Airsides and downsides of SR Technics

SR Technics is good news indeed. Aircraft maintenance is considered to be a hi-tech industry and this buzz word of recent years has come home to roost.

The government is to be commended for bringing this high value added business to our shores and our youth should be very grateful to have training and employment opportunities in this field. My vision is that if we nurture this emerging industry, it will gradually absorb, albeit to a respectable proportion, job losses sustained through the running down of the shipyards. All industry has its negative consequences and, in a small island like ours, where space is precious and the environment fragile, the authorities must ensure that the SR Technics project would not harm the environment too much and think wisely and intelligently before it is too late.

Rumour has it that Triq il Karwija leading to Safi will go to make space for what in aviation parlance is known as an airside, stretching from the existing Medavia site to the airfielfd. This road is a good and "green" dual carriageway, beautifully landscaped and in very good condition. In recent years, several mature trees were expertly transplanted on this stretch, creating a pleasant drive to and from Safi. It was only last year that road lights were installed.

An effort should be made to provide Medavia/SR Technics with facilities within the existing airport footprint without taking more public land. The areas adjacent to park eight should be seriously considered as an option.

The public has become sensitive to environmental issues more than ever before and the residents of the south of Malta have good reason to be concerned.