FAAN advices cargo flight operators

Because of the backlog caused with the closure of the cargo terminal at the airport recently, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is advising operators of all cargo flights to find alternative entry points for their cargo rather than through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement signed by Yakubu Dati, General Manager Corporate Communications of FAAN,

“Already, FAAN has advised the Nigerian Airspace Manager Agency to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to this effect.

This has become imperative due to the congestion created by the backlog of cargo created following the two-week closure of the terminal by the Nigerian Customs Service.”

Dati said the  authority has initiated measures to accelerate the clearance of these goods and return the situation to normalcy. Airlines and importers are advised to make use of alternative airports.

The Authority is constrained to take this measure for the time being for the safety and security of all concerned and that the inconvenience this might cause is highly regretted.

Arik Air launches new travel package

Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier, has once again expanded its horizon in the Travel Business with the launch of Arik Explorer; a ‘travel package’ product which incorporates airline seats with hotel and other ancillary options like car hire and travel insurance.

Arik Explorer, which was launched in Lagos at the weekend as a subsidiary of Arik Air, offers travel package at two levels: ‘Premium’ and ‘Affordable’. The offering will be for both outbound and inbound travel from Lagos and other destinations serviced by Arik Air. Varieties of Packages can be tailored to suit the needs of the airline’s guests.

According to the Managing Director of Arik Explorer, Mr. Kencho Omojafor, the business strategy of the company will revolve around the need to provide quality service to the various target customers with the view to fully satisfy their needs.

This will be undertaken through the recruitment of a professional team and the provision of good quality custom-designed travel packages, catering to the guest's particular needs.

“We will continuously provide enjoyable quality excursions/trips/hotels on time and on budget, develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time, and establish a market presence that assures short-term and long-term profitability, growth and success”.

Arik Explorer’s product will be segmented into; premium market searching for luxury and convenience,  affordable weekend packages and short breaks during the week, special interest packages including group bookings, company retreats as well as business and leisure travellers to Arik Air destinations.

“Arik Explorer will establish a reputation as a differentiated, specialty provider of city/adventure travel and excursions. We will also provide unparalleled service to our local and international tourists, to Nigeria, The West Coast and beyond”, Omojafor stressed.

Arik Explorer’s internet booking functionality will enable its hotel partners to upload rooms and vehicles on the company’s website in real time. Customers will also have the option of using the company’s mobile application software to book rooms with their mobile phones and tablets.

“We are fully committed to supporting growth and development in the tourism industry and contribute positively to the community” Omojafor added.

SAHCOL relocates headoffice …opens new lounge at MMIA

SAHCOL's new head office

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has relocated its Head Office to a new Corporate Headquarters located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Cargo Complex.

According to a statement from the company, “This is a remarkable development in the life of the growing fortune of SAHCOL, as it is the first time the Management of the company is being housed in one edifice, after the fire incident that gutted the warehouse/Offices of the Company, on November 21, 2002.This is a further confirmation that Privatization is paying off for SAHCOL, as less than five Years of handling over SAHCOL to SIFAX Group, the Company started and completed the construction of a befitting Corporate Headquarters.”

Reminiscence  the achievement of the organization, the company said iIn the five Years of SIFAX GROUP involvement in SAHCOL, through the Board Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi  the Ground Handling Company has experienced massive purchase/deployment of Modern State-of-the-art equipment, constant training for all staff, international Certification/Recertification, Construction of a world class fully automated Cargo Warehouse, Boost of client confidence leading to increase in number of clientele, and increase in the staff strength.

SAHCOL new lounge

Meanwhile, still running with the vision to provide outstanding Services to the travelling Public, SAHCOL has reconstructed and opened an exceptionally unique Lounge to the public.

The Lounge which is located at the sterile area of the departure hall of  the Murtala Muhammed International Airport provides an exquisite and relaxed atmosphere for airline customers, paying close attention to their needs to ensure their conformability, while providing an avenue to escape from the usual hustle and bustle of busy airport terminals, with an environment where you can relax and unwind before boarding your flight.

SAHCOL is an ISAGO certified Aviation Ground Handling Company, with significant presence in all commercially operated airports in Nigeria. Its duties includes Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling/Warehousing, Aviation Security, Baggage Reconciliation, Crew Bus and Executive Lounge Services, as well as other related ground handling Services.

SAHCOL has successfully established a strong market presence in the domestic and international airline ground handling industry, with peerless expertise in providing exceptional Passenger, Ramp and Cargo/Warehousing services.

 Owing to the boost in confidence, SAHCOL now provides ground handling services to some of the world best airlines, amongst which are Arik Air, Emirates Airlines ,United Airlines, Air France, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Allied Air, Aero Contractors Airline, Dana Air, Sudan Air, African Open Sky Airlines, Med-view Airlines, Camair-Co, South African Airways, Etihad Airways, Atlas Jet Airlines, Max Air, Kabo Air, African Word Airways (AWA), Gambia Bird Airlines, AZMAN Air, Discovery Air, Ethiopian Air and other ad-hoc operators.

