The spoliation of the Kikwit airport site continues to cause serious concern. Indeed, the situation continues to worsen, transforming the site into something that resembles anything but an airport. Houses belonging to the spoliators were established only a few tens of meters from the airstrip, thus invading the security strip.
The consequences of this intrusion are numerous. Runoff from these dwellings created a bed of sand and trash on the airstrip, making it difficult for planes to maneuver for takeoff and landing. In addition, significant erosion is forming within 100 meters of the runway, representing an imminent risk to its stability.
The commander of the Airway Authority (RVA) of Kikwit, Raphaël Ndanizaya, expresses his concern about the consequences of this erosion on the runway. According to him, in case of rain, this erosion could damage the runway and make it impassable, thus endangering the safety of air navigation.
Planes also face navigation difficulties due to these dwellings close to the runway. By disturbing the propagation of electromagnetic waves, they create a disturbance that has been the source of many complaints from pilots.
The commander also underlines the danger posed by the children of despoilers. Indeed, when planes land, these children tend to approach the runway, which could cause accidents.
Faced with this situation, the town hall of Kikwit sent a team to verify the title deeds of the occupants of the RVA site. However, the results of these checks are still awaited. For its part, the RVA pleads for the eviction of all spoilers in order to guarantee the safety of air navigation.
It is important to emphasize that the Kikwit airport site has been looted for many years, thus reducing its initial dimensions. The cadastral plan of the site, established in 1953, provided for a width of 1,200 meters and a length of 3,800 meters. Today, the Kikwit RVA only has a width of 800 meters and a length of 3,400 meters due to this spoliation.
It is essential to deal with this worrying situation to preserve the safety of air navigation and to guarantee the proper functioning of Kikwit airport. The eviction of the spoliators and the implementation of adequate protection measures are necessary to restore the optimal operating conditions of the airport