FG invests $870m in airport upgrade —FAAN

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi

The Federal Government has invested $870m in airport infrastructure upgrade as part of efforts to improve services in all the nation’s airports.

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi, made this known on Tuesday while presenting a paper entitled: ‘Airport regulation from the Africa perspective’, at the Airport Council International Conference and Exhibition in Lome, Togo.

A statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday by the agency stated that Uriesi said Nigeria was one of the six nations in Africa currently infusing funds into infrastructure development and improving the lot of airports in order to make them to be at par with their counterparts worldwide.

As a result of the huge expenditure, the FAAN boss said it might introduce a token developmental charge in order to have a return on the investment once the projects were completed.

According to him, many countries are investing in infrastructure and some do not have the passenger figures to gain return on the investment.

Uriesi said that apart from Egypt and South Africa that had over 30 million passengers annually, only eight other African countries had a total passenger figure of above seven million.

He said that in the context of the 43 African countries, only five had above 10 million passengers; three, seven million; while eight of those countries had between one and two million passengers.

The FAAN boss noted that going by this, the passenger traffic in Africa was not enough to provide the funds for airport development

He further explained that this might have led countries like Tunisia, Mozambique, Togo, Tanzania and Senegal to invest heavily to ensure rapid development of their airports.

culled from Punch

Associated Airlines: Surviving crash victim’s toes, fingers amputated

All 10 toes and five fingers on the left hand of one of the surviving cabin crew of the Associated Airlines, Mrs. Quinneth Owolabi, were eventually amputated four days ago.

Owolabi was one of the five survivors of the airlines’ Embraer 120 aircraft, which crashed near the MurtalaMuhammedAirport, Ikeja, Lagos, while conveying the remains of former governor of OndoState, Chief Olusegun Agagu, to Akure for burial.

Photo by Citizen Samuel Omotosho

This is as an online report said that Feyi, late Agagu’s son, was yesterday discharged from the Orthopaedic Ward of Princess Grace Hospital, Nottingham Place, London, two weeks after his admission into the hospital, as he was considered out of danger.
Owolabi’s toes and fingers were to be amputated last week at the NigerianAirForceHospital, NAF Base, Ikeja, following gangrene infection.
The husband, alongside members of National Cabin Crew Association, NACCA, had appealed to the Federal Government to fly her abroad for treatment to avoid the amputation.
Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the victim’s toes and fingers were finally amputated four days ago, as no help came from government.
The amputation, Vanguard learned, was done so that the infection would not spread to other parts of her body.
Colleagues’ anger
Serving and retired cabin crew executives expressed anger over government’s refusal to come to the aid of the victim despite the appeal made by NACCA and the family.
Spokesperson of the group, Mrs. Blessing Efe, said Owolabi would have been saved the trauma of amputation had government heeded her cries, but confirmed that Miss Toyin Samson’s situation was stable at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, where she is on admission.
According to her, the victim has been going through a lot of trauma since the toes and fingers were amputated four days ago.
She said: “It is unfortunate that no help came when Quinneth needed it most. Her toes and fingers were amputated three days ago (four days today). Imagine the trauma she is going through at the moment.
“We want government to always support people who survive air crashes because the accident is not their making.
“We are trying now to sensitise the public and government on the need to assist those who survive air crashes. It is not easy to survive air an accident.”
She flayed management of Associated Airlines for abandoning the cabin crew since the accident occurred about three weeks ago, stressing that nobody was talking about insurance claims for victims of the crash.
Mrs. Efe said: “The airline has not been forthcoming on care for the two cabin crew who survived the crash. The excuse they gave for Quinneth’s case was that she was not stable enough to be flown out for treatment.
“Now, her toes and fingers have been severed because of abandonment.”
She recalled the experience of the cabin crew executive who survived EAS crash in Kano on May 4, 2002 and had been suffering due to lack of care by the authorities.
She said the iron rod on her leg expired over four years ago and that she had not been able to replace it due to lack of funds.
Efe said: “We expect Governor Idris Wada of KogiState to come to the aid of the lady. He was the owner of EAS Airlines when that plane crashed in 2002.”
Feyi Agagu discharged
An online report said that Feyi was, yesterday, discharged from the Orthopaedic Ward of Princess Grace Hospital, Nottingham Place, London, two weeks after his admission into the hospital after he was deemed him fit and considered out of danger.
Feyi and Akin, his in-law, are survivors of the October 3 Lagos crash.
Feyi had multiple-fracture and was also suffering from a neck injury, which doctors said may permanently incapacitate him if not hurriedly treated.
Apart from the neck injury, Feyi was also said to be suffering from what the doctors called one percent burn.
Feyi and his in-law, Akin, were moved from LASUTH, on October 8, to the hospital in London.
culled from Vanguard

NCAA grounds IRS, Chanchangi Airlines

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu

Less than three weeks after suspending the operations of Dana Air to pave the way for a safety audit of the carrier’s operations, the aviation industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, has grounded the operations of IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines, according to investigations by our correspondent.

It was gathered that the suspension followed a memo signed by the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, ordering all scheduled airline operators whose fleet size had been reduced to only one operational aircraft to immediately stop flight operations.

The memo, which was addressed to all scheduled airline operators and dated October 14, 2013, has as its reference number, NCAA/DG/GEN/Vol.II/2013/80.

The memo, a copy of which was obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Wednesday, read in part, “You will recall that recently, the NCAA, through the director-general, expressly suspended the continued operation of airlines possessing otherwise valid Air Operators Certificate, but who were operating with a single aircraft.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority regulations provide for more than a single aircraft for any operator to secure or operate under a valid AOC.

“This directive is, therefore, issued to formalise and clarify that prior order suspending such operations. As such, all AOC holders or operators whose operational fleet has been reduced to a single operational aircraft for whatever reason shall immediately and forthwith suspend their flight operations.

“Such operations may only resume upon clearance from the NCAA that there is more than one operational aircraft for continued flight operations and satisfaction that such AOC holder has the capacity to have safe flight operations prior to commencing any such operation.”

Following the directive, IRS and Chanchangi’s operations have been grounded by the regulatory authority.

The development has brought to four, the number of airlines whose operations have been suspended by the regulator in the last three weeks, following the Associated Airlines’ plane crash in Lagos on October 3.

