NAMA deploys radar control device to monitor airspace written by Okechukwu Nnodim

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency on Thursday announced the successful deployment of its surveillance instrument for area radar control of the nation’s entire airspace.


NAMA said the area radar control device, which would allow for optimal flight operations by pilots within the airspace, was deployed from its two control centres in Lagos and Kano.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mr. Supo Atobatele, said 18 flights operated by foreign airlines, including Air France, British Airways, Lufhansa, Air Portugal, Turkey Airlines, South African Airways, Egypt Air and Saudi Air, took advantage of the new air traffic service that commenced midnight on Thursday.

He said the flights were vectored on radar within the Kano Flight Information Region, adding that the benefits of the new traffic management arrangement included increased airspace capacity, improved safety, reduced fuel consumption, reduced flight time and efficient flow of air traffic within the nation’s airspace.

Area radar control is an air traffic control service provided for airplanes flying within a Flight Information Region.

“This (Thursday) morning’s exercise kicked off simultaneously in Kano and Lagos,” Atobatele said.
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/nama-deploys-radar-control-device-to-monitor-airspace/
culled from Punch

Arik Air Embarks On Manpower Development

As the nation’s aviation industry decries in adequate development of manpower in the industry, Arik Air and Cranfield University, United Kingdom have entered into a partnership aimed at developing human capital in the Nigerian carrier. The partnership will also include exchange programmes between Arik Air and Cranfield University.


As a first step in the partnership, Dr John Frankie O’Connell, an expert in airline management at the Air Transport Department of Cranfield University yesterday started a three-day ‘kick-off’ seminar for Arik Air management staff. The three-day seminar will cover airline industrial trends, commercial and airline strategy, among others.

O’Connell is expected to dwell on general trends in the aviation industry, including aero politics and new regulatory trends facing the airline industry, airline traffic, demand, forecasts and aircraft orders as well as traffic measurements for full service airlines among other topics.

Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr Chris Ndulue said, “The airline industry is a dynamic one and at Arik Air we believe we have to be in tune with current trends in the sector. This is the essence of this partnership which will set Arik apart from other airlines. It is meant to address the dearth of qualified manpower in the Nigerian aviation sector, and to train world-class managers for the future of Arik Air and the aviation industry in Nigeria”.
On what the partnership will cost the airline, Ndulue said the benefit from the programme far outweighs the cost, adding that manpower development is key to the airline’s success.

He further used the opportunity to clarify issues on the arrest of the airline’s crew member in London for alleged drug trafficking. According to him, Arik Air has adopted several security measures to forestall incidences such as that, adding that fighting drug trafficking is a collective effort.

“We have done so much, but we are appealing to the staff and all concerned that drug trafficking destroys lives and we will continue to be vigiliant”, he added.
http://leadership.ng/news/280513/arik-air-embarks-manpower-development
Culled from Leadership Newspapers

BA aircraft’s technical hitch raises tension at Lagos airport

Massive protests trailed the arrival of a British Airways’ flight from London at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last night, as passengers aboard the flight could not retrieve their luggage, following the technical problem suffered by the airliner on touchdown.


Vanguard gathered the luggage cabin of the aircraft failed to open after the plane landed at exactly 6:15pm.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that what infuriated the aggrieved passengers was the failure of the crew to empathise with them.

Over 300 hundred passengers on board the flight were reportedly stranded for hours, as children cried uncontrollably due to the stuffy nature of the arrival hall, where they were cocooned, waiting for words from the crew.

The crew were said to have left the airport to avoid being manhandled by the passengers, who were getting very restive.

The eyewitness said: “The situation here right now is chaotic. Hundreds of passengers are protesting the shabby treatment of British Airways’ flight crew, who appear helpless to enable the passengers retrieve their luggage.

“The crew members are saying the aircraft suffered technical problem and it was making it impossible for them to open the luggage cabin.”

Passenger’s story

As at 9:05pm last night, the airline crew were said to have abandoned the passengers and left the airport, saying there was nothing they could do to open the luggage cabin.

One of the passengers on board, Mr. Crosby Eribo, confirmed to Vanguard that passengers, who arrived the airport on board the flight were suffering, with none of the airlines’ staff addressing them.

