Nigerian elected first African ICAO president

Nigeria made history yesterday in Canada as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) unanimously elected a Nigerian, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, as the President of the organisation, the first African to occupy the position.

The election of Dr Aliu, whose term commences on January 1, 2014 through to December 31, 2016, took place at the ICAO council chambers, the Ministry of Aviation said in a statement.
The proposal of the Nigerian representative was made by his Singaporean counterpart, Ng Teachiou, and seconded by the representative from Saudi Arabia, the statement added.
The statement said that “all the voting members of the council were called country after country to voice their position on the candidature of Aliu and they unanimously declared their support for the Nigerian candidate. This was swiftly followed by a unanimous vote and declaration of Dr Aliu as the new president of the council by then outgoing President Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez . His declaration as the new ICAO helmsman was greeted with a thunderous ovation and congratulations from fellow Council members.”
Gonzalez who presided over the election with the Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin, expressed satisfaction with the  conduct and called on all members to extend the same level of cooperation given him to the new president, it said.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Stella  Oduah has congratulated President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the government and people of Nigeria as well as Dr Aliu on his election as the new President of ICAO. Oduah stated that Aliu’s election, the first African to head the international civil aviation body, is a landmark event.

Culled from Daily Trust

Arik Air reiterates commitment to safety

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline has reaffirmed its commitment to adherence to international safety standards as stipulated by global civil aviation bodies such as Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transport, the UK CAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Arik Air is renowned for operating young, state-of-the-art aircraft that are maintained by world-leading maintenance service providers such as Lufthansa Technik/Cityline, Iberia Engineering and Samco Engineering.

According to Ola Banji, Arik Air spokesman, the airline strongly believes in on- time departure of flights as it is also important to clarify that an aircraft returning to base after taxing or takeoff is a safety measure that should be commended not derided.

For instance, Arik Air’s Lagos- Uyo flight on Thursday, 07 November was aborted by the pilot as a safety precautionary measure. The snag was fixed and the aircraft continued its normal operations.

This singular act demonstrates that Arik Air pilots are safety conscious and are trained to always observe all safety procedure.

culled from Businessday Online

Arik Air wins Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline Award 2013

                           

Arik Air has emerged the Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa Award while the Airline’s Chief Security Officer, Francis Okafor won the Best Aviation Security Manager in Nigeria Award.

According to a statement issued by Arik Air, it got the two awards at the 10th Security Watch Africa Awards held   last weekend at Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This is the third consecutive year the Carrier will be winning the prestigious award instituted in 2003 by Africa’s foremost security and safety news magazine, Security Watch Africa.

In the citation read before the award was presented to Arik Air’s Senior Vice President, Standards and Special Projects, Rodger Whittle, the organizers acknowledged the airline's exemplary commitment to security and safety standards. It commended Arik Air for operating safely without any crash or incident since 2006.

In his response, Rodger re-stated the airline’s commitment to safety, security and quality service. He noted that it was heartwarming that Arik Air’s huge investment in security and safety has not gone unnoticed.

Arik Air’s Aviation Security (AVSEC) Department is one of the most sophisticated in the industry and the airline’s commitment to safety is second to none in West and Central Africa. Arik Air conducts an independent secondary screening of passengers prior to departures.

In terms of safety, Arik Air adheres strictly to international safety standards as stipulated by global civil aviation bodies such as Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transport, the UK CAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

culled from WorldStage Newsonline

Elegbeleye hails Arik Air for airlifting Eaglets

Gbenga Elegbeleye

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye has praised Arik Airlines for assisting the Commission through the airlifting of the FIFA U- 17 World Champions the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja on arrival from the United Arab Emirates on Saturday night.

Elegbeleye said that the good gesture of the Arik Air under the leadership of its Chairman Sir Johnson Arumemi Ikhide has further boosted the enthusiasm of the young lads who now realize that there is always great rewards for hard work and good performance while representing their fatherland, Nigeria.

The NSC top officer however urged the Airline not to relent in their efforts at boosting sports generally in the country and also the promotion of good values for Nigerian youths in general. He commended  Arik Air for associating with the National Sports Commission in the development of sports in the country.
culled from Vanguard

NCAA Threatens to Sanction Aero over Maltreatment of Passengers

 Director General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu

• Arik says air return for safety precaution

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced proceedings to sanction Aero Contractors over its shoddy treatment of passengers last Saturday.

The airline was reported to have delayed passengers who were to travel by its 5pm flight from Abuja to Lagos until midnight after  which it peremptorily cancelled the flight.
The pilot was alleged to have tactfully switched off the aircraft's engine and sneaked out of the aeroplane with the cabin crew, leaving the passengers behind.

The Director General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, has instructed the Director of Consumer Protection (DCP), Adamu Abdullahi, to immediately commence proceedings towards imposing appropriate sanctions on Aero Contractors.

He was said to have given the directive after studying a report from the Directorate of Consumer Protection, which detailed how Aero Contractors Abuja to Lagos service flight No. AJ 128 was delayed repeatedly and eventually cancelled without any explanation.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Fan Ndubuoka, explained that the delay caused the passengers to spend the night at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after being left on board the aircraft for about three hours.