Associated Airlines’ operation was suspended by the NCAA three days after the tragic crash involving its Embraer 120 plane near the Lagos airport, which led to the death of 15 people.

Two days later on October 6, the regulator suspended the operations of Dana Air nationwide.

Reacting to the grounding of its operations, the Public Relations Manager, Chanchangi, Mr. Oludele Balogun, said, “Our policy is to always support the government at all levels, especially in the aviation sector, and not to go into public criticism.”

A top official of the airline said there were three aircraft in its fleet with registration numbers 5N-BMB, 5N-BQZ and 5N-BMC.

According to the official, two of the aircraft have gone for routine checks in Belgrade, Sebia and South Africa, respectively, while only one is currently operational.

The development, the official said, informed the NCAA’s decision to ground the airline.

The Managing Director, IRS, Mr. Yemi Dada, said, “The NCAA has the power to make rules and regulations for the sector. The rules state that you must have two aircraft when starting operations and not two at all times.

“But what we are really doing is to sit down with the NCAA and get the issue ironed out. The Airline Operators of Nigeria is trying to come up with a common position on the matter. Until then, we will comply with the directive.”

Dada said the airline was getting an Embraer 145 plane from the Bauchi State Government to bring the number of planes in its fleet to six.

He said although only one plane was currently in operation in its fleet due to routine maintenance of the others, he gave an assurance that the carrier would have three operational planes in three weeks’ time, and that by January, the airline would have all its six planes operational.

At the moment, only Arik Air, Aerocontactors, FirstNation Airline and Overland Airways are left to do scheduled domestic flights in the country.

Some stakeholders have applauded the decision of the NCAA to suspend the operations of IRS and Chanchangi airlines, saying the development will boost safety in the airspace.

An industry expert, who chose to speak under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, said, “When an airline is using only one plane, there is the tendency to put unnecessary pressure on that only one plane. In India, you must have a minimum of four planes; otherwise you cannot fly. We must up the stake in Nigeria.

“If our rule says only two aircraft, then you must even go beyond two planes. We must not be seen to be operating on the borderline. We should go beyond the minimum standard set by the regulator. This is how to improve air safety. We must not wait until accidents happen before we do certain things.”

culled from Punch

Bulletproof Cars: Reps Begin Probe Of Oduah, NCAA

inShare

In response to public outcry against the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars for the minister of aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, for N255m, the House ‎of Representatives yesterday resolved to open an investigation into the matter.
The scope of the investigation, which is to be done by the House Committee on Aviation, will cover a six-point reference terms including whether the minister was entitled to the cars and whether the expenditure was budgeted for.
The decision was reached after the lawmakers adopted the resolutions of a motion raised by the minority whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo)‎, yesterday during the plenary session of the House which resumed yesterday from its two-week recess.
The probe is with specific reference to the following: (1) Whether it is correct that the purchase was made; (2) Whether the purchase was authorised by any appropriation law; (3) Whether NCAA has been complying with Fiscal Responsibility Act on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); (4) Whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria; (5) Whether (if the answer to 2 above is in the negative) the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and all other anti-corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved; (6) Whether (if 2 above is correct) the president and commander-in-chief can continue to retain the services of the minister and all those involved in the matter.
‎Leading debate on the motion, Osagie noted that an agency which is supposed to be autonomous from the Ministry of Aviation would be the one to engage in “such a collosal expenditure” in a country where the university system has been shut down for close to four months and there is a high rate of unemployment and insecurity.
A member of the Aviation committee, Hon Matthew Omegara, while contributing to the debate, said that the purchase of the two vehicles was deleted from the budget of the agency when it came to the committee for budget defence but was apparently smuggled back in by the officials.
This position was supported by Hon. Mohammed Ali Wudil (PDP, Kano) who said even the chairman of the committee, Hon. NkirukaOnyejiocha (PDP, Abia), testified to that fact when they called her for clarification.
The Onyejiocha-led committee has one week to carry out its assignment and turn in its report to the House.

Reps to probe Qatar Air landing rights in Kano
The lawmakers also resolved to investigate, through an ad-hoc committee, why the minister of aviation allegedly refused to grant landing rights to Qatar Air ‎in Kano State.
Raising a motion on this, Hon. Ali Mada‎ki (PDP, Kano State), informed his colleagues that Oduah had allegedly previously stopped four airlines from operating in Kano and Abuja international airports.
He added that details of a bilateral agreement between aviation authorities and that of the government of Qatar signed on June 24 and 25 in Doha show that the interest of Qatar Airlines to use Kano and Abuja airports for its operations was rejected by aviation authorities who were favourably disposed to any other airport in the country.
Madaki said it was unacceptable for a minister of the federal government to act in a way that promotes regional and ethnic sentiments, adding that the national interest should be in the development of the entire country.
He said, “No officer of the Nigerian government should stop airlines from flying to any part of the country just because she has interests. Whatever the reasons, I am sure they are not in the interest of the country.”

We’ll soon invite Oduah - Uzodinma
In a related development, Senator Domingo Obende (Edo, APC) has revealed that the purchase of the N255 million cars by NCAA under the Ministry of Aviation for Oduah was not in the 2013 budget.
The development came just as the chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodima, explained that the embattled minister and heads of agencies under her ministry did not appear before the Senate during its plenary yesterday as widely speculated because his committee is yet to invite her.
But Senator Obende, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation, told journalists after the plenary that the purchase of the bulletproof cars was never in the budget and the committee never treated anything of such.
He said, “You know very well when you go through the 2013 budget, there is nothing like that. Two vehicles costing N255 million that the National Assembly approved? That is obviously not true, because I don’t know any vehicle that will cost $1.6 million; that I am totally in disagreement with -- it was never in the budget and we never went through it. I am a member of the Aviation committee in the Senate and we never treated anything of such.”
But Senator Uzodinma has explained that the Senate had just approved the votes and proceedings of its sitting on October 8 before the Senate went on Sallah recess where the senators unanimously agreed to summon Oduah and the heads of agencies under her.
He said, “With the approval of the votes and proceedings of the last Senate session today (Tuesday), containing the summoning of the minister, our committee will now meet within the week to fix the exact date of invitation of the minister and other relevant aviation chiefs for questioning on the troubled sector.”
On the N255 million armoured car purchase, Uzodinmasaid:”As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, I have read a lot on the alleged scandal in the media and I believe other members of the committee are also up-to-date on the raging issue.
According to him, the Senate cannot jump into the fray of the controversy based on media information alone, without properly checking records for facts and figures on whether the alleged vehicles bought were appropriated for or not by the agencies that purchased them.
He said, “Our appeal to the general public for now is that they should exercise patience on the entire crisis bedeviling the aviation sector as the Senate and, in particular, its Committee on Aviation will surely carry out thorough investigation to unravel the whole crisis.”