He said: “What is happening here is unfortunate. The airline’s officials have abandoned us here and children are here crying because of the humid nature of the arrival hall.

“Is this how we are going to run our aviation sector?”

He said efforts to get officials of the airport authorities to intervene yielded no results, as they said the problem was strictly a British Airways affair.

Efforts to reach British Airways’ officials proved abortive, as calls pull to their phones failed to sail through.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/ba-aircrafts-technical-hitch-raises-tension-at-lagos-airport/
Culled from Vanguard

Panic, as SAA makes emergency landing over spark

A Lagos-bound South Africa Airways flight Sunday made an emergency return to OR Thambo Airport in Johannesburg after a spark was detected in the aircraft galley.


The galley is the kitchen aboard a vessel, usually laid out in an efficient, typical style with longitudinal units and overhead cabinets.

Media consultant to the airline, Tope Awe, confirmed that the aircraft, A340-600, “made an air return after a spark from a kettle in the galley,” adding that as a safety-conscious airline, the crew had to make an air return to base.

International best practice stipulates that a captain and his crew make an air return to base or the nearest airport in the event of technical problem with an aircraft in flight.

One of the passengers, Chuks Nwanne, who called The Guardian from Johannesburg, South Africa, narrated that the airplane took off at 2 p.m. Nigerian time. According to him, “less than an hour after take-off, the pilot announced that they had detected fire, and that he was going to jettison fuel to prevent any danger.

“He called the control tower and the airport to prepare the aircraft for emergency landing in OR Thambo after hovering for so long.”

Nwanne disclosed that the airport quickly responded as fire-fighting vehicles and other response equipment were immediately stationed in case of any eventuality, stressing that they were really ready for the aircraft.

The airplane, he said, eventually landed at the airport at about 3.30 p.m., just as he noted that about 300 passengers onboard the plane panicked.

“People jumped up in prayer, thanked God as the plane made a return to the airport,” he added. “After that, a team of engineers came to inspect the aircraft to rectify the problem before the airplane was certified to fly again.”

The aircraft was, however, rescheduled for 6 p.m. yesterday and was expected in Lagos at about 11.30 p.m. Sunday. Among dignitaries onboard were TuFace Idibia with his band, and Mrs. Josephine Anenih.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122249:panic-as-saa-makes-emergency-landing-over-spark
Culled from The Guardian

19 years on, Nigeria, Brazil to restore direct air link

                         

Nineteen years after Brazil’s defunct national airline, Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense (VARIG), ceased operations in Nigeria, Nigeria and Brazil are set to restore direct air links between them.


Consequently, Arik Air, the Nigerian carrier designated on the route, has commenced the process that would enable it start direct flights into the Brazilian commercial nerve centre, São Paulo, and has applied for traffic rights and slot allocation from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (Agency National De Aviacao Civil) and the Department of Air Transport.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nigeria to Brazil, Mr. Vincent A. Okoedion, who welcomed a delegation of Arik Air officials in Brasilia, said the commencement of direct flights into Brazil would open up a window of investment opportunities for both countries in several areas, including agriculture, aviation, power, education and culture.

“Brazil is the hub of the economies of South America, just as Nigeria is the hub of the economies of West and Central Africa,” he said. “Both countries have always had that desire to see the two economies of West Africa and South America linked by direct flights.

“Today, Brazil is the sixth largest economy in the world and Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa and the two countries are able to draw all the economies in their respective regions.

“So, once you have direct flight, this flight is not only connecting the two countries but the two regions, that is in Nigeria, the whole of West Africa and in Brazil, the whole of South America.

“You can imagine the size of these two regions, that is, the size of their economies, and the way it will boost trade. In fact, it will boost the business of the airline that is able to establish this connection.”
The current move by Arik Air, according to its Deputy Managing Director, Captain Ado Sanusi, was a follow-up to the meeting in February this year between President Goodluck Jonathan and President Dilma Rousseff for the restoration of air link between both countries to boost trade, commerce and cultural ties.

Sanusi said that direct air link between them as regional leaders in Africa and South America respectively would boost economic relationship, which would be accelerated with direct flights into major cities, including Lagos and São Paulo.
According to him, Arik was working round the clock to ensure that within three months, all arrangements would be concluded for the commencement of flights into Brazil, even as the airline plans to take delivery of more wide body aircraft to boost its long haul and international operations.

