-Commissions Dangerous Private Jet Terminal
The owner of McDan Aviation, Daniel McKorley, has gone ahead to construct and commission a private jet terminal on the property of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) even though the GACL had warned that the terminal was built without recourse to safety standards-Plan of Construction Operation (PCO).
On Friday, 28th January 2022, showering praises on President Akufo Addo for his support, McDan went ahead to inaugurate the terminal, with Mr. McKorley stating the following on the sideline of the event: “I believe this current government is a business government, and it is supporting us and will support us to make a very big difference and a big impact.”
The GACL was immediately forced to issue a stern warning to McDan about the illegality of his private terminal.
In a letter dated January 28, 2022, GACL wrote: “We only became aware of your construction activities during routine security patrols, and we had to ask you to stop and submit a PCO for review and approval before construction continued.”
The GACL letter continued: “And then, we only received your request for logistical support…The GACL has noticed with concern your disregard for the norms of doing business in the aviation sector which requires strict adherence to safety and security rules. Indeed, you have engaged in several activities without prior approval from GACL which have typically called for emergency corrective actions.”
Essentially, the GACL was inferring that McDan constructed the huge private terminal on their property without anybody noticing until it was completed and tastefully furnished for high net worth customers.
Mr. McKorley could have only achieved that feat because he is a financier of President Akuffo Addo’s political campaign, otherwise, the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), where the private terminal is located in a high-security area where no citizen can breach without full clearance from airport authorities.
Meanwhile, under normal circumstances, the operation of McDan Aviation is supposed to be licensed, but sources tell WhatsUp News that an airport operating license he acquired has since expired and the Ghana Airports Company is not exactly keen on renewing that license for several reasons.
Not only has that, but McDan Aviation’s Fixed Base Simulator license has also not been fully renewed after it expired, Whatsup News heard.
According to information picked up, the GACL’s refusal to renew the license is informed by the fact that among others, McDan Aviation is owing to the Airports Company a whopping Ghc30million in rent and other statutory charges.
The GACL is said to have been asking for payment but the McDan has been eluding the needful debt servicing, something that is said to have seriously affected the finances of the company and its ability to pay workers’ salaries.
Allegedly, another reason that has dissuaded the GACL from handing him a license is that his 15-year-old Bombardier 604 to be used for the private charter service is not properly insured.
Those who have benefited from the flights are mostly government officials and people with connections to the regime, including President Akufo-Addo’s notorious cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, who is alleged to have been extremely peeved with McDan for flying him recently in the private jet that is not properly insured.
Sources say, the behavior of the company egregiously contravene international air traffic regulations and vandalize air safety protocols in all its ramifications.
Whatsup News contacted Mr. McKorley on phone and he graciously invited this digital newspaper to meet him at the airport for an explanation and other details.
However, when the paper got there he sent a WhatsApp message saying he was out of the country. Mr. McKorley would also not allow Whatsup News to speak to any of his staff.
As part of the WhatsApp messaging, however, he confirmed that his company has paid part of the debt owed to the GACL but wouldn’t state the amount he owes or may have paid.
According to sources, the company only last week managed to pay Ghc1million out of the Ghc30million after the GACL made it clear that it will not allow it to open its expensive private jet terminal if McDan Aviation does not pay its debt.
The Ghc1million has, apparently not impressed the airport authorities and so information is that they are not granting McDan Aviation the license he needs to operate.
The new terminal, according to information will be managed by McDan. A sneak peek of the terminal ahead of the official opening shows it is to be a place of pure luxury for those who can afford to fly private jets.