Anxiety over 4 Limousine cars at NAMA
There is palpable anxiety in the air at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) over the disclosure that four stretch Limousine cars and four brand new Toyota Tundra vehicles found in its Total Radar Coverage of the Nation’s Airspace (TRACON) site in Abuja may have been bought for the minister of aviation, Stella Oduah.
This is coming following public outcry over the $1.6 million two BMW armoured vehicles purchased for Oduah by the NCAA.
Saharareporters.com, an online publication, had alleged that NAMA, another agency under the Ministry of Aviation, purchased the vehicles for the minister.
Though officials of NAMA could not be reached for official confirmation on the matter, an official within the agency who preferred not to be named told our correspondent that the vehicles had been parked at the NAMA’s TRACON site since the commissioning of the remodelled Abuja Airport Terminal building and that the vehicles belong to the concessionaire, who is operating the new remodelled Abuja airport terminal.
According to the source, the private firm planned to use the vehicles for Limousine service (car hire service) that will exclusively cater to the needs of charter operators and their clients at the Abuja airport.
Asked why the vehicles were parked at the NAMA complex, the source said the owner approached the agency for parking space which was granted pending when his Limousine service will take off.
Efforts by our reporter to get a response by the general manager, public affairs of NAMA, SupoAtobatele, did not produce result as he could not be reached, neither could coordinating general manager for aviation agencies, YakubuDati, be reached to disclose the identity of the concessionaire managing the remodelled Abuja airport terminal. Dati’s secretary said he was out of the country.

Limousines belong to a concessionaire - NAMA
But spokesman to NAMA Mr Supo Atobatele has said that the Limousines belonged to a concessionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for Non-Schedule Operators (Charter flights).
Atobatele, “The attention of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) has been drawn to a frivolous, malicious and mischievous report being bandied by an online news outfit to the effect that the agency bought  four Limousines  along with  other brands  for the Ministry of Aviation or its leadership.
“We hereby make it categorically clear to the unsuspecting public that this evil story  as being promoted is patently false in its entirety and calculated to put the agency and the office of the minister into disrepute.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said Limousines belong to a concessionaire who is running a VIP shuttle service for Non-Schedule Operators (Charter flights).”
culled from Leadership

Nigerian airspace records 28,000 foreign flights – NAMA

Managing Director, NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh

Following the improved air navigation services within the nation’s airspace, there has been a tremendous increase in airspace movements in recent time.

A statement from the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority on Tuesday said a total of 28,165 overflights or foreign flights operated by 517 foreign airlines were recorded last year.

It added that the airlines were Group Air France, Ethiopia Airlines, Royal Maroc, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, Emirate Airlines, British Airways Plc and Asky Airlines.

Others were Iberia-Lineasaereas de espana, Group Air Senegal (Senegal Airlines), Brussels Airlines, Ceiba International, Deutshe Lufthansa AG, Cameroon Airlines Corporation, Air Namibia, Egypt Air, KLM Royal Airlines, Qatar Airways, Trans Air Cargo and Cronos Airlines.

The statement said that during the period under review, 20 out of the 517 airlines accounted for 80 per cent of the aggregate overflight operations with an average of 1,879 flights per month.

The top five airlines are: Group Air France (3,505), Ethiopia Airlines (2,289), Royal Air Maroc (1,909), Kenya Airways (1,888) and South African Airways (1,859).

It added that the en-route international flight operations, which means all international flights into Nigerian airports sub-divided into scheduled and non-scheduled flight operations in the year under review, had a total of 41,081 en-route flights by 329 airlines.

Similarly, 26 scheduled airlines that operated in the Nigerian airports recorded 28,532 operations, which contributed 70 per cent to the aggregate operations.

It said, “The highest operation was in the month of December with 2,691 operations and the least recorded was in the month of February with 1,764 operations.

“Arik Air had 4,760 flights, which was the highest with 17 per cent contribution to the aggregate operations followed by Deuthsche Lufthansa with 2,481 flights and contribution of nine per cent to the operations.

“Groupe Air France had a total of 1,922 flights and seven per cent contribution; Ethiopia Airlines with 1,921 flights contributed seven per cent while the British Airways Plc recorded 1,706 and contributed six per cent.”

On the other hand, a total of 303 airlines operated under the non-scheduled flights, recording 12,549 flight operations representing 30 per cent contribution to the aggregate operations.

It added that the highest flight operations were recorded in the month of November with 1,226 flight operations and the least was recorded in the month of January with 851 flights.

The Managing Director, NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, described the development as a proof of positive result from the ongoing transformation agenda of the Federal Government in the aviation sector, especially the massive capital investment of more than N19bn on navigational facilities.

He said, “This is a sign of a healthy aviation environment; we are really happy with these figures, and it is contrary to the previous speculations that foreign airlines are not flying our airspace; we have done a lot to improve our services.

“I believe there will be a further increase this year because of the newly introduced area radar control, which we started in May this year.”

culled from Punch

Presidential fleet larger than three domestic airlines

President Goodluck Jonathan

The declining fortunes of the domestic airlines have made President Goodluck Jonathan’s 10-aircraft Presidential Air Fleet larger   than the fleets of three domestic airlines combined, investigations by our correspondent revealed on Tuesday.

The three carriers are Chanchangi, MedView, and FirstNation airlines. Chanchangi has one aircraft; Medview Airlines, three; while FirstNation has  two.

IRS Airlines, with five aircraft in its fleet, has only one that is currently operational. The four others have been sent overseas for routine maintenance for a long time now.

It can be technically assumed that the PAF is bigger than the four domestic airlines, according to industry experts.

