Aviation society risks losing Safi headquarters

In 1995, the Malta Aviation Society leased a rundown building formerly occupied by the Royal Air Force and transformed it into its headquarters. Ten years on, the authorities told the society to vacate the Safi premises refusing to provide the aircraft enthusiasts with another site.

At a meeting open to the press, members of the non-profit-making body yesterday evening vociferously protested at the eviction, fully aware that the meeting could have been the last held at their present headquarters. Technically, the lease expires on Tuesday.

Aviation society president Joe Ciliberti said the Safi premises, situated close to the Libyan aircraft servicing company Medavia, was very important to the society that has organised the Malta International Air Show for the past 12 years.

Besides organising the crowd-pulling air show, the society, established in 1971, aims at fostering interest in aviation matters, with a focus on aircraft spotting and aviation photography, as well as a wide range of other interests such as aviation history, restoration, aeronautical communications, air traffic control and airline operations.

Mr Ciliberti said the society was being asked to leave because their neighbour Medavia was planning to expand its premises. He said he had had meetings with the management on the matter.

"We have been asking the authorities for alternative premises for the past three years," Mr Ciliberti said, explaining that although the present premises had been important for the MAS because of their link to the Royal Air Force, the society was still prepared to move to another location in the airfield's proximity.

The MAS had for the past three years proposed alterative sites close to its present headquarters, one of which was a site - about 300 metres away - occupied by a squatter.

Mr Ciliberti said the MAS was rendering a service to society, adding that the way they were being "chucked out" of the Safi premises by the authorities was unfair.

Contacted, Malta Enterprise official George Francalanza explained that Malta Enterprise approved the business aspects of a project but was not responsible for allocating commercial premises, as had been the case when the Malta Development Corporation was still in place.

Instead, responsibility for the administration of industrial zones in Malta and Gozo, and therefore the task of allocating premises to businesses, fell within the remits of Malta Industrial Parks (MIP) Limited.

Asked if it was true that Medavia had sought permission to expand its territory, Mr Francalanza said he could not reveal commercial information. He did add, however, that Medavia was not happy with having the MAS hold "picnics" close to costly airlines.

The premises of the Malta Aviation Society had been allocated by tender 10 years ago.

Nobody was available for comment from Malta Industrial Parks Limited yesterday evening.