Sanusi further disclosed that the carrier intends to secure traffic rights to enable it start service before the Nigerian/Brazilian Bi-Commission conference scheduled for August 2013.

The Arik team also visited officials of the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDB), where they explored opportunities of securing multilateral funding for aircraft acquisition, as well as Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, to explore business relationships with the company with regard to the acquisition of regional jets to boost its operations.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121570:19-years-on-nigeria-brazil-to-restore-direct-air-link
Culled from The Guardian

Nigeria, a burgeoning market for business aviation

AS other countries witnessed their general aviation sectors shrink during the economic downturn, Nigeria’s has thrived.

According to experts, the industry is expected to grow by 3.5 per cent this year. This follows a 2.5 per cent increase year over year in 2012 and a 2.5 per cent increase in 2011.

This growth has come from all sectors of the general aviation industry especially from business aviation, according to experts who spoke at the Nigeria Business Aviation Conference, with theme, “The Emerging Market In Business Aviation”, held in Lagos on Tuesday.
Business aviation is a specialised form of aviation catering for business travel, charter services and private jets ownership.

Meanwhile, the total private jets in Nigeria has been valued at $3.75 billion, just as stakeholders put the total entire private jets in the country at 150.
On the average, each jet costs $25 million, which carries both local and international registrations.

The total number of private jets in the country has made Nigeria the continent’s largest market of private jets.

Across the nation’s airports and private hangars are state-of-the-art Gulfstream (300. 450, 550, 650); Bombardier Challenger (604, 605) Global Express; Embraer Legacy; Dassault Falcon; and Hawker Siddeley (125 - 800, 900XP), with supply countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.

Acquisition cost goes from $10 million to $65 million; excluding other associated costs like registration and legal; remuneration of pilot and crew; fueling and maintenance; insurance, landing, parking and overflying.
Depending on the jet usage and size, the associated costs can be $250,000 to $1,000,000 per year, according to experts, just as 70 per cent of jet purchases are made with cash according to industry sources.

South Africa is, unsurprisingly, the business aviation leader in the region, but that is not to say there aren’t other contenders moving up in the ranks.   Data shows that Nigeria and Ghana are quickly emerging as the second and third strongest markets in the region.

Nigeria and South Africa are the two largest economies in Africa. With over 160 million people, Nigeria is the biggest market for private jet operators and other investments, after South Africa .
The country is home to close to 150 corporate aircraft, a number which is expected to rise as Nigeria’s economy continues to flourish.

It’s no secret that sub-Saharan Africa is one of the next big growth markets for business aviation. With an emerging class of high net worth individuals (HNWI) and growing political stability it’s no wonder that companies around the world are looking at the region as a budding business aviation hotspot.
Bolstered by poor ground transportation infrastructure and a lack of commercial airline connections, business aviation has found a welcoming home in Nigeria.

However, even private aviation has problems to overcome before business can really flourish.
Among the largest issues facing operators in sub-Saharan Africa today are the lack of an established regulatory environment leading to a variation of regulations from country to country, poor infrastructure, a lack of maintenance facilities and safety requirements, and a general shortage of experienced aviation personnel.

Within the region, South Africa is by far the strongest business aviation market, accounting for 18 per cent in the region.

The growing markets of Nigeria and Ghana, however, are beginning to make an impact with the former accounting for nine per cent of regional searches and the latter accounting for eight per cent.
For this sector to continue to thrive, the banks would need to play crucial roles. But how much role have the banks played to ensure that the business thrives? Their supports have been enormous.

It is ironical that while these finance houses shied away from supporting general aviation, this newfound business is receiving huge financial backing because of the low risks involved.
The description of aviation in Nigeria as high-risk industry has negatively hampered financing of aircraft by local banks.

While in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and some parts of South America, financial institutions are willing and ready to finance aircraft acquisition.

It is also the reason airlines like Emirates, British Airways, Air France, Ethiopian Airways, KLM and many other strong carriers can make over 30 aircraft orders in one fell swoop.

In these climes, interests on loans are single digit based, repaid over a long period of time, mostly between 10 and 20 years.

The reverse is the case in Nigeria where interest rates range between 25 and 34 per cent with short term repayable arrangement.

