'
'Under the regulations, any flight check provided by these two individuals is invalid, meaning that none of the company's pilots are currently qualified to fly,' it added.
The F had notified the airline in December that 'it was in apparent non-compliance with the regulations and urged the carrier to suspend operations until the matter was resolved.'
But the Guam-based airline continued to operate in breach of the F order.
Radio New Zealand said the decision has caused havoc on the islands, affecting mail delivery and resulting in a shortage of essential medical supplies at the Majuro hospital.
Johnson said the airline's grounding is also impacting on other countries in the Micronesia region.
He said the state of emergency declaration will allow government departments to look for a replacement service 'to source alternative air carriers to begin providing cargo services to the marshall Islands.'
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The US government agency grounded Micronesian cargo operator Asia Pacific Airlines, also known as Aero Micronesia, due to concerns about unqualified pilots flying the aircraft.
In a statement on February 7, the F said 'after the company failed to produce records showing that the two individuals who provide proficiency checks for company pilots were properly trained and qualified for the past two years.'
'Under the regulations, any flight check provided by these two individuals is invalid, meaning that none of the company's pilots are currently qualified to fly,' it added.
The F had notified the airline in December that 'it was in apparent non-compliance with the regulations and urged the carrier to suspend operations until the matter was resolved.'
But the Guam-based airline continued to operate in breach of the F order.
Radio New Zealand said the decision has caused havoc on the islands, affecting mail delivery and resulting in a shortage of essential medical supplies at the Majuro hospital.
Johnson said the airline's grounding is also impacting on other countries in the Micronesia region.
He said the state of emergency declaration will allow government departments to look for a replacement service 'to source alternative air carriers to begin providing cargo services to the marshall Islands.'
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