Aerocontractors, the second largest domestic airline, which currently has about 12 aircraft in its fleet, is struggling under sundry debts like every other domestic airline.

Indications have also emerged that the 10-aircraft PAF may emerge the second largest domestic airline in the country after Arik Air, which currently has about 23 aircraft.

Aviation sources revealed, however, that unless the plan to turn Aerocontractors Airlines into a national carrier worked out, the declining fortunes of the debt-ridden airline might force it lose some of its planes to foreign aircraft leasing companies as it happened to Air Nigeria some years ago.

Top aviation officials admitted that the large size of the PAF could not be justified amid the dearth of aircraft among the domestic airlines, which lack adequate finance to buy more planes to meet up with the soaring passenger capacity.

Apart from Arik and Aerocontractors, each of the remaining domestic airlines does not possess half of the number of aircraft in the PAF, according to findings by our correspondent.

IRS Airlines has only one operational aircraft in its fleet; while Dana Air has five aircraft, in addition to those owned by Chanchangi, Medview and FirstNation, according to figures obtained from the industry.

According to findings, the PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and a Gulfstream IVSP.

Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

Each of the Falcon 7X jets was purchased in 2010 at a cost of $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m.

The factory price of the other aircraft in the fleet could not be obtained online. However, airline CEOs put the average price of the Falcon 900 at $35m; Gulfstream IVSP, $40m; Gulfstream V, $45m; Boeing 737 BBJ, $58m; Cessna Citation, $7m; and Hawker Siddley 125-800, $15m.

This brings a combined estimated value of the PAF to $390.5m (N60.53bn).

Nigeria happens to be one of the few countries in the world with a large PAF.

Most major countries in Europe and Asia maintain two aircraft in their PAF, according to Wikipedia.

According to the online portal, Japan maintains only two Boeing 747-400 planes in its PAF.

The two aircraft, mostly for the prime minister, the emperor and his wife, and other members of the Imperial Family, is operated by the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.

The aircraft were constructed at the Boeing factory at the same time as the United States’ Air Force One. Both Japanese aircraft were delivered in 1990.

Wikipedia also states that the Netherlands government operates only two aircraft, a Fokker 70 and Gulfstream IV to transport the Dutch Royal family and government officials such as the prime minister and other ministers.

They are also used for international conferences and for private trips by the Queen and the Prince of Orange. For long haul trips, the Royal Dutch Airline is used. Often the upper deck of a Boeing 747 is used.

The Queen of England and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, often go on British Airways chartered flights for long trips. Cameron was recently criticised by the UK media for chartering a foreign plane instead of a British.

According to Wikipedia, the Royal Squadron of the Royal Air Force maintains a fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized business jet and BAE-146 regional airliner to support short travel by the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and senior members of the British Government.

Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host of others in Europe maintain only one aircraft in their PAF.

According to industry experts, airlines spend between 15 and 20 per cent of the cost of an aircraft on its operation yearly. They say that averagely, a little less than one-fifth of the cost of the plane is spent every year on insurance, flight and cabin crew, maintenance, fuelling, catering and training.

Going by the fact that at least 15 per cent of this amount is spent annually on operating the PAF, it means about $58.57m (N9.08bn ) is being spent annually on running the planes in the Nigerian PAF.

Some airline CEOs, who pleaded anonymity, had raised concerns over the economic sense behind the large mix of brands of aircraft in the PAF. They said although the fleet size was large, the cost of operation would have been cheaper if the Presidency had maintained only two brands.

According to the Nigerian Air Force’s website, the PAF’s current staff strength consists of 47 NAF officers, 173 airmen/airwomen and 96 technical and administrative civilians.

“The operational headquarters of the Fleet is located at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the administrative personnel are at the Federal Secretariat. The fleet has a liaison office at the Presidential Villa. Flight operations, training, aircraft maintenance and general running of the fleet are funded by the Presidency,” according to the website.

culled from Punch

Controversy Trails Aero Contractors’ Designation As National Carrier

Controversy is trailing the choice of a national airline, as the Ministry of Aviation has denied that an existing airline has been chosen.

The minister of aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, had said early this month that a new national airline would be unveiled before the end of October this year. This has fuelled speculations of which airline will be chosen and what will be its status.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday, the special assistant on media to the aviation minister, Mr Joe Obi, said, “I am not aware of the designation of Aero as national carrier. What I know is that the new national carrier would be unveiled soon and there would be a lot of new aircraft coming into the country as well.”
There has been speculationthat Aero Contractors has been chosen as the new national airline. The federal government owns 60 per cent of Aero Contractors through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and even appointed a new managing director for it.

On whether the new national carrier is the “Nigeria One Airline” being expected by Nigerians, Obi said, “I don’t know the name it will bear, but I know it will be unveiled soon.”

When contacted, the media consultant to Aero Contractors, Simon Tumba, said the management of Aero had not discussed the issue with him and that he was not in a position to comment on it.

This will not be the first time speculation has centred on an indigenous airline being considered as the national airline. Last year, there were speculations that Arik Air was going to be named as the national airline.

However, assistant general secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Comrade OlayinkaAbioye, said the government has the right to pick either Aero Contractors or Arik Air as the national airline, but added that before doing so government should first settle the outstanding benefits of Nigeria Airways staff.
He said the government should not be in a hurry to unveil the new national airline until everything necessary to ensure its success has been put in place. Of concern to him is the huge debt profile of most indigenous airlines which, he said, government should consider first before designating any airline as the national carrier.
But a former managing director of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Captain Mohammed Joji, told LEADERSHIP that the country does not need a national carrier but a flag carrier.
He said, “Nobody should take taxpayers’ money and set up an airline. If you want to set up an airline, you go to the banks and raise a loan for it. Local airlines should be supported to go into alliance with international airlines. There are 24 airlines flying out this country and we cannot compete with a single one of them.”
culled from Leadership

Nigeria, Israel Sign Bilateral Air Service Agreement

Another milestone is about to be recorded in the aviation sector as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda paves way for the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Israel.
 Previous attempts to sign the BASA between the two countries in 2005 and 2012 were unsuccessful.

 According to the special meassistant to the Minister of Aviation, Joe Obi, the agreement would  be signed this week during President Jonathan’s pilgrimage to Israel.

