Embrace new national airline
Dec 29, 2005
I refer to the article by Paul Busharizi in New Vision of December 2, 2005 and to the editorial of the same day.
I refer to the article by Paul Busharizi in New Vision of December 2, 2005 and to the editorial of the same day.
It appears that there is some misunderstanding of the announcement made by the minister for investment, Prof Semakula Kiwanuka, regarding Victoria International Airways Ltd and in particular regarding the role of Arch Air (Pty) Ltd in the transaction. I wish to put the record right as follows:
At the request of President Yoweri Museveni, Arch Air was approached to conduct research into the viability of a Ugandan based carrier, operating from Entebbe and providing competition to some of the other national carriers servicing Uganda as well as servicing other routes benefiting Ugandan businessmen and tourists.
Arch Air is registered as a South African company and specialises in aviation and transport consultancy services. As a small company we do not operate a website and are not required to register with ICAO or IATA as we are not an airline but simply a consultancy. Arch completed the research and made a presentation to the president recommending the creation of such an airline.
This recommendation was embodied in a properly presented business plan and financial forecast.
Arch’s recommendations were based on the availability of suitable experienced airline management being a prerequisite to obtaining the necessary capital from international investor groups.
Arch’s shareholders and directors include the following:
lMike Myburgh is a retired Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African Airways (SAA) and in addition to his engineering experience, has over 30 years of senior management experience in the transport sector.
lJohn Hare is a retired Deputy CEO, also of SAA, and likewise has many years of management experience in the public sector. He is a specialist in finance and administration. Both the aforementioned are Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society and of the South African Institute of Aerospace Engineering.
lViv Lewis retired some years ago as Deputy CEO of SAA, having specialist knowledge of the technical and flight operations of an airline.
All the three have performed consulting roles for a variety of airlines and transport projects for a variety of operators.
They will all be heavily involved in the management of VIA Uganda.
Consequently, Arch Air offered to manage the new operation for five years whilst identifying suitable local management to take control of the airline.
This was offered in parallel with the identification of investor groups from South Africa and elsewhere, willing to provide the necessary share capital in partnership with the Ugandan government.
All of this was subject to the registration of Victoria International Airways Ltd (VIA Uganda) as a Ugandan limited liability company and the award of an operators license by the CAA (Uganda) after they have conducted a proper due diligence investigation into the business plan and the viability studies of the proposal, although Arch has already made significant investment in the development and presentation of the plans to the president.
The current situation is that the company has been formed, the applications have been made to the Ugandan authorities for the operating and investment licenses and they, as well as the Minister of Finance and the office of the Attorney General, are completing their studies before the granting of final permissions and licenses.
We at Arch are honoured by the positive reception by President Museveni and the announcements made by Hon. Kiwanuka and are looking forward to bringing everything together once the agreements are signed and the licenses granted.
We feel that VIA Uganda will become a strong force in the Ugandan and East African communities, making a meaningful contribution to the development of the economy and its tourist potential.
We look forward to the finalisation of the investment and hope that this sets out the background and state of play at present.
Ends
It appears that there is some misunderstanding of the announcement made by the minister for investment, Prof Semakula Kiwanuka, regarding Victoria International Airways Ltd and in particular regarding the role of Arch Air (Pty) Ltd in the transaction. I wish to put the record right as follows:
At the request of President Yoweri Museveni, Arch Air was approached to conduct research into the viability of a Ugandan based carrier, operating from Entebbe and providing competition to some of the other national carriers servicing Uganda as well as servicing other routes benefiting Ugandan businessmen and tourists.
Arch Air is registered as a South African company and specialises in aviation and transport consultancy services. As a small company we do not operate a website and are not required to register with ICAO or IATA as we are not an airline but simply a consultancy. Arch completed the research and made a presentation to the president recommending the creation of such an airline.
This recommendation was embodied in a properly presented business plan and financial forecast.
Arch’s recommendations were based on the availability of suitable experienced airline management being a prerequisite to obtaining the necessary capital from international investor groups.
Arch’s shareholders and directors include the following:
lMike Myburgh is a retired Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African Airways (SAA) and in addition to his engineering experience, has over 30 years of senior management experience in the transport sector.
lJohn Hare is a retired Deputy CEO, also of SAA, and likewise has many years of management experience in the public sector. He is a specialist in finance and administration. Both the aforementioned are Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society and of the South African Institute of Aerospace Engineering.
lViv Lewis retired some years ago as Deputy CEO of SAA, having specialist knowledge of the technical and flight operations of an airline.
All the three have performed consulting roles for a variety of airlines and transport projects for a variety of operators.
They will all be heavily involved in the management of VIA Uganda.
Consequently, Arch Air offered to manage the new operation for five years whilst identifying suitable local management to take control of the airline.
This was offered in parallel with the identification of investor groups from South Africa and elsewhere, willing to provide the necessary share capital in partnership with the Ugandan government.
All of this was subject to the registration of Victoria International Airways Ltd (VIA Uganda) as a Ugandan limited liability company and the award of an operators license by the CAA (Uganda) after they have conducted a proper due diligence investigation into the business plan and the viability studies of the proposal, although Arch has already made significant investment in the development and presentation of the plans to the president.
The current situation is that the company has been formed, the applications have been made to the Ugandan authorities for the operating and investment licenses and they, as well as the Minister of Finance and the office of the Attorney General, are completing their studies before the granting of final permissions and licenses.
We at Arch are honoured by the positive reception by President Museveni and the announcements made by Hon. Kiwanuka and are looking forward to bringing everything together once the agreements are signed and the licenses granted.
We feel that VIA Uganda will become a strong force in the Ugandan and East African communities, making a meaningful contribution to the development of the economy and its tourist potential.
We look forward to the finalisation of the investment and hope that this sets out the background and state of play at present.
Ends