Showing posts with label airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label airlines. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Kam Air - Least Safe Airline

According to a recent news report Kam Air - an Afghan airline - is one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. It sits at the top of the list with three other airlines - Nepal Airways, SCAT Airline (Kazakhstan), and Tara Air (Nepal). Apparently flying in the high remote mountains of Nepal is dangerous. In fact, all four airlines are prohibited from flying in the airspace of the European Union (EU).  Kam Air has also been the subject of controversy a few years back. It was the centerpiece of an investigation by the United States of drug smuggling activities where high level officials were involved. However the corrupt President Karzai came to the airlines' rescue. Read about the safety of Kam Air in "The world's safest and least safe airlines", AOL.com, January 8, 2015.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Kam Air - ISAF and DoS Folds Again

In a case of "you can't make this up" we now learn that Kam Air, the Afghan Airlines that has without doubt smuggled large quantities of opium for Karzai and his friends, is now cleared to take part in U.S. contracts. Unbelievable! ISAF and the State Department have rolled over for Karzai once again. When will we learn?

The owner of Kam Air, Zamari Kamgar, is a staunch ally of Karzai. In early 2013 the U.S., after a thorough investigation, decided that Kam Air would be barred from U.S. contracts because of its extensive drug movement activities. However, the U.S. balked and acceded to Karzai's demands that it hold off until the Afghans completed their investigation. Well, the (Afghan) jury is in and the Afghans say Kam Air is innocent (of course). The U.S. Embassy didn't lose much time in sending out a letter stating that Kam Air was free to take part in U.S. contracts. Quite an astounding turn of events but not surprising given the Embassy and ISAF track record of not standing up to the corrupt Karzai regime.

Read more in  "Dubious Afghan airline Kam Air circles back into US orbit", Security Watch Backchannels, Christian Science Monitor, January 23, 2014.


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Airlines in Afghanistan

When one thinks of travel in Afghanistan you have thoughts of UH-60s, C-130s, and C-17s.  However, Afghanistan has its own airlines for civilian travel.  Click on the link below for international and domestic travel to/from and within Afghanistan.

http://www.isaf.nato.int/images/stories/File/Media-Visit-Docs/Afghanistan%20Flights%20and%20Hotels.pdf