He said this was a culmination of months of rigorous negotiations between the two countries.
His words, “The landmark agreement comes as a clear validation of the nation’s high safety and security ratings by international aviation bodies, especially the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and an improvement on infrastructure in the aviation sector in the last two years.

The agreement will pave way for direct flights between both territories on the Principle of Reciprocity by the designated airlines of both countries.” Before now Nigerians travelling to Israel, including christian pilgrims, have had to endure the long stop-overs in neighbouring countries before being finally airlifted to the Holy Land.

Obi also said the agreement adequately addresses the question of imbalance in the BASA between Nigeria and other contracting countries. Under the terms of this agreement, Nigeria and the State of Israel would enjoy equal rights and privileges in the implementation of the BASA.

culled from Leadership 

Arik Air launches 7th anniversary sales promo

An Arik Air plane

 Arik Air has launched a special sales promotion to celebrate its seventh anniversary. The promotion is valid on the airline’s long haul routes; Lagos-London Heathrow, Lagos-Johannesburg and Lagos-New York.

According to the airline, guests travelling between Lagos and London will be able to buy a return economy class ticket from N41, 990 and Business class ticket from N355, 139.

A return Economy Class ticket on the Lagos-New York route starts from N97, 062 while Business class ticket on the route starts from N487, 892. On the Lagos-Johannesburg route, a return economy class ticket starts from N38, 437 and Business class from N326, 553.

The fares are exclusive of all taxes and charges and the last ticket day is October 31, 2013. Outbound travel period is between October 14 and November 15, 2013.

Commenting on the anniversary promotion, Arik Air’s Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue explained that the promotional fare is the airline’s special way of thanking its esteemed guests who have remained loyal to the carrier these past seven years.

 “When we set out seven years ago, our aim was to become a Nigerian airline that Nigerians would be proud to fly. Now, we have been firmly established as West and Central Africa’s largest carrier and the fastest growing airline in Africa.

 Arik Air not only connects Nigeria with eight countries in West/Central Africa and serves London Heathrow, Johannesburg and New York JFK from Lagos, it also connects 20 destinations within Nigeria - a domestic network that no other airline can match.

It is therefore appropriate that all our guests should have the option to avail of this special offer for travel across our long haul routes.”

Tickets can be paid for at the airline’s City Ticketing Offices and Airport Ticketing Offices within Nigeria and via the airline’s website www.arikair.com or mobile devices (phones and tablets). In addition, tickets can be purchased from any IATA registered travel agent.

Source: WorldStage Online

Surviving crew of Associated Airlines crash to face amputation

Unless the Federal Government urgently intervenes to fly Mrs Quinneth Owolabi abroad for treatment, she would have her toes and fingers amputated due to gangrene infection.

Mrs Owolabi is a surviving cabin crew on the ill-fated Associated Airlines plane that crashed in Lagos two weeks ago.

The crash scene and rescue operations.

But for her husband’s resistance, the amputation would have been done yesterday or today at Nigerian Air Force, NAF, base hospital in Ikeja, where she had been hospitalised since the crash.
Mrs. Owolabi survived the crash alongside six others, although two of the survivors later died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH.
Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the husband of the victim was making frantic efforts to reach the Federal Government for his wife to be flown abroad for treatment to stave off the amputation, especially as the government was said to be responsible for her treatment thus far.
Efforts to reach him proved futile as his mobile phones remained switched off yesterday and it was also not possible to speak with the medical team at the hospital as movements in the victim’s ward was restricted by military personnel.
National President of Nigerian Airlines Cabin Crew Association, NACCA, Mr. Charles Onuoha, who confirmed the development, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently come to the rescue of the crash victim.
According to him, Owolabi’s 10 toes and the five fingers of the left hand have been marked for amputation because of the infection that had set in.
He said: “We are calling for referral for overseas treatment, a post-trauma stress assessment and de-briefing for Mrs Quinneth Owolabi, and her colleague, Miss Toyin Samson, currently on admission at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Lagos.
“We are appealing for government’s intervention because that is the only thing that can stop this amputation.”
Onuoha also called on the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on the regulation of the aviation sector to stop the frequent crashes and deaths of cabin crew that had trailed the industry in the last 10 years.
Onuoha said though Toyin Samson’s case had been stabilised at LASUTH, she needed further medical attention overseas.
He noted that post-trauma stress assessment and de-briefing were a necessity for crash and hijack victims, and lamented the attitude of the management of Associated Airlines to the plight of the two cabin crew since the crash.
culled from Vanguard

Bulletproof car scandal: Airline operators, others demand investigation

Some stakeholders in the aviation industry and civil society  groups   have called on the nation’s anti-corruption  agencies to investigate the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles for the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah.

The vehicles valued at a whopping $1.6m(about N225m) were said to have been  delivered to Oduah in August by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah

But the aviation industry stakeholders and the groups, in separate interviews with our correspondents on Thursday, said their calls for a probe  were  necessary in order to identify and prosecute those behind the controversial deal.

The aviation stakeholders are the  Airline Operators of Nigerian and  Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

AON, through its Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Muhammed Tukur, described the purchase of the bulletproof cars as unfortunate, saying   it showed the high level of  corruption  in Nigeria .

It  said, “This   shows how bad things have gone in this country; that the minister has admitted to receiving the cars from the NCAA   reveals that they  do not care for the people of this country.

“We can see that all these people and parastatals use their offices to siphon funds for anything they want. We  think there is no other option but for her (Oduah)  to resign her appointment as the aviation minister.

“Also, we call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to thoroughly investigate the issue, because, some of us had foresight of these things, and we know that there are more coming  up soon.”

The ATSSSAN said the ‘necessary government agencies’ should not hesitate to prosecute anyone found to have played a role in the purchase of the bulletproof cars.

 “We have government agencies that can look into such issues as this  such as the EFCC. So, these agencies should look into the matter, and if they find out that it is indeed true, they should take the appropriate action,” its  National President, Mr. Ben Okewu, told one of our correspondents.

Also,  WACI, through its Executive Director, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, argued that   the procurement of the bulletproof  vehicles showed the level of   culture of impunity in the  country.

 It therefore called on the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to conduct a holistic investigation into the issue with a view to prosecuting those found culpable in the   Aviation ministry and  the NCAA.

