Israel’s civil aviation is rife with safety problems, a commission of inquiry found.
The Lapidot Commission released an interim report Wednesday decrying antiquated technologies and a lack of runways at Ben Gurion Airport. It further said that a lack of airspace for civilian traffic – given the needs of the military – and pirate radio broadcasts endangered planes coming into land.
“We are in a state of emergency with everything concerning aviation safety in the State of Israel,” Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz told reporters in response to the report.
Mofaz pledged to implement the commission’s remedial recommendations by next year and negotiate with the Israel Air Force on expanding areas in which civil aviation can operate.
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