Bunia, 30 July 2013 - On 29 July 2013, the regional director of MONUSCO inaugurated the new air traffic control equipment provided by the UN mission for the international airport in the district's capital, Bunia.

In the presence of the national director of the Civilian Aviation Authority (RVA) operations, he also formally handed over to the airport authorities the finished runway lighting and marking project carried out by MONUSCO in partnership with the local authorities and RVA agents.

This equipment and the installed runway edge lights and marks, which cost an amount of US$ 450,000 entirely funded by MONUSCO, mean that this airport will now have the capacity to handle aircrafts landing or taking off on time of day or night, and even when weather conditions are rather difficult. .

In addition to installing lights for the airport pavement and the 1,850 meters long landing and take-off strip, MONUSCO provided new radio communication equipment that allows the control tower to locate an aircraft and communicate with its crew within a radius of at least 120 km, or twice the range of the replaced equipment.

It should be noted that MONUSCO had previously enlarged this airport's airfield and continues to provide almost daily maintenance to the landing strip.

Amadou Maiga/MONUSCO