It  said, “If it is true that the NCAA bought the said bulletproof cars for that amount, because it is not the prerogative of the NCAA to do so, it shows the impunity in the society.

“Impunity is on the rise in this country; people do whatever they like.

 “There should be a painstaking investigation of the NCAA and the ministry and anybody found culpable should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. The EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies should ensure that the matter is investigated thoroughly.”

 On its part,  CACOL noted that Oduah, in order to satisfy her ostentatious lifestyle, had by accepting the cars  compromised the safety of Nigerians.

 Its  Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, said, “ When the minister asked NCAA  to buy  her bulletproof cars worth $1.6m   because of alleged threats to her life. Where did she expect them to get the money?

“She expected them to compromise standard of course. It is now clear that the frequent air accidents are products of corruption and incompetence in our aviation sector.”

It called on the anti-graft agencies to “investigate the matter and prosecute anyone found to have abused their office.”

 Also, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Uche Onyeagucha,    said the amount involved in the purchase of the cars for Oduah was beyond the approval  limit of the minister and the NCAA.

This, according to him, calls for  finding  out if  a request for the purchase of the vehicles  was forwarded to the Federal Executive Council  or not.

Onyeagucha said the number of past and present political office holders in the country using bulletproof cars was outrageous.

He urged Nigerian leaders  to learn from the Mexico experience where most of the people using bulletproof cars  had been  killed.

 The PUNCH  learnt in Abuja that the NCAA  also  spent millions of naira on 13 Prado jeeps and 21 Corolla cars  for its directors and general managers.

One of our correspondents gathered that  the  jeeps were bought for the directors and  the  corolla cars for the general managers.

A senior official of the agency who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the issue,  admitted that the   purchase of the cars and  jeeps was an anomaly.

He  however said it was a practice that was not confined to the aviation ministry alone.

The source  said, “I think that during the course of the purchase of the cars  that the management  decided to also get  the bulletproof cars for the minister. However, some of the cars have not been given to their owners. They are still parked at the car lots.”

One of our correspondents gathered that some members of staff who  felt they might be left  out of the car bonanza leaked to the press, the information which was originally designed to be a petition to the EFCC.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed that he was  aware of the purchase of some cars by  the authority.

He, however, declined comments when asked to name the  beneficiaries and whether the agency was under any obligation to buy vehicles for the minister despite the fact that the ministry had its own budget.

The 2013 Budget of  Aviation ministry  revealed that there was no provision for the purchase of cars. About  N4.2bn was budgeted for the maintenance of motor vehicles, transport and equipment; N1.2bn for the purchase of trucks and N100m was  for staff buses.

Culled from Punch

Oduah: Squandermania in the name of security

Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah

The revelation that the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, received two cars worth N255m from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority compounds integrity issues on her table.

The Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has come under severe criticisms following a revelation that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority bought two bullet-proof vehicles worth $1.6m (N255m) for her. The armoured vehicles were reportedly delivered to her in August.

The revelation is coming at a time when certain events in the aviation industry, which she supervises, have become a cause for concern, not just for Nigerian air travellers, but also for the world at large.

Oduah was confirmed as the aviation minister and sworn in on July 2, 2011. She was deployed to the ministry on July 4, 2011. But between then and now, the industry has witnessed two major air crashes under her watch.

The first was the Dana Air crash in Lagos on June 3, 2012, in which 163 people died; while the latest is the Associated Airlines crash of October 3, 2013, also in Lagos, which claimed 15 lives.

Apart from these fatalities, many air passengers had escaped death by a whisker on some occasions. One of such happened a day after the Associated Airlines’ crash — a Kabo Airlines’ Boeing 747-400 plane taking 512 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia had made an emergency landing at the Sokoto airport with deflated tyres, damaging the airport’s Instrument Landing System.

Again, last Sunday, an IRS Airlines Fokker-100 plane carrying 99 passengers also made an emergency landing at the Kaduna airport, after developing hydraulic problems mid-air.

The nation’s embarrassment is not limited to the Nigerian airspace, though, as a Nigerian registered cargo airplane had also crashed in Accra, Ghana, on June 2, 2012.

While ‘natural’ disasters may not necessarily be anyone’s doing, the fact remains that many things are wrong with the nation’s aviation industry, but the helmsman seems ill-equipped to deal with the situation decisively

For one, the haste with which the licence of Dana Airlines was restored barely three months after the 2012 incident, despite the embarrassment it caused the Federal Government, was condemnable. Though Nigerians expressed disappointment with the government, wondering if it cared about citizens’ wellbeing at all, only the painful exit of another set of Nigerians, 16 months later, compelled the aviation minister to withdraw, afresh, the operating licence of Dana, which industry watchers had long suspected of operating aircraft with questionable capability.

That Oduah has no proper grasp of what is going on in the industry she supervises may not be an exaggeration, considering the fact that some of the aircraft being used to ferry Nigerians across the nation and beyond have seen better days and are therefore unfit for the airspace of any sane country.

Take, for, instance, the revelation that the aircraft that caused the latest bloodbath in Lagos is 23-year-old Brazilian-made. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the useful life of an aircraft is over once the economics of maintenance exceed the value of the airplane.

Industry analysts say airliners and business jets are built with a certain number of cycles in mind — a cycle being the pressurisation and depressurisation of the cabin. To maintain an aircraft’s fiscal feasibility, experts say, certain items must be replaced on a regular basis, whether they need it or not.

Based on the bloody accidents and near-mishaps that we have witnessed in recent times, one wonders if the Nigerian aviation sector has superb standards and maintenance regulations for domestic airlines. If there are, they don’t seem to be enforced. This is a dent on the integrity of the aviation minister.

In self-defence, Oduah shocked many people when she described some of the air crashes as an act of God. On another note, she had said the sector needed injection of funds if air travel must be safe and secure. This being the case, isn’t it a contradiction that the same ministry that desperately shops for operating funds is also engaged in a spending spree, buying amoured cars for the minister?

Besides, it is absolutely unethical for Oduah to have accepted “gifts” from the NCAA, being an agency she supervises. If there were threats to her life as she claims, there are constitutional provisions for that, as a bona fide Nigerian, even if she is not occupying public office.