Also, because of the classification as a high risk nation in aviation, insurance premiums are very high for aircraft operated in Nigeria.

The Managing Director of Guarantee Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, in his presentation at the forum, which brought together aircraft manufacturers like Embraer, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, aviation service providers among others, disclosed that the global private jet industry had experienced a resurgence since the downturn in the market between 2008 and 2009 occasioned by the global financial crisis.

His words: “About 150 private jets currently operating/owned in Nigeria; at an average cost of $25 million per aircraft, the market size is estimated at about $3.75 billion, making it Africa’s largest private jet market.

“Market grew 650 per cent from 20 jets in 2007 to 150 jets in 2012, making it one of the fastest growing private jet markets in the world with foreign and locally registered aircraft (though predominantly foreign).   Current private jet owners include HNIs, operating companies, special purpose vehicles, clergymen, government, and charter operators”.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121227:nigeria-a-burgeoning-market-for-business-aviation&catid=32:business-travel&Itemid=563
culled from The Guardian

Victim of 2012 plane crash shuts Dana office

                                  

Business activities at the Allen Avenue office of Dana Airlines came to a halt on Wednesday after the owner of the two-storey building destroyed in the plane crash, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, locked the main gate of the office and blocked the entrance with his Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle.

Omowunmi, who arrived Dana office at 5.30am, brought with him three iron chains and padlock which he used to lock out all employees of the company.

The ill-fated Dana flight 992 killed over 153 people on board, as well as approximately 10 other persons and caused injuries to many people on the ground.

The plane also crashed into Daniel’s house and factory and destroyed his property, which he said, was worth N500m.

Omowunmi told our correspondent that he decided to lock up the place because all attempts to get compensation from Dana had proved abortive.

He said, “In some weeks’ time, it will be a year that the plane crash occurred. I have not been working up till now. They destroyed my properties and rendered me jobless since June 3, 2012. Dana has commenced operation but it has not said anything meaningful about my case.

“Officials of the company have been going on air with all sorts of propaganda claiming that they have settled all those affected. That is why I have come here so that they can come out to tell me the kind of arrangements they have made, the amount they paid and who they gave it to.”

The pastor said the N500m he lost to the crash represented the value of his warehouse, publishing house, fish ponds and other businesses.

He said so far, only $30,000 (N4.8m) had been given to him by the company.

He said, “My properties are four plots of land with a detached six-bedroom building, two standard warehouses, a bungalow at the back of the warehouses and four fish ponds. Everything was destroyed, including my second jeep parked on the premises. My furniture, six container loads of books and five container loads of kitchen utensils all destroyed.

“Up till today, they have not said anything tangible and yet they are flying. If they think they will carry on with business like that and it is going to be easy, they must be joking.

“The claim I put before them is about N500m and up till now, the only thing they have made available to me after much pressure was $30,000 dollars to rent a house. After that, they have not been forthcoming. My lawyer actually persuaded me to collect the money.”

The area was tense as over 20 employees of the company waited outside the company and in the rain, which started around 4am.

Some of the employees, including an Indian, appealed to the pastor to open the gate and seek alternative means of pressing home his point but he refused.

Around 9am however, a team of policemen stormed the vicinity and one of the policemen, Corporal Giwa Mohammed, dragged the pastor into a Rapid Response Squad patrol vehicle with registration number 195LA.

A few minutes later, senior officers attached to Area F Command arrived at the scene and appealed to Omowunmi to unlock the gate.

Omowunmi, while fighting back tears, said life had become unbearable for him and he had been pushed to the wall.

He said, “I have not been able to meet my obligations to my family. I have three children. For the first time in my life, I had to get money from people to pay my children’s school fees last week.”

After much persuasion, however, the pastor unlocked the gate and followed the policemen to Area F.

It was learnt that the area commander, Tunde Adagunduro, had written a letter to the management of Dana, inviting them to a meeting with the pastor to prevent another episode.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the airline, Tony Usidamen, said he was aware of the protest but could not confirm if Omowunmi’s claims were true since it was the insurance company that was in charge of compensation and not Dana.

He said, “I know some people have been compensated and I know that he (Omowunmi) was given some money. I however do not know the level of compensation because Dana does not handle compensation rather; the insurance company does.

