DCCMS calls for mandatory weather briefings on VVIP flights

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) wants weather briefings made mandatory for all VVIP and VIP flights in Malawi.

DCCMS Director Lucy Mtilatila made the proposal on Tuesday when she appeared before the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee in Lilongwe, which is probing the 10 June 2025 aircraft accident.

Mtilatila told the committee that DCCMS was not informed about the VVIP flight to Mzuzu on 10 June 2024, resulting in the department failing to deploy a weather forecaster to support ground operations at Mzuzu Airport.

She said the forecaster stationed at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) also did not provide weather information to the flight crew because the crew did not request it.

Mtilatila explained that when DCCMS is notified of a VVIP flight in advance, it deploys a dedicated aviation meteorological forecaster to the airport of origin and the destination airport or aerodrome.

The forecaster is responsible for briefing the crew on weather conditions and supporting ground operations.

“If we knew about this flight in advance, we would have deployed an aviation meteorological forecaster from KIA to Mzuzu to support the operations on the ground,” said Mtilatila.

Committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu Manda questioned why DCCMS did not provide en-route weather information for the flight.

Mtilatila maintained that the department could not prepare specific reports or briefings because it was not aware of the VVIP operation.

“So in short, we were not aware and that is why we did not provide, but otherwise, on that day, all the flights that were leaving KIA received the documentation,” she said.

Mtilatila said Malawi needs formal procedures requiring authorities to notify DCCMS about VVIP and VIP flights to ensure timely weather support.

She also called for a compulsory pre-departure checklist and designated officers responsible for communicating weather information to flight crews.

Mtilatila further urged government to ensure VVIP flights only operate from airports equipped with adequate meteorological, communication, navigation and air traffic services.

The committee is examining how the country’s meteorological framework linked with weather advisories and destination airport operations on the day of the accident.

The crash claimed the lives of former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight other people.