TheNewsGuru

Tag: Airport

  • 10 years after spending billions…Delta, contractors ruin hope of Asaba Airport completion [PHOTOS]

    For the past ten years since its inception [2008 -1017], the billions invested so far by Delta State Government in the building of Asaba International Airport has raised worries among ‘Deltans’ so much that it could make one weep on a daily basis at the sight of the outcome of this supposed mega project.

    The foundation laying stone of the Asaba International Airport was done by former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor on May 7, 2008.The contract was awarded to ULO Consultants, an indigenous firm owned by Uche Luke Okpuno, an indigene of Asaba.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathered that airport was built at an estimate of over N26 billion, the project commenced under ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2008, suffered a major setback when the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) downgraded it in 2015 as the state government failed to fix key infrastructure, – repairs of the uneven runways, perimeter fencing, drainage as well as lack of adequately trained technical personnel.

     

    Empty promises

    Earlier in 2017, specifically on the 4th of February, Uduaghan’s successor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa brought smiles to the face of his people in Delta State after he assured them of a speedy uplift of the Asaba airport project, stressing that the airport will soon be rated among the best in the country.

    The governor made the declaration at an unscheduled inspection visit to the airport at the said time.

    His words, “getting it right is very important, airport is not about the structure but about the runway and we believe that when completed, the airport will be among the best in the country based on standard.”

    Nine months after the lofty Okowa’s promises, the Asaba International Airports is still at its ugly state, a gigantic embarrassing edifice situated at the centre of Delta state.

    Contractors, Delta government trade words

    Apparently confused and embarrassed by the many failure to near or provide a completion stage, the Delta State government and the contracting firm handling the construction works at the Asaba Airport [ULO Consultants Limited] are today currently still trading blames over the alleged shoddy execution of runway project at the Asaba Airport.

    The contracting firm, when summoned by the State House of Assembly blamed the government for an alleged unnecessary and over bearing interference on the poor execution and delay in the project.

    The Chief Executive of the construction firm, Chief Uche Okpunor, told the House of Assembly Committee on Works that the government and the state ministry of works allegedly were responsible for the delay in completion of the project as a result of unnecessary bureaucracy.

    He added that inconsistent designs, atmosphere conditions, and terrain among other issues formed the bulk of the reason behind the delay, and eventual failure of the runway.

    Delta Commissioner for Works, Mr. James Augoye dismissed the allegation. He said that one of the problems violating air space safety code was the presence of sea of illegal structures (residential apartments) constructed a few meters from the airport’s runway, a disturbing observable fact he alleged ULO could not addressed.

    He said the Ministry of Works has received a letter of disengagement from ULO Consultants Ltd.He said the letter has been passed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to examine its financial, legal and contractual implications.

    But the contractor, Mr. Uche Ukponor refused to disclose what informed his decision to disengage from the contract after presentation of the project status to the House Committee on Works but assured that he will do so in due time.

    Okpunor alleged that the government and the State Ministry of Works were partly responsible for the delay in completing the project due to deliberate bureaucracy.He further alleged inconsistent designs, atmospheric conditions and terrain among other issues as cause for the failure of the runway.

    Delta State Assembly wades in revives hope…

     

    The Chairman of the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works, Hon. (Chief) Evance Ochuko Ivwurie, after an inspection of the project in November said the committee was disappointed with the Contractor handling the Asaba International Airport, saying,”The contractor is obstinately recalcitrant and the conduct has caused State Government untold embarrassment, setbacks and public opprobrium.”

    Hon. Ivwurie said, it is most unfortunate that the Chairman and Managing Director of ULO Consultant Limited, Chief Uche Ukpunor decided to disregard the Committee by sending a representative, Engr. Jerome Adeyemi (Project Manager) and Alli Bugawe, (Assistant Project Manager) of ULO Consultant Limited both of whom could not answer questions put to them by the Committee during the inspection because of their alleged incompetence and lack of knowledge about the performance so far.

  • Millions of Nigerians will welcome Buhari at the airport when he returns – Presidency

    Millions of Nigerians will welcome Buhari at the airport when he returns – Presidency

    The presidency has reiterated the love of Nigerians for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently on medical vacation in London, United Kingdom.

    This was revealed by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that some pro-Buhari protesters had since last week staged several protests across the country in solidarity and support to the Buhari led administration.

    The presidential aide noted that as a way of showing their love, millions of Nigerians will gather at the airport to welcome the president back home when his doctors release him.