“I will find out tomorrow to know how far with his payments. Our duty is to pay premium to insurance company and we just follow up to know the level of compensation.”

Police assault PUNCHman

As our correspondent was taking pictures of the drama at Dana office, a police corporal,  Giwa Mohammed, dragged him by the shirt and seized his telephone.

He further threatened to kill our correspondent.

Mohammed said, “Who gave journalists the right to take pictures here? You should have taken permission before taking pictures. I received a distress call to come here and I am doing my job.”

Mohammed then ordered our correspondent to delete all previously taken pictures from his telephone.

The corporal, along with his colleagues, attempted to intimidate our correspondent and hurled insults at him.

It took the intervention of senior police officers to call the overzealous policemen to order.

http://www.punchng.com/news/victim-of-2012-plane-crash-shuts-dana-office/

Culled from Punch

Nigeria may have 500 private jets by 2020

                                            photo::privatejetdaily.com

The Federal Government has said that Nigerians will acquire about 420 private jets within the space of seven years from 2013 to 2020, which will add to the 80 currently in operation.

This came just as international experts said that Nigeria and China topped the list of countries currently buying private jets, following recession in North America and Europe.

The Federal Government, in the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013, unveiled in Abuja on Friday, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, said the general aviation or private jet sector currently had about 80 planes with a potential to grow to 500 by 2020.

The Federal Government said the NCAP 2013 was produced after a detailed diagnostic review of the aviation sector in collaboration with the World Bank.

Industry experts have estimated that the additional 420 private jets will cost not less than $15.3bn (N2.4tn). They said the price of the various types of private jets being currently flown by Nigerians in the country ranged from $8m to $65m.

Consequently, taking the average price of $36.5m and multiplying it by the government’s projection of 420 private jets, about $15.3bn is expected to be spent by wealthy Nigerians in acquiring the private jets by 2020.

Part VII of the 73-page NCAP 2013 read in part, “General aviation, which currently has approximately 80 aircraft with the potential of growing to 500 by 2020, could emerge as a key driver of regional connectivity and economic development.”

Some of the luxury private jets owned by pastors, politicians and business moguls in the country include Bombardier Global Express XRS, Bombardier Global 5000, Gulfstream 450 & 550, Embraer Legacy and Dassault Falcon 900, among others. Each costs about $60m.

Other brands of private jets in Nigeria are Hawker Siddley 125-500, Hawker 900XP, Cessna Citation Jet, Cessna Sovereign and Bombardier Challenger 604 &605.

In order to grow the general aviation sector to accommodate the projected number of private jets, the Federal Government, in the policy, said it would give serious consideration to the development of disused or low traffic secondary airports for general aviation.

In line with Part VII of the NCAP 2013, the government said the private jet sub-sector had “largely been ignored and has operated in the shadow of commercial airlines as there has been no dedicated policy, regulatory framework, infrastructure or services to support it.

“There has been limited consideration for general aviation (private jets) requirements in air traffic management planning and in the development of dedicated infrastructure at airports other than Lagos and Abuja.”

The policy stated that the development of low traffic secondary airports for general aviation would provide “seedbed opportunities” for aviation in areas where it had not yet been significant such as Akure, Makurdi, Minna, Yola and Jalingo, among others.

It said state governments would be encouraged to partner the Federal Government to become active in reviving smaller airports, particularly for air taxi operations for business, tourism and cargo (Free Trade Zones), which could benefit domestic and regional air transport, as well as economic development.

Part VII of the policy adds, “Access to the airspace will be equitable to facilitate the effective operation of GA instead of the current practice where GA traffic is controlled in the same airspace as commercial jets.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will adopt a clean-sheet approach to introduce and structure a new regulatory framework that will allow Nigeria to develop a safe, modern and efficient GA sector.”

The policy states that government’s new airport master plan will seek ways to increase capacity and flexibility for general aviation, including ensuring adequate parking and hangar space, allowing Maintenance Repair and Overhaul and Fixed Based Operation activities at the airports.

The government, according to the policy, will also develop air traffic control procedures capable of accommodating increased small aircraft movement.

It adds, “Government’s objective is to extend the aviation network beyond scheduled operations between cities and intends to introduce appropriate incentives for domestic operators operating aircraft seating less than 80 passengers.

