NEW SUPERSONIC JET PROMISES NY TO LA IN 2.5 HOURS

New supersonic jet promises NY to LA in 2.5 hours

by Allison Wallace

It may have been a decade since the Concorde made its last flight but the race for supersonic air travel just got hotter.

Designed by US global aerospace Lockheed Martin, The N+2 aims to cut the travel time from New York to Los Angeles in half – from 5 hours to 2.5.

The plane would be able to accommodate up to 80 passengers and to reduce sonic boom, it would have THREE engines, ONE under each wing and one on top.

This means that it would travel at speeds of Mach 1.7 with sonic boom levels one hundred times quieter than the now-retired Concorde supersonic passenger airline.

'To achieve revolutionary reductions in supersonic transportation airport noise, a totally new kind of propulsion system is being developed,' said Michael Buonanno, Lockheed Martin manager of the NASA N+2 program.

“We are also exploring new techniques for low noise jet exhaust, integrated fan noise suppression, airframe noise suppression and computer customised airport noise abatement.”

This is good news as the jet could make flights over land. Concorde only flew transatlantic flights, because it was so noisy that regulators wouldn't let it go anywhere else.

Lockheed Martin has built a special wind tunnel and software to TEST exactly how loud the planes will be. Though it is unlikely to ever be possible to get rid of the noise entirely, the aim is to get the sound “more like a distant thump than a sharp crack”, the company says.

                                                                                                                                  Source:Yahoo.com

“CBN should not exclude aviation in RDAS”-Shettima

Alhaji Kashim Shettima Chairman/CEO Skyjet Aviation

The Chairman and CEO of the Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, Alhaji Kashim Bukar Shettima has objected to the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN with the exclusion of the aviation sector from the Retail Dutch Auction System, RDAS. According to Shettima, “I think the Central Bank need to review this new policy  because aviation is dollar base. There is nothing about aviation we manufacture here in Nigeria, we do not make airplanes. We do not even make aircraft tyres here. Our insurance underwriters are 70 per cent foreign. If you have any problem, you will need to fly abroad. No facility can do C or D checks here. You have to go abroad. We cannot even repair corrosion here. If you do not do those little maintenance, there will be problems eventually that will affect people and business. We cannot get our money from CBN, we have to go to interbank which is like black market. It is a big problem for us and government need to look at this issue. Therefore, CBN should not exclude aviation in RDAS. ”

 According to a circular pasted on the CBN website   titled: EXCLUSION OF SOME TRANSACTIONS FROM RDAS WINDOW dated November 6, 2014 with reference number TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/022 addressed to all authorized dealers and the general public reads, “This is to inform all Authorised Dealers and the General Public that in order to maintain the existing stability in the Foreign Exchange market and to further strengthen the various policy measures already initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the importation of the following items shall henceforth be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only: Electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, information equipment and invisible transactions.

From information gathered, the aviation falls under the Invisible Transactions probably maintenance and insurance.

Another operator said if care is not taking this policy could force them out of business because operators will be getting their dollars through black market (Interbank) not through CBN any longer.

Arik Air increases frequencies to meet higher patronage

Due to increase in patronage, Arik Air has increased some of  its routes’ frequencies. According to an online statement from the airline, “Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier has released its 2014 winter schedule with increased capacity in key domestic routes to cope with passengers’ demands and give travelers more options for same day return trips.

The new schedule which came into effect on November 17, 2014 saw an increase in the frequency of flights on the Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Benin, Abuja-Benin, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Asaba and Abuja-Ibadan routes.”

The frequency on the Lagos-Calabar and Lagos-Enugu routes have been increased from daily (seven weekly) to double daily (14 weekly) while Lagos-Benin has been increased from 14 weekly (double daily) to 20 frequencies (three times daily and twice on Saturdays).

Similarly, the Abuja-Benin flight frequency has been increased from daily (seven weekly) to 13 weekly (i.e. two daily and one on Saturdays). Abuja-Ibadan, Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Asaba and Lagos-Kano services now operate daily.

On the regional routes, only Luanda route is affected. “With the new winter schedule, the days of operation for the Lagos-Luanda service have now been changed to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This flight was hitherto operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays”-said the airline.

Commenting on the new schedule, Arik Air’s Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue said:

“There is an increasing demand from our guests on our domestic routes. Arik Air is committed to providing all of its guests with a range of flights at suitable times. We have identified and delivered on the demands and are continuously reviewing our route network to offer increased convenience and seamless connections.”

Arik Air rewards passengers on Dubai route

In a bid to appreciate its customers, Arik Air is rewarding its guests regardless of the class on its Dubai route with frequent flier points. According to an online statement from the  airline, "Arik Air has rolled out  incentives for its loyal guests on the Lagos-Abuja-Dubai route. Tagged “connecting you to higher rewards”, the offer is specifically tied to the airline’s Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP), Arik Affinity Wings."

The offer will enable guests travelling in the Premier Business Class on the Dubai route to earn double miles while those travelling in the Economy class will earn 50% more miles.

Also, guests who buy four Business Class return tickets to Dubai will get upgraded to Affinity Wings’ exclusive Gold membership level. The Gold membership is the highest membership level in the Affinity Wings loyalty programme which offers the most programme benefits for guests who have acquired 600 points and above by flying with Arik Air.

Furthermore, guests who buy two Business Class return tickets to Dubai will get upgraded to the exclusive Silver membership level. The Silver membership is the second highest membership level for guests who have acquired up to 300 points through their travels with Arik Air and also enjoy some of the exclusive programme benefits.

Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue commented on the loyalty offers:

“Loyalty just got better with Arik Affinity Wings and our guests on the Dubai route are specially welcome to the world of more smiles as they enjoy bonus Affinity Miles. The more you fly Arik Air to Dubai, the more miles you accumulate to enjoy special treats and discounts on future travels’’

‘’ Every trip on Arik Air to Dubai puts extra smiles on the faces of our guests as they not only enjoy double miles but also take advantage of our generous baggage allowance  coupled with our traditional African hospitality and global safety standards.This is in line with our promise to ensure we constantly strive to enhance the service we offer our guests”.

Arik Air launched flight services to Dubai on July 28, 2014 while the Arik Affinity Wings was launched on October 1, 2014.

DiscoveryAir commences flights to Port Harcourt and Uyo

Chairman, Discovery Airline, Mr. Babatunde Babalola (middle) (flanked) by Managing Director, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalami (left) and Chief Commercial Officer, (CCO) Mrs. Olushola Odubunmi during the Airline Inaugural flight to Uyo and PortHarcourt  held at the Murtala Mohammed Airport-2, Ikeja, Lagos

One of the newest domestic airline operators in Nigeria, Discovery Air commenced flights to Port Harcourt and Uyo at the weekend. Speaking to aviation journalists at the commencement of the routes at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 MMA2, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalami, the Managing Director of the airline said it is the realization of the airline’s dream. “We are commencing new routes. Today is the realization of that dream of expansion. We are commencing flight operations to Uyo and Port Harcourt.”

Adding to the new routes, the airline MD said the plan is in the offing is to start flight operations to Owerri and Yola soon.

Capt. Abdulsalami commented on the reason for the airline to bring the airfare to as low as N8,000. He said, “We believe that if you make the flight affordable, more people will be encouraged to fly. It does not necessarily mean that you will not be getting enough revenue. We are trying to bring air travel closer to the people, to make it cheaper and affordable. The more the merrier. Nigeria is more than 170 million.  I do not think we are too many. World bank recommends about 15 airlines for this country.”

Looking ahead into the West Coast, DiscoveryAir MD said the plan in the pipeline. “We have made arrangement to acquire two additional aircraft. We have CRJ coming and B737.

We hope by the first quarter of next year we should be able to commence operation into the West Coast. We intend to go to most of the destinations along the West Coast as far as Dakar. Then, we intend to operate to Douala, Libreville.”-said he

Capt. Muhtar takes over as DG NCAA

R-L:
Former Ag. DG Engr. Benedict Adeyileka and the new DG Capt. Muhtar Usman during the handover ceremony

Captain Muhtar Usman has taken over as  the substantive Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA from Engr. Benedict Adeyileka who has been in acting capacity.  

According to a statement signed by Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager Public Affairs of NCAA,

“Capt Muhtar Usman assumed office as Director General/Chief Executive Officer (DG) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority [NCAA] yesterday 31st of October,2014 in Lagos with a declaration that his administration would focus on  Safety, Security and Comfort in the conduct of flight operations in and out of Nigerian airspace in line with the Transformation Agenda  of  President Goodluck Jonathan.

In achieving this, he said he would be guided by Annexes of the  International Civil Aviation Organization[ICAO], the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations[NCARs] and other appropriate legislations  and  conventions in line with  international standard.”

Ndubuoke stated that Capt Usman was full of commendation for the management and staff of the Authority for the hard work he said must have been put in  for the retention of the American Federal Aviation Administration[FAA] International Aviation Safety Assessment[IASA] Category One. This has qualified Nigerian Registered Aircraft from flying directly to the Continental United States.

He accordingly solicited for the support and cooperation of all the staffers of the Authority for the achievement of the three point Agenda.

“Earlier, the former Acting Director General and Director Airworthiness Standards[DAWS] Engr Benedict Adeyileka  introduced the management staffers present and handed over a prepared notes detailing the activities of the Authority  to the new  DG.

He explained that the handover notes listed all the  Directorates and their activities, Various Committees that have been raised and their job functions, Operating Airlines and their major routes, List of Airline Operating Certificate {AOC} holders, List of  AOCs issued within his acting period.

The handover notes also contained a brief on the Authority preparation ahead of the upcoming ICAO audit to which there is no date yet. The good news, he said was that NCAA is in full compliance in all ICAO critical elements, except in two areas that he said we would need to be buckled up.

Engr Adeyileka  also touched on all the challenges confronting the Authority in areas of being able to retained skilled and qualified staff in sufficient numbers, indebtedness to the Authority by Airlines, shortage of accommodation for staff, Shortage of funds for training and the ongoing efforts to review the subsisting Service Charge.”-said Ndubuoke

Apart from pledging his readiness to shed more light as may be required on all issues, the Director of Airworthiness however pledged the loyalty and support by all staff of the Authority and wish him a successful tenure.

Capt Usman's aviation career dates back to 1981 at the College of Aviation Technology[NCAT], Zaria in Kaduna State, where as a flying instructor, he was involved in the  training of students pilots from basics to attain commercial pilot license, multi engine and instrument ratings.

He had a Diploma in Aeronautical  Electronics and Telecommunication and a City  and Guilds certificate  in Radio, Television, Electronics and Telecommunications.

The new DG/CEO later bagged his qualification as a Commercial Pilot with multi engine  and Instrument ratings from Burnside - Ott  Aviation  Training Centre, Miami, United States of America in 1978.

Besides, he also qualified as a Boeing 727 Flight Engineer in Miami in 1980,and capped with a Flying Instructor s' rating at Oxford  Air Training School, United Kingdom in 1982.

He is currently a B737 pilot and has acquired over 8000 hours in his professional career.

Capt Usman, who until the current appointment, the Commissioner and  CEO of the Accident Investigation Bureau[AIB],  has undergone various types of trainings locally and abroad on Aviation Safety, Management and Operations has  also undertook various assignments  that broadened his knowledge, capacity and capability  for the current assignment.