She should have exploited that means, instead of accepting gifts from an agency whose shoddy handling of the aviation sector has contributed enormously to the deaths of innocent Nigerians and citizens of other nations who were unfortunate to have patronised Nigerian airlines.

The aviation minister can still right the wrongs in the sector; all it requires is the political will, which she currently seems to lack. And this appears to have been compounded by the moral burden that the obvious coercion of the NCAA represents.

Observers are also worried that Oduah may not be the only minister who breathes down too heavily on the parastatals they supervise. It is common knowledge that many of them compel such agencies to foot the bills of the transport, accommodation, feeding and more, each time they (ministers) have to attend one function or the other, as organised by the agencies. This is a corrupt practice that only a country like Nigeria, where ethical issues are taken with levity, condones.

culled from Punch

Arik commits $2 million to pilots’ assessment in London

ARIK Air has concluded plans to send 40 pilots to CAE training facility in London for simulator assessment to test their skills for eventual selection and employment.

The 40 students were picked from over 130 applications received earlier in the year. After screening, the list was pruned to 120 and the candidates called in for psychometric analysis and aptitude test, which was conducted electronically.
Out of the 120 that sat for the aptitude test, 58 were successful and were further subjected to oral interview to pick the final 40 that is going for the assessment at CAE, London.
According to Arik Air’s Acting Senior Vice President, Operations/Deputy Managing Director, Captain Ado Sanusi, the successful pilots after the assessment at CAE will be sent for initial type rating on the airline’s Boeing 737NG, CRJ900/1000 and Q400 fleet.
It is expected that Arik Air will be committing over $2 million dollars to the training of the pilots, who are expected to swell the number of pilots on the payroll of the airline.
Similarly, the airline would this month conduct another round of interview for aircraft engineers and the successful ones sent to Lufthansa Technik training facilities in Europe.
Sanusi disclosed that Arik was committed to developing local capacity and this explains the huge investment in the training of Nigerian pilots.
His words, “since the demise of Nigeria Airways, there has been no concerted effort to employ and train such a huge number of professionals. This is another Arik Air’s contribution to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
“We recently entered into an agreement with Cranfield University, UK for the training of our staff. Also, we have sent 12 of our pilots to Airbus facility in France for a full initial type-rating and 80 per cent of these are Nigerians.”
Three of the pilots, who are going to CAE shared their experiences. One of them, Olamiti Adegbenro Oluwakayode said, “I feel great. I waited for quite a while for this opportunity to come. I have always wanted to fly with Arik, so I’m happy and excited to go on this training. I expect to get more experience, learn more about flying and then become a better pilot. I also hope to be good enough to start working efficiently with Arik. It’s a very laudable gesture.”
 Speaking in the same vein, an elated Abdulkarim Ummul-Khair Yahaya said, “Arik is doing very well. Not many airlines can do this because they can’t afford the expenses.”
culled from The Guardian

UK insurers Lloyds’ team visits Lagos plane crash site

Representatives of the insurers of the crashed Associated Aviation Embraer 120 aircraft, Lloyds of London, arrived in Lagos yesterday.

The plane carrying 20 passengers and crew and the body of the late former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, for burial, crashed last Thursday near the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, barely one minute after taking off.

The advance team of the Blake Group, a United Kingdom-based international crisis management firm, is in Nigeria to work with the airline, families of those who died in the crash and aviation authorities.

They are to work with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Prevention Bureau (AIPB). The team will also work with the medical team at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where the injured and the bodies were taken.

According to a source, the Blake Group is an advanced team of the insurers who will arrive in Lagos today for comprehensive documentation of relevant details about the crash.

The group visited the site of the crash to take samples. It made a brief stop at the headquarters of the NCAA, the AIPB and at LASUTH.

The group is also co-ordinating the DNA samples that will be sent abroad for examination.

A source hinted that the visit of the Blake team to Nigeria is to confirm the veracity of the valid insurance cover Associated Aviation has with Lloyds of London.

The source said: “The advance team of Blake Group from the United Kingdom is already in the country. They were at LASUTH to assess everything. They are coordinating the DNA samples that will be sent to the UK.

“As international crisis management firm, they are helping with the post-crisis trauma.

“The Lloyds of London will be here today to ensure that everything about insurance is intact. They will work out the terms; the procedure for payment of claims.”

The AIPB has started reading the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), of the crashed plane. This is being done at the Bureau’s newly-installed flight laboratory in Abuja, after a successful downloading of the equipment.

NCAA spokesman Yakubu Datti said yesterday that the reading of the black boxes was coming early enough when compared with efforts in the past to probe cause of air crashes.

Datti said the new management at the NCAA would not change the regulatory system overnight, but would need a little time to bring about the desired change, adding that no country is immune to air crashes.

“If you check world aviation statistics, in the last three months there have been 100 emergency landings, all over the world. South Africa alone has recorded 37 emergency landings with about 25 deaths in less than 12 months. But they involve unscheduled aircraft.

“We have since two years ago started putting things in place to make the aviation industry meet international standards. Things have improved; even the international community acknowledges the efforts government is making in improving air safety in Nigeria,” Datti said.

Defending the safety of Nigeria’s airspace, Datti said: “For example, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently listed Nigeria as one of the 14 countries in Africa with effective safety implementation above the global average of 61 per cent, as contained in its 2013 Safety Report. The ICAO Safety Report is made from investigation conducted by the organisation’s auditors concerning levels of compliance by individual member states all over the world.”

Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, who stressed that the national carrier would be in operation before the end of year, said the Federal Government had spent about N9 billion on security at the airports.

Oduah said: “I am happy to announce to you that we are nearly done with the national carrier and I will tell you very soon when we get the final approval. I guarantee you before the end of the month.”

Thee minister said a reasonable sum of money, which is contained in the budget of the ministry, had been spent on the airports but about N648 million was spent on the General Aviation Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

Oduah spoke also on the suspension of Dana Air’s operations, saying it was in the interest of the public.

The Minister said the decision was taken with regards to actions and investigations carried out over the airlines in relations to policies guiding air operations in the country.

“Aviation is very highly regulated. There must be sequence of actions. You cannot wake up and speculatively say because of this and that, that reaction taken is the best reaction and so investigations have to be done.