“Government will also encourage the establishment of flying schools as training ground for pilots, aviation technicians and air traffic controller to alleviate the shortage of skilled personnel in the aviation industry.

“GA could also be used as training ground for future airline pilots and employees in other skilled occupations, thereby making an important contribution to the skills requirements of the wider aviation industry. The sheer resource requirements to address these issues may necessitate the establishment of a dedicated division within the NCAA or even a restructuring of the authority.”

However, industry expert have said that some aspects of the NCAP 2013 are capable of thwarting the growth potential of the sector.

These include the aspect that stops private jets owners from carrying on board friends and business associates.

Also, the aspect that requires private jets operators to disclose the identities of all passengers on board a local flight was also severely criticised by industry experts.

http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/nigeria-may-have-500-private-jets-by-2020/

Culled from Punch

Govt to withdraw unused routes from airlines

 All unutilised regional, domestic and international routes by any airline for two years will be re-allocated to Nigerian carriers that are willing to service the routes, according to the Federal Government.


The implication is that no airline or airlines now have the right to reserve routes for themselves perpetually for “two International Air Transport Association (IATA) seasons.”

This is coming as the government plans to facilitate the establishment of a “Single/seamless African Sky” concept countrywide with a well-co-ordinated Air Traffic Management System (ATMS).

The planned “Single African sky” would be a replica of the “Single European Sky”, a European Commission initiative by which the design, management and regulation of airspace are co-ordinated throughout the European Union (EU).

The objective is to provide a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic within its airspace and to co-operate with the aeronautical authorities of adjacent airspaces to co-ordinate the flow of air traffic.

The major challenge facing Nigeria in the provision of these services, according to the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi and air safety management experts is insufficient funds to implement the CNS/ATM System and maintenance of existing facilities.

This underscores the fact that not all is well with air traffic management in Nigeria as experts condemned poor communication in the nation’s airspace.

According to them, various co-operative initiatives have been made to ensure that air navigational services in the country meet international standards.

These are contained in the new 2013 National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) unveiled in Abuja last weekend.

Giving the reason for the review, Oduah-Ogiemwonyi stated that the policy review clearly showed that government’s vision for a dynamic, self-sustaining air transport system was achievable.

She also noted that it was evident from the review that the Nigerian aviation sector should be structured to enable it drive economic growth in Nigeria while remaining globally competitive.

According to the new policy, “Capacity unutilised by an airline for two scheduling periods (two IATA seasons) will be allocated to another Nigerian airline desirous of utilising it unless the airline is in a force majeure situation.”

There are many dormant routes that Nigerian carriers are not reciprocating due to lack of capacity to compete with foreign carriers like British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Delta, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, United, Air France and Qatar.

The lack of competition makes these foreign airlines to engage in extra frequencies while Nigeria gets royalties for the extra flights done by these airlines.

The lack of encouragement from Nigerian carriers to reciprocate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) makes the Ministry of Aviation find it extremely difficult to turn down the requests of foreign airlines for more flight rights.

Arik Air is the only airline that seems to be making a headway on the foreign scene, but lacks the capacity to go to many other destinations like Dubai, Paris, Frankfurt, Addis Ababa, aside from London, Johannesburg and New York in which it operates.



http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121020:govt-to-withdraw-unused-routes-from-airlines Culled from The Guardian

NAMA Commences Area Radar Control

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said it is set to commence full area radar control by the end of this month as all the necessary logistics have been put in place by the agency to run a hitch free air traffic operation.


The managing director of the agency, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh who disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend said 22 air traffic controllers drawn from Lagos and Kano area control centres have been specially trained on en-route area radar control for a seamless air traffic service within the nation’s airspace.

The selected controllers alongside some communication engineers, completed their simulator training at the Lagos radar site on Friday to round up their schedule of trainings before embarking on the area radar control.

According to Udoh, the agency had since last Thursday (May 2, 2013) issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) to all airlines in line with the mandatory 28 days notice required by industry regulation for a full trial of the new air traffic operation.

NAMA boss explained that the agency had equally upgraded the radar maps and harmonised its data base to allow for accurate co-ordination of traffic when the enroute area radar control is fully deployed.

Udoh said that the operational manual in respect of the area radar control has been submitted to the regulatory agency, NCAA for necessary approval, adding that NAMA has followed industry best acceptable practices before deploying this service to airlines.