    Ojudu said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after addressing the pro-President Buhari protesters at the Federal Secretariat/Supreme Court Junction of main entrance of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

    Ojodu noted that the president was well loved by the people and that was why they have staging protests to register their loyalty and support.

    He said the presidency was not in the habit of hiring people for protest marches, saying that all those who participated in the pro-Buhari protest were die-hard supporters of the president.

    “I was working in my office when I was called to go and receive them, just the way we also received the BringBackOurGirls’ protesters last time.

    “This presidency does not give money to anybody. This is not our tradition, it’s not our culture to buy protest or induce people to do any.

    “You will be surprised the day President Buhari is coming back to see the millions of people that will go to the airport to welcome him,’’ he said.

    Ojudu denied that the presidency deliberately shunned the coalition of civil society organisations demanding that Buhari “resumes duty or resigns.

    The presidential aide, however, expressed the readiness of the presidency to talk to the coalition if they indicated interest to do so.

    “If they decide to talk to us we talk to them. This group has a special message for the acting president and they wrote to us that they were coming and we received them.

    “Those ones never informed us of anything. They were just doing their own protests and that was it,” he said.

    Ojudu charged the pro-Buhari protesters to join hands with other well meaning Nigerians to stand up against those elements who are bent on frustrating the ongoing developmental efforts of the federal government.

    “President Buhari stands for anti-corruption. Buhari is not selfish, is not fighting for himself and the elements who are selfish; who are greedy and corrupt they are standing up and are coming together against him.

    “You have to mobilise and educate people across Nigeria to stand up against these people,” he said.

    Ojudu, however, challenged members of the pro-Buhari group on the need to conduct themselves peacefully and shun any act capable of causing social unrest.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the protesters, who were in their hundreds, presented a letter of solidarity to the acting president through Ojudu.

     

  • Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    There was panic at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday after the Bomb Control Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria used an explosive device to blow up an unclaimed bag that was abandoned at the terminal.

    According to FAAN, the incident happened at about 9.30am after the departure of the fourth flight that conveyed pilgrims from the airport’s Hajj Terminal to Saudi Arabia.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the incident, however, refuted rumours of a bomb scare at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the MMA.

    Explaining what happened at the facility in a statement she issued on Tuesday, Yakubu said, “At about 9:30 am, an unattended bag was noticed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal after the departure of the 4th flight for the intending pilgrims.

    “The chief security officer of the Federal Airports Authority, Hajj and Cargo Terminal, as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit, were contacted and (they) began the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag.”

    She added, “No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic amongst the second batch of intending pilgrims waiting.”

    Yakubu stated that after the detonation, it was discovered that the bag contained some copies of an Islamic guide that was meant to guide pilgrims with regards to their journey.

    FAAN, therefore, advised passengers to be cautious of their belongings and ensure that all properties were securely kept, adding that it would like to assure the general public that there was no bomb and the Hajj and Cargo Terminal was safe and secure for flight operations.

  • Reconstruction of Oshodi/Int’l Airport Road begins September – Ambode

    …Says New Modern Bus Terminals Coming In Marina, Ajah, Iyana Ipaja, Others

    …To Fix All Potholes End Of Rainy Season

    …Holds 8th Town Hall Meeting In Badore

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said that work on the proposed expansion and reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport Road would commence next month.

    The Governor, who spoke at the Third Quarter Town Hall Meeting, the 8th in the series, held at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Lagos also disclosed that plans are already underway to commence the construction of 181 local government roads next month.

    On the Oshodi-International Airport Road, Governor Ambode said the construction, which has already been awarded, would see the transformation of the road from four lanes to 10 lanes from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop commuters to the Local Airport.

    It would be recalled that in May 2017, Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo approved that the road be handed over to the Lagos State Government for total reconstruction.

    Governor Ambode, who had described the current state of the road as a national disgrace, said that work would begin in earnest come September.

    On the delay in the commencement of rehabilitation of 181 inner roads, Governor Ambode said the development was due to the fluctuation in dollar rate at the time the bid was last opened, but that a new bid would be opened in the next two weeks, while work would commence in September.

    “By the next two to three weeks, I will reopen the advert to get a new cost and all things been equal the job would start on the roads by end of September,” he said.

    Governor Ambode also assured residents that the State Public Works would seize the period of the break of the rainy season to fix all potholes across the State in order to improve drive time for motorists.

    Speaking on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) billed to commence next month, Governor Ambode urged the people to be patient with his administration as the plan which is an wholistic and comprehensive waste management policy was currently in its gestation period.

