■ BOTSWANA: Gaborone SSKIA suffers $53'000 worth of damage to roof in unspecified incident.

Following an unspecified incident which resulted in damage to the roof and its lightning conductor, the Botswana Government, the operators of Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), have been forced to fork out USD53'000 (BWP430'000) to pay for emergency repair work.

■ BOTSWANA: Air Botswana inaugurates new Pula Lounge at Gaborone SSKIA Airport.

Air Botswana (BP) has officially opened its new lounge at Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA). Dubbed the Pula Lounge, after Botswana's national currency, the Pula, the facility will be available to members of Air Botswana's frequent flyer scheme, Teemane Club.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana BAe146 suffers substantial engine damage following aborted take off in Gaborone.

On Saturday 11th August 2012, an Air Botswana (BP) Avro RJ85 (MSN# 1160 | A2-ABF) performing flight BP 205 from Gaborone, Botswana to Johannesburg, South Africa with 28 passengers aboard, suffered a #2 engine failure during its take off roll at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

The Air Botswana BAe146 'A2-ABF' in happier times  (KeithB)

"During the take-off roll, one of the engines failed and it is reported that it spat out debris. It is the hot debris from the engine that caused a small grass fire adjacent to the runway. The commander of the aircraft, Captain Adam Kereng reported that indications in the flight deck showed a malfunction of the number two engine, and therefore the take-off was aborted in compliance with standard operating procedures for this type of failure.

Once the aircraft had stopped, the passengers were disembarked and taken to the terminal building where they were briefed on the exact nature of the problem, and also on the alternative aircraft that would be made available for them to complete their flights to Johannesburg."

Source [Air Botswana]

Passengers did however complain to the Botswana press after the incident, claiming that they were "made to wait for more than 10 minutes inside the aircraft which continued to produce a cloud of smoke" and subsequently, had "to wait another 40 minutes before a minibus picked them up, as no senior personnel at Air Botswana showed up to address them, except the airhostess who also looked panicky."

Passengers were rebooked onto other flights thereafter whilst the stricken Avro (also known as a Bae 146-100) was towed away to a hangar. Fortunately, the airline is due to receive another BAe146 in coming weeks as part of Air Botswana's fleet renewal plan.

The Botswana Accident Investigations Department at the Ministry of Transport is investigating the accident.
 

■ BOTSWANA: Government fires Chinese firm Sinohydro over delays to Gaborone Airport Expansion project.

Fed up with continual delays and deadline setbacks, the Botswana Government has decided to fire the primary contractor on Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) Expansion Project Phase 2, Chinese state construction firm Sinohydro, with 95% of the works completed.