He lauded the controllers for their interest and commitment to commence en- route radar control within the nation’s airspace.
http://leadership.ng/news/060513/nama-commences-area-radar-control
culled from Leadership

Jonathan’s visit: Boost for Nigeria-South African air travel business

Nigeria and South Africa are Africa’s largest economies. Trade between the two nations has grown exponentially since 2,000, and they are each other’s largest trading partners on the continent.


The value of bilateral trade, which totalled only $16.5 million in 1999, increased to over $3.6 billion by 2011.

Nigeria now represents a long-term destination for South African investments and home to many of its recent business ventures. In the area of communications, Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) posts greater profits from its West African operation than it did in South Africa within only four years of entering the Nigerian market.

As President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan visits South Africa on Monday next week, there are indications that both nations would look for ways to finally bring to an end crises that had threatened the cordial relationship that exist between them and to leverage on the good business relations.

Nigeria with a country of over 160 million people is a huge market for aviation. Though South Africa has a robust business aviation market, not a few believe that Nigeria would overtake South Africa as Africa’s biggest business aviation market in the next five to 10 years.

For general aviation, it’s probably the awareness of the authorities that general aviation is vastly different from commercial aviation. A lot of African countries are new to general aviation, and equally the authorities are new to general aviation.

I think there is some ground to cover in making sure that the aviation authorities understand the differences between commercial and general aviation from all perspectives. From an FBO point of view, I think challenges in Africa are service delivery in terms of the availability of fuel, general services like catering, ground support equipment, and so on. The challenge of aviation is service delivery.

Although, South Africa Airways (SAA) is going through a turbulent period, the carrier, no doubt is one of the strongest airlines in Africa after Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways.

SAA was facing the same problems that Nigeria Airways was facing then, but the government of South Africa injected funds into the airline and privatised it.

The President’s visit could also help to speed up the plan by his government to float a national carrier, as SAA could assist the country by acting as a technical partner to the proposed airline, which hope is evaporating by the day.

But the expectations are fast turning into a mirage. Not that the government does not know what to do; a clear-cut direction of what it exactly wants is glaringly lacking.

In one breath, the ministry said it would look for strategic partner(s) to give it the technical assistance it requires. In another breath, the government talks about entering into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) without giving Nigerians the clear direction of what exactly it wants to do.

Kenya Airline had to partner a foreign airline, KLM, for it to survive, but the Federal Government sold its airline because some powerful vested interests were eyeing the assets of the airline, which they wanted as their share of the national cake.

There is no denying the fact that Arik is not a pushover on the Lagos-Johannesburg route, both governments can work out modalities on flights between each other’s territory with a view to servicing the huge traffic on the lucrative route.

A top official in government who spoke on a condition of anonymity said the signing of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which grants 20 weekly flights between both capitals by Arik and SAA, had also enhanced movement of people between both countries.

“Fourteen of these had already been taken up with daily flights by both.

“SAA has also been granted rights to fly into Abuja from Johannesburg and also Arik to fly into one more city after Johannesburg,” the source added.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120557:jonathans-visit-boost-for-nigeria-south-african-air-travel
Culled from The Guardian Nigeria

NCAA: Despite Recent Crash, Nigeria’s Airspace’s Safe

Although Nigeria is known for its many air crashes but with the autonomy of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the certification of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) there has been marked improvement in air safety in Nigeria.


This was the kernel of the keynote address delivered on Monday at the Training Workshop on Aviation and Space Law of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos by the acting Director General of NCAA, Dr. Joyce Nkemakolam.

Nkemakolam noted that the resolution of safety concerns is the implementation of processes and procedures to resolve identified deficiencies impacting aviation safety, which may have been residing in the aviation system and have been detected by the regulatory authority.

This, according to him, would include the ability to analyse safety deficiencies; forward recommendations; support the resolution of identified deficiencies; as well as take enforcement action when appropriate.

He said the ICAO Universal Safety Audit, FAA Category1 Certification and ICAO Security Audit are some of the evaluations the Nigerian Aviation Industry had successfully undergone by strict compliance with the CE, noting that the primary responsibility for the conduct of safe flight operations rest on the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holder.