    He said once fully operational, waste would be collected in line with international best practices, while all parts of the State would be kept clean always.

    The Governor, however, urged residents to adopt new attitude to disposing waste and desist from dumping in drainages and canals, assuring that the Government would provide adequate bins to discourage indiscriminate dumping.

    In the meantime, Governor Ambode said all the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Chairmen have been mandated to ensure 24/7 cleaning of the environment, while officials of the State Government would be moving round to evacuate waste.

    As part of the initiatives to enhance commuting within the State, the Governor said new modern bus terminals would be constructed commencing from this quarter in Marina, Ajah, Ojota, Agege, Iju Ishaga and Iyana Ipaja, while as part of the integrated transport system, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would be constructed to connect Badore Jetty to Ajah.

    He added that the Badore Road would be expanded at its entrance from Ajah Roundabout, while plans are afoot to construct Oke-Ira Nla Road as an alternative to totally eliminate traffic along the axis.

    Responding to complaints by a resident of the axis, Mrs Abiodun Dina on the activities of dredgers who are found of spoiling the road and parking indiscriminately on the road thereby subjecting people to avoidable Traffic snarl, Governor Ambode said in as much as government was not interested in shutting down businesses but he would have to wield the big stick if the dredgers fail to comply with rules of engagement.

    The town hall meeting had in attendance the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, members of the State Executive Council, members of the House of Assembly, top government functionaries, party chieftains, traditional rulers, among others.

     

  • Leaking roof: We are upgrading airport to meet Osinbajo’s Executive Order – FAAN

    Barely few hours after a video showing a leaking roof at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, has gone viral, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday reacted said the leaking roof was due to ongoing construction works at the airport.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the lobby and Gate ‘D’ Departure area of the airport was entirely flooded by a heavy downpour that flowed directly through the damaged roofs.

    FAAN, in a statement signed by its Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Herrienta Yakubu in Lagos, said the upgrade was in compliance with the recent Executive Order issued by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Yakubu, who was reacting to a viral video of the incident, denied claims that the facilities at the airport were in a deplorable condition.

    “It is regrettable that the story, which was capable of creating fear in the minds of intending passengers, was not based on the assessment of the said facility by the reporters.

    “This is more so because the reporters could easily have cross-checked their facts with our Corporate Affairs Department before going public with such a sensitive issue.

    “Following this malicious video clip targeted to tarnish the authority’s hard earned reputation, management wishes to put the records straight that the leaking roof was as a result of the on-going works at the MMIA, Lagos.

    “This upgrade is coming at the heels of the Executive Order issued recently by the Presidency aimed at Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, and the authority is doing everything possible to improve the quality of her services in line with the order.’’

    According to her, the management in compliance with government policies has since initiated practical steps to improve on safety and security architecture of the nation’s premier airport and also improve comfort and passengers experience.

    Yakubu noted that consequently, upgrade of facilities was on-going in different areas at the International Terminal building of MMIA Lagos with its attendant challenges to FAAN operations.

    “Sequel to this on-going works, we recently experienced some leakages from the roof at the “D Wing” of the Terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, owing to a heavy rain accompanied by a wind storm.

    “This is directly connected to the civil engineering works going on at the roof top at that location, which temporarily interrupted our engineers who are replacing the old roof members with new ones at that instance.

    “It was practically impossible to work at that location due to its altitude and slipperiness while the rains lasted, but work immediately resumed after the rain subsided, and the integrity of roof was restored.

    “We want to state clearly that this defect did not affect operations in any way or at any time at the terminal,” she said.

    Yakubu reassured passengers, airport users and the general public of FAAN’s commitment to a safe, secured and improved facilitation at the nation’s airports.

     

     

     

  • BREAKING: Goodbye to queues as airports comply with Osinbajo’s order [Video]

    Sequel to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s signing of three Executive Orders to ease business in Nigeria, TheNewsGuru.com authoritatively reports that the nation’s international airports have fully complied with the Executive Order which sought to stop officials from delaying or receiving bribes from passengers.

    Investigations by TheNewsGuru.com reveal that the manual baggage checking counter has been completely removed today.

    Unlike the old practice, passengers will now have to go through check in counter with their luggage without any form of manual ‘stop and search’ by officials of the airport.

    However, passengers with suspicious items might be recalled for a thorough search of their luggage by officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and other relevant agencies with a scanning machine.

    Elated passengers who were pleased with the development told TheNewsGuru.com that: “This is a very remarkable improvement. Now you don’t have to watch helplessly as all manner of rough urchins in uniform forage through your wife’s undies in the name of pre-boarding searching. Mr President needs a longer medical vacation indeed!”

