‘Indecent exposure’ of Ratmalana wall

The wall bordering Galle Road at the Ratmalana International Airport is now fully exposed. It shows its inner workings with a large amount of heavy galvanised piping to hold up the hoardings in place. The wall was introduced by the SLAF during the time of war, to prevent public peering into the airport which posed a greater risk than losing an aircraft with passengers on an overrun (excursion) and the subsequent impact with the concrete wall. Since the situation has now changed, the SLAF should have no problem if this nine-foot wall is removed. Any aircraft in the airport vicinity that accidently undershoots or overshoots the take –off or landing will first hit the solid wall and will be destroyed. If it succeeds smashing through, will then hit metal pipes which can cause more serious damage and rupture the fuel tanks in the wings and fuselage creating a fire hazard.

Remember it was a small piece of metal shed from a preceding aircraft that damaged the Concord aircraft and caused a fire and a fatal crash in Paris, France!

The wall at Ratmalana

This Seeya understands that the money earned from the hoardings go to the SLAF ‘welfare fund’. Many moons ago, 31 highly experienced SriLankan Airline Captains declared the wall was unsafe and unnecessary. Unfortunately, there were three parties involved. The Civil Aviation Authority Sri Lanka (CAASL), Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (AASL) and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). Usually, all three parties must agree on a plan of action to maintain air safety. As expected, the SLAF said ‘no’ for obvious reasons. They lost sight of the fact that financial sacrifices need to be made to ensure air safety.

All these Captains were asking was to replace the wall with a transparent and frangible (breaking on impact) fence like in almost all other airports, here and abroad to prevent injury and loss of life at minimal cost. The advertisements on the said wall may be the problem as millions of Rupees have changed hands. Thus, putting a price tag on air safety.

It seems strange that in a country where the authorities have removed the walls of Police Stations without hesitation, we are unable to remove this hazardous wall. Are we waiting for a fatal accident to happen in our neck of the woods?

It was Jerome Lederer the then President of the Flight Safety Foundation who said that “If you think that Air Safety is expensive, try an accident”

Guwan Seeya