He added: “The Federal Government through the NCAA has put in place layers of processes to ensure that the AOC holder conducts its operation in line with extant civil aviation laws and regulations. Notwithstanding the spate of accidents that we have had in the past, especially Dana crash of the previous year, tremendous progress has been made in the area of safety. The safety reform agenda of the federal government, which was anchored on the recertification of the industry, infrastructural rehabilitation, fleet renewal and man power development, have successfully changed the course of aviation in Nigeria”.

Furthermore, he said the key benefit of the on-going recertification exercise in the industry has reduced the number of AOC holders from about 50 to 17, adding “It is also important to mention that between 2003 to date, some of the airlines on their own folded up their operations largely due to economic recession that had affected the industry globally and inability to comply with the heightened regulatory standards introduced by the Authority”.

“The confidence of the traveling public has been restored with the introduction of modern aircraft and equipment. The old DC9 series, Boeing 737-200 series, Boeing 727 and BAC 1-11 that populated our airspace have now been replaced with brand new Boeing 737-700 NG, new Bombardier CRJ 900 Series, Dash-8, 400Q. Operators in the oil and gas sectors are re-fleeting with new helicopters. Total investment in aircraft acquisition in the past six years is about $4.5 billion by Nigerian Operators. This does not include the new ones that have been ordered. For Instance, Arik has ordered for Dreamliner, Boeing 787,747-400 series and Airbus A380”, the acting DG noted.

He explained that the milestone was achieved due to the domestication and implementation of The Cape Town Convention by Nigeria, noting that the Federal Government has encouraged the industry by the removal of custom duties on Aircraft and equipment and remarked that the revolving grant which airlines can access is also a step in the right direction.

“Infrastructural development in our airports as part of the Honourable Minister of Aviation’s input into the transformation agenda is monumental. Replacement of obsolete communication equipment, improvement of navigational equipment and the completion of the Total Radar Project with ADS-B are all safety critical”, he stressed.

He said notwithstanding the tremendous improvement recorded in the area of safety, the Nigeria aviation industry has a number of challenges it is battling with, for instance inadequate funding. Nkemakolam observed that aviation is capital intensive; that huge amount of money is required for aviation infrastructural development and cited examples with other countries, saying that in the last four years Trinidad and Tobago spent $5 billion on infrastructural development; Pakistan spent $10 billion on aviation infrastructural development; Turkey spent $40 billion on infrastructural development and not to mention many other countries like India, China, Singapore, South Africa, Senegal and Ethiopia.

He continued: “We want to sincerely thank the Nigerian Government for the grant of N19.5 billion intervention fund. Every Nigerian who has passed through Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (T5) wants Nigerian airports to look the same. But the United Kingdom government spent about $10 billion to build Terminal 5 alone’’.

He said that another serious challenge to safety and development of Aviation is the ageing workforce. “We truly have acute shortage of skilled manpower both at the regulatory arm, airlines and service providers, pilots, engineers, Air Traffic Controllers among others which cannot be produced or cloned overnight. The demise of Nigeria Airways signalled the end of meaningful training in the country until the recent initiative of private airlines bringing in new aircraft.”

Nkemakolam expressed regret that the few trained personnel are migrating to greener pastures. “We have also been confronted with challenging attractions from the Middle East (Emirates), China, India who are dangling offers that are hard to refuse, which include, free housing, free education to children; tax free salaries, and fully paid leave emoluments twice a year”.

“Training, retraining and continuous training is the solution. We must be able to provide sponsorship for ab initio training in Zaria for pilots and maintenance engineers. Special training programmes for air traffic controllers, communication, navigation and surveillance engineers. All these require huge capital. Highly skilled, experienced and well trained personnel are the ICAO recipe for safe operations”, said the acting DG.

He added that sustainability and sustainable safety in the Nigeria aviation industry would involve the ability to endure and meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

“Nigerian airspace is safe! Our roads, the rail, and the water ways are not better alternatives. Aviation continues to be the fastest and the safest means of transportation. It is the catalyst that drives the economy. It has remained a veritable vehicle for economic and social development. This is why it is imperative for government to spend heavily to sustain and make the industry more viable and safer,” he said.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ncaa-despite-recent-crash-nigeria-8217-s-airspace-8217-s-safe/146604/
culled from Thisday Online