    However, while some are of the view that the development have been on for a while, others are of the view that it was the acting President who gave the order and ensured its enforcement.

    “The acting President should take credit for this. I watched him give that instruction on live TV when he visited the Lagos airport the first time Oga was away!,” a visibly happy passenger who craved anonymity told TheNewsGuru.com.

    Another anonymous passenger who expressed diverse view about the acting President taking full credit for the development said both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are working together and that credit for whatever positive developments in the country should go to both and the administration as a team.

    “The committee was set up by the President with his vice as chairman. He (Osinbajo) just gave directives. The President and his Vice are working together,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Tuesday said it had put in place measures to ensure full and sustained compliance with the Federal Government’s Executive Order at airports in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on Thursday, May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.

    See video of compliance at Muritala Muhammed International Airport today:

     

     

  • Police send Indian man home for sharing bomb joke at airport

    Police send Indian man home for sharing bomb joke at airport

    The Police on Friday sent an Indian father of family of eight back home for cracking a joke that is wife was in possession of a bomb at Munich Airport, officials said.

    The family of eight was flying from Mumbai to Budapest via Munich on Thursday.

    Police said that as a routine explosives test was conducted on the wife, her husband said several times she was carrying a bomb.

    The 42-year-old told later told police that he was only making a joke, but by then it was too late.

    He was put on a plane back to India while the rest of his family was allowed to continue with their journey.

    In addition, he was given notice for disturbing the peace, of the people and by threatening a criminal offence.

     

     

    NAN

  • Insanity is closing the airport for six weeks

    Insanity is closing the airport for six weeks

    Azu Ishiekwene

    They say there’s no going back on the decision to close the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for six weeks, starting March 8.

    That’s what Minister of State, Ministry of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said and Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi has repeated it as well.

    They have made it clear that even if chariots from heaven were going to arrive in Abuja from that date, they’ll have to use the Kaduna airport a place where, given its present state, toy drones will not be advised to use.

    That adamant posture could be all right for the ministers and the few like them who have options. Their ministerial lives are nicely laid out for them in a tapestry of protocol.

    There are people paid to arrange their trips, armed policemen to escort them with sirens, and porters waiting to carry their bags at departure and arrival. Some even have their shoes shined for them at public events.

    We’re all, quite frankly, at the disposal of ministers.

    Yet, it’s a different world out there for the estimated 7,000 passengers who use the Abuja airport everyday or even for people like me who use it less frequently. If the Ministry of Aviation will not back down regardless of the depth of the misery that we now face, will reason compel the ministers to take a second look?

    Sirika has said if only we knew how bad the runway is, the risk each time every plane lands or takes off, we would not make the next trip. He has said that no Nigerian life, no life, is worth the risk of keeping the airport open after March 8 and is obviously determined to save us from ourselves.

    The problem is that the minister is listening only to himself. Apart from the two runways at the Lagos airport, which are only a shade or two better than other runways across the country, there isn’t much difference in the risk we face daily wherever we’re landing at or taking off from.

    Which means, in effect, that except if the minister is saying that Abuja lives are more important than Enugu lives, for example, we must close down all Nigerian airports by March 8 to start this runway repair business.

    There is no question that Abuja needs a second runway or that the current runway needs repairs. The need has existed for at least 12 years but ministers have been too busy with their noses in the trough to bother.

    The question is how can repairs be done with the least disruption to the lives of passengers and businesses that don’t have the options and luxury available to the ministers? How can the minister escape accusations that his overriding motive is to help himself to a good slice of the contract?

    Julius Berger, the contractor, has said if it is allowed to carry out partial repairs, one portion at a time, it can do the repairs in 24 months, working only at night, without full closure of the airport. Why is that option not being explored for the nation’s second busiest airport which hosts an average 80 flights daily and processes tens of hundreds of travelling guests?

    Ethiopia’s major airport has only one runway and that country’s airline, one of the largest in Africa, has 91 aircraft with 51 more on order. Yet, the country has never had to close down its airport even once for any repairs, minor or major.

    Kenya’s main airport has only one runway while Kenya Airways has over 30 aircraft with 20 other airlines using the airport daily. The airport has never once closed for any repairs minor or major.

    Ghana’s main airport, Kotoka International Airport, has only one runway. It has just finished refurbishing the runway and the taxiway and is currently improving services in the terminal building. That country did not have to close the airport even for one day to get the work done.