“Sequentially, actions will be taken, depending on what the policy says, depends on the outcome of the investigation, and so the various outcome will determine what action the regulator will end up taken against the airline in question.”

She restated the significance of safety in the sector, irrespective of the operator.

“The end result is that passengers must be protected. Security and safety must be prioritised. That is the essence of the exercise, not because somebody doesn’t like Dana; not because they like Dana. We absolutely have nothing to do with subjectivity of the airline in question. And that’s why we plead always with Nigerians, to journalists; let’s do what is global practice,” Oduah added.

NCAA had earlier suspended theoperations of Dana Air on Sunday.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris confirmed yesterday that one of the seven survivors in the Associated Aviation crash had died. He said two were in critical condition and “unfortunately one died over the weekend while the other one in the critical state had an operation and is still in critical state.”

The death toll is now 14. He said the remaining four were in stable condition.

In Akure, the family of the late former governor Agagu insisted that it was the Ondo State government that hired the aircraft, contrary to the government’s claim.

Family spokesman, Mr. Femi Agagu, criticised the rebuttal by Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade who denied that the Mimiko government hired the crashed plane.

Agagu said: ‘’Ordinarily, at this period of mourning, when the people of Ondo state grieve for the departed citizens and other compatriots who lost their lives in the ill fated journey, decorum, sincerity and solemnity should guide all utterances and actions.

‘’Again the Agagu family is constrained to react because of this obvious and unneccesary twisting and manipulation of the truth and verifiable facts about the hiring of the plane and other issues connected to the funeral arrangements of the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

‘’While appreciating the immense support of the state government since the demise of Dr. Olusegun Agagu, we would like to stress again that the choice and hiring of the ill-fated plane from Associated Airline was not that of the family and neither was the contracting of MIC undertakers and other subsequent arrangements for transportation of the corpse to Iju Odo.

“Indeed, the contracts for the purchase of the casket, the hiring of the hearse, arrangement for the flying of the corpse from Lagos to Akure, the planning of the lying-in-state as well as the transportation to Iju Odo were between Ondo State Government and MIC as part of the plans to give the former governor a state burial.

“Even as we commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives in the plane crash, we wish to advise advocates for government that playing politics with facts and the memories of the departed souls as well as the sensibilities of their sad families is totally unneccesary and indecent”.

Culled from The Nation

‘Excessive charges, harsh environment choke Nigerian airlines’ operations’

Following the crash of Associated Embraer plane that killed 15 persons while conveying the corpse of Olusegun Agagu, former Ondo State governor, to Akure, it has been revealed that domestic airline operators are heavily burdened with sundry charges, especially from aviation agencies.

Associated Aviation, operator of the crashed plane is one of the many charter operators that is still contesting the new charges imposed on them by government.

Apart from charter or non-scheduled operators, commercial schedule carriers have had to cope with charges ranging from passenger service charge, cargo sales charge, fuel surcharge, landing and parking charges, among others.

“Although, operators are supposed to imbibe 100 percent safety regulations, in recent times, it is like government has suddenly forgotten the most important aspect of aviation which is safety and are concentrating on how the operators will pay this and that. There is no adequate maintenance facility for the airlines and government is not talking about that.

“Two weeks ago, the Ministry increased crew access fee from N2,000 to N250,000, a situation that the airlines are not comfortable with. This means that before you can drive a car conveying the crew into the aircraft foot, you have to now cough out N250,000.”
 This is different from the $3,000 (N480,000), and $4,000 (N640,000) in contention.

“What we are saying is that it seems as if safety is being commercialised at the expense of the lives of Nigerians; the airlines are heavily indebted to AMCON in the form of a bailout that only favoured the banks. “Many of them struggle to pay salaries and rather than allow the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to its job, the reverse is the case,” Muhammed Tukur, former spokesman for airline operators, said.

John Ojikutu, another analyst, noted that “there is need to reassess the new policies where many of the new charges emanated from; there is need to reassess also, the over-commercialisation of safety and security for the sake of the airlines.”

The charter and private airline sub-sector in the air transport sector have in recent times suffered losses and setbacks as many aircraft and souls have been lost to crashes.

Beginning from OAS helicopter, Wings aviation aircraft, Cessna citation aircraft that crashed in Yola; and a chattered military aircraft that killed Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, former Kaduna State governor and the current Associated aircraft, the sub-sector has been hit financially.

Analysts say coupled with the recent charges imposed on the operators, these are not the best of times for non-scheduled operators as they have to cope with a lot of charges and challenges in the sector.
“Event though they are the luxury carriers who are supposed to be the bedrock of the sector financially, the new charges is a big one that the operators are still not comfortable with.

“How much will they charge customers when you impose such charges on them? There is too much pressure on the operators; that will make them to also focus on profit rather than safety,” Tukur, added.
Culled from Businessday

Crash probe: AIB to send plane engines abroad

  

Indications emerged on Monday that the Accident Investigation and Preventive Bureau would send the engines of the crashed Associated Airlines plane abroad for further investigation.

Sources close to the AIB said the two engines of the Embraer 120 aircraft, which crashed in Lagos on Thursday shortly after takeoff, would be taken to Brazil for comprehensive analyses.

The source said that the engines would be taken apart with an aim of investigating the root cause of the crash, which has so far claimed 14 lives.

He said the likely place to carry out the analyses of the engines was the manufacturer’s laboratory, Embraer 

 Manufacturing Company, Brazil.

The spokesman for the AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, confirmed plans by the agency to take the engines abroad for comprehensive analyses and tests.

He said, “There may be a need for tear down of the engines. We are likely to send them to the manufacturer of the aircraft in Brazil because they are in the best position to carry out analyses and tests on the damaged engines.

“At our own end here, we will continue with interviews and other necessary things, and plans are still on to decode one of the black boxes or Cockpit Voice Recorder this week by our investigators in charge of the crash.”

Our correspondent gathered that the engines were still at the crash site as at the time of filing this report.

Oketunbi explained that the manufacturers of the NCAA laboratories were expected to arrive from Canada this week for the commencement of the decoding of the CVR.

“It is important for us to invite those who manufactured the laboratories for us. You know the laboratories are still new and we need to involve them in this process. The manufacturers still give us support,” he said.

Culled from Punch