“Therefore, the DG has moved to sanction the erring airline for failure to duly inform the passengers about the cancellation within the provision of the regulation which attracts minimum to moderate penalty.
"In addition, the failure of the airline to render assistance expected in case of cancellation would attract moderate to minimum penalty, plus prescribed compensation to the affected passengers,"  he said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s major carrier, Arik Air, has reacted to the criticisms trailing the air return by its Lagos to Uyo flight last Thursday after taxing to take off.
  The pilot had aborted the take-off after he noticed a red light, which indicated a snag with the aircraft.

Head of Communications of the airline, Adebanji Ola, said such return to base was precautionary safety measure to ensure safe operation of flights and remarked that such actions taken by airlines should be commended instead of being derided by travellers.

“Arik Air strongly believes in on-time departure of flights but however maintains that safety will not be sacrificed at the altar of on-time departure. Safety remains the airline’s topmost priority.
“It is also important to clarify that an aircraft returning to base after taxing or take-off is a safety measure that should be commended not derided.  Though not convenient for both passengers and the airline, achieving safety comes with a price sometimes,” Ola said.

Culled from Thisday

Airlines Contribute N58 Billion to Economy

Domestic and foreign airlines that operate in Nigeria contribute about N58 billion to the nation’s economy and support 61,000 jobs.
This was disclosed by the Ministry of Aviation in a new report titled: “Evolving Towards a Risk-based Aviation Safety Strategy”, which   outlined plans for the reformation of the sector.

According to the report, airlines registered in Nigeria directly employ 7,000 people locally and support through their supply chain a further 33,000 jobs with further 21,000 jobs supported through the household spending by those employed by airlines and their supply chain.

Also, airlines registered in Nigeria carry about six million passengers and 119,000 tonnes of freight a year to, from and within Nigeria and directly contribute about N29 billion to the GDP.

“The sector contributes indirectly another N17 billion through the output it supports through its supply chain and further N11 billion comes from the spending of the airlines and their supply chains,” the report stated.
The report noted that the plan of the Ministry of Aviation is to further develop the sector to boost revenues accruing from it to the GDP, create more jobs and make airline operation more profitable.

The first step to actualise this, it pointed out,  is the modernisation of the airports and other infrastructure that will enhance safe air transport in Nigeria, attract international travellers and enhance local carriers to operate more international destinations.
“Our reform programme therefore will place Nigeria as a hub for the airfreight and passenger flows in the West Africa sub-region in the immediate future and Africa in the long term,” the report said.

The ministry said the reform plan started with the Aviation Master Plan which has  the strategic thrust for institutional changes, infrastructure development, dynamic hubs and cargo terminals, free economic zones and perishable cargo villages and improved human capacity development.

The plan also includes technical capacity building for air traffic control personnel and the establishment of the national carrier, Nigeria One.

“The strategy we adopted for implementing the aviation reforms was hinged on three platforms: safety and security, infrastructure development and horizontal growth, including institutional changes, the development of our domestic airlines and the national carrier,” the publication also stated.

The plan, the ministry noted, would encourage private sector participation and foreign direct investment to build and manage airports and other offerings at the airports and these include the already planned project with the Chinese investors that are building four airports terminal at the four major airports in Nigeria, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
“The projects have kicked off and it is expected that transparent policy and concession arrangements would attract more investors to the sector to engage in public, private partnership to develop the industry.”

Culled from Thisday

Arik Air, Ethiopian bag best airline at Akwaaba

Arik Air, the largest airline in Nigeria and Ethiopian Airline have won the best airline in West and East Africa respectively at the just concluded Akwaaba Africa Travel Market in Lagos.
  The Trade and Sales Manager, Arik Air, Ibiyemi Odusi, who received the award on behalf of the airline, commended the customers for believing and standing behind them despite all the challenges. She promised that the airline would keep improving on their services to better serve their customers well.
  “Our customers this award is for you because you made it possible because if you are not there for us, there will be no Arik,” she added.
  Ethiopian Airline also carted away the prize of the best cabin crew in Africa, plus the best airport in East Africa, which went to Bole International Airport, Ethiopia.
  The airline noted that the awards were a living testimony of the service we have been given in the continent in the last 70 years.
 Speaking while receiving the awards, the Managing Director of Ethiopian Airline, Ato Esayas Woldamariam Hailu, stated: “I am proud of the award and is a living testimony of the service we have be given in the continent in the last 70 and we have about 47destinations in the continent of Africa which is by far the largest Africa neighbour in the history of aviation in Africa by any airline standard, so am very happy to be receiving these three awards which we earned which was an outcome of our service to African continent.
  Hailu explained, “the magic of our success so far is keeping our customers in our heart, we are Africans and we know what an African traveler require, so we serve them, we take Africa to the world and we bring the world to Africa. Africa is our home base and we have the civic duty to serve the continent, if people are serving their home continent definitely the success will come out because of the quality of service as people will keep coming and patronising the airline and the company will keep growing. So our secret is customer service.”
culled from The Guardian