    South Africa’s Jo’burg airport has two runways but the second was built only recently and while they had one, they kept it in use and serviceable without a fuss.

    Why is our case different, always different?

    Let’s even consider for one moment the whole business of having to travel over two hours by road to Kaduna for a 50-minute flight to Lagos, for example.

    The approach radar at the Kaduna airport is obsolete. Former President Shehu Shagari commissioned that radar over 30 years ago and your guess is as good as mine if in its present state, that radar can land a kite safely.

    Whereas the Abuja airport has a fuel dump for ten million litres of aviation fuel, the Kaduna airport can only take 500,000 litres, with only one major marketer, Conoil, operating there. The capacity of the Kaduna fuel dump is just about enough for maybe three international flights (Abuja currently hosts five or six) and enough to spare for one jerry can.

    So, how does the minister intend to bridge this supply gap in four weeks?

    And given the genuine security concerns about Kaduna, how can an airport, which currently handles only three flights daily, be upgraded to safely process thousands of passengers in such a short time?

    The minister sees no point in asking the airlines what they think, much less listening to them because he thinks they’re too concerned about their own convenience and profit to care about passenger comfort and safety.

    Well it’s a useless regulator that has helped to make the airlines the monsters they have become. But that is stretching the point. The minister is not even listening to staff in his own ministry, who, according to insiders, are offering sensible alternatives to a complete shutdown.

    Nor is he open to examples from other parts of the world about what can be done to avoid this nonsense.

    The Abuja-Kaduna rail track has been touted as potentially a major asset to move heavy cargo that cannot go by road, while passengers have been assured that armed escorts will provide covering for passenger shuttle services.

    But the devil is in the detail. Where is the terminal for inbound cargo/passengers? Will the train/bus service go all the way from Kaduna to the Abuja airport that is under repairs or will there be drop-off points along the way?

    What are the logistics for departing passengers outside Kaduna, keeping in mind that the Abuja-Kaduna railway is single track and the anxiety about safety in Rigassa, the current terminal at the Kaduna end of the train service? How will airlines process their passengers for safety and minimum comfort?

    As for the current state of the Abuja-Kaduna road, that is a different matter completely. Sirika will have to line up all the gods from his village in Daura along the routes to help the armed escorts keep the roads safe.

    Our capacity to invent problems and insist on solutions that defy common sense is incredible. The Sirika Solution is obviously our latest gift to the global aviation industry.

    Ishiekwene is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview and member of the Board of the Paris-based Global Editors Network

  • Court orders man to forfeit $310,000 not declared at airport to FG

    Court orders man to forfeit $310,000 not declared at airport to FG

    A traveller, Efosa Eriamiantoe, has been asked to forfeit the sum of $310,000 after refusing to declare the said amount to the authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Justice Saliu Seidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, also convicted the suspect.

    The convict had been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the airport on his way from South Africa on January 25, 2015 for failure to declare the money found on him.

    He was subsequently arraigned on April 23, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on one count bordering on money laundering, an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Eriamiantoe pleaded not guilty to the charge, thereby setting the stage for his trial.

    The prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed, had, during the trial, provided enough evidence to convince the judge that the convict had flouted the provision of the money laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011.

    The defence counsel, E. A. Onyeke, pleaded with the judge to allow his client forfeit the money to the Federal Government, rather than serving a jail term.

    “My Lord, the defendant has suffered so much in the court of this trial,” he added.

    Consequently, Justice Seidu convicted the accused person and ordered that the undeclared $310, 500 should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    “The accused is a frequent international traveller who knows the rules guiding money laundering. But he is inconsistent in his evidence.

    “I am satisfied that the prosecutor has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused is hereby convicted and should forfeit the sum of $310,500 to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge said.

     

  • Senate withdraws its opposition on closure of Abuja airport

    Senate withdraws its opposition on closure of Abuja airport

    The Senate on Tuesday suspended its opposition to the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja for six weeks for repairs of its only runway.

    The closure is scheduled to start on March 8, 2017. While the airport will be reopened after six weeks, the rehabilitation project will last six months.
    While the lawmakers expressed their reservations for the diversion of flights from Abuja to Kaduna, they called on the Federal Government to put all advices into consideration.

    The Senate made its position on the matter known after its plenary on Tuesday.

    The Nigerian Society of Nigeria and the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Limited were however sharply divided over a total closure of the airport during the rehabilitation work.

    While the NSE called for a segmented repair model to allow landing at takeoff on the runway, Julius Berger stated that it would be dangerous to work on the runway while it is in use.