This has made SAHCOL a reference point where efficiency of a successful flight is born in the Nigerian Aviation sector.

Air Liberalization: “It is time for Africa nations to open their skies to each other in order to realize the untapped social and economic benefits Africa is missing out on” – IATA

L-R: Trevor Henry AVP Arik Air, Samson Fatokun Country Manager IATA, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi Director, Consumer protection Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Adefunke Adeyemi Regional Head, Member &External Relations Africa& Middle East IATA, Chief John Adebanjo West Africa  Group Rep. Virgin Atlantic at the Intra-African Air Connectivity presentation at the Protea Hotel Ikoyi

Despite African countries’ adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision in 1999, the implementation has been slow and the immense benefits have not been realized. On the 11^th of December at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi Westwood, IATA’s Regional Head of Member and External Relations for Africa and Middle East - Adefunke Adeyemi, examined the need for African countries to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available, but remain untapped, due to poor connectivity amongst African States.

Africa is a continent of over 1 billion people with a huge geographical spread that is largely land-locked. Given the lack of robust alternative infrastructure that traverses the continent (road, rail, water), aviation is the effective way to get around Africa. Unfortunately, Africa is not well connected in terms of air services. In many cases, the only way to get to countries in Africa is to travel for days or through other continents. This lack of connectivity is making Africa lose out immensely on socio-economic benefits and growth opportunities.

In collaboration with some of its regional partners across Africa, IATA commissioned a study early this year on how Africa’s socio-economic prospects can be transformed through enhanced connectivity. The study looks at 12 countries across Africa, and quantifies the numerous benefits that would accrue to those countries, their sub-regions and Africa as a whole, if they were to fully open their skies to connect with each other. The 12 nations in the report are: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda.  The study shows that full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 150,000 new jobs and numerous other socio-economic benefits in just those 12 countries. Imagine what this could mean if all 54 countries in Africa opened up to each other. It would be a game changer!

A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on air routes. 

The study was launched this year in Johannesburg on the 18^th of August and Adefunke Adeyemi is spearheading the roll out and advocacy of the study’s results across Africa.

Aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The IATA report clearly demonstrates that liberalization will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development. The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are listed in the table below.

NATION             ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT        ADDITIONAL GDP (USD MILLIONS)

 Algeria                                 11,100                                                   123.6

 Angola                                 15,300                                                   137.1

 Egypt                                    11,300                                                   114.2

 Ethiopia                               14,800                                                   59.8

 Ghana                                  9,500                                                     46.8

 Kenya                                  15,900                                                   76.9

 Namibia                              10,600                                                   94.2

 Nigeria                                 17,400                                                   128.2

 Senegal                               8,000                                                     40.5

 South Africa                      14,500                                                   283.9

 Tunisia                                 8,100                                                     113.7

 Uganda                               18,600                                                   77.6

The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. Governments should support the growth of the industry by fully liberalizing African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Given that a better connected Africa will increase the GDP of all countries in Africa, Finance and Tourism sectors across the continent should be interested. Given it will help create new jobs, politicians should be interested in making true connectivity across Africa a reality. Given it will help move over 1bn people across the continent, education and health sectors should be interested. Given it facilitates the deployment of food and aid, agriculture and civil society should be interested. Given it helps facilitate transfer of services, goods and technology, business and private enterprise should be interested. And finally, given it will provide the end users – passengers and freight forwarders - more choice, lower fares, time savings, improved efficiency, better products, increased competition and sheer convenience, in other words, better value for money, everyone should be interested. 

Arik Air increases frequencies to 140 ahead festive seasons

Arik Air aircraft

As a result of the high movement of passengers during the yuletide period, Arik Air has  announced through a statement plans to provide extra flights to key domestic destinations in response to yearnings of guests wishing to travel to various destinations across the country to celebrate Christmas and New Year period with family and friends.

The additional flights will cover the period from December 19 -24, 2014. Instead of the average 120 daily flights normally operated by Arik Air, the airline will during the festive period increase its daily flights to an average of 140.

In his response, Arik Air Managing Director/Executive Vice President, Mr. Chris Ndulue said the additional flights were necessitated by the need to ensure that many Nigerians have the opportunity of sharing the joy of the season with those closest to them.

Ndulue elaborated on the Christmas schedule: “For many of our guests, the Christmas and New Year period is a time when families wish to be reunited at the end of a busy year. Arik Air is therefore very pleased to announce that on many of our domestic routes, the airline will be scheduling additional flights and operating larger aircraft to cater for the expected increase in demand.”

The key domestic routes that will be affected during the festive season are Enugu, Owerri, Calabar, Lagos, Abuja and Asaba.  On the mentioned days, Arik Air will increase the frequency on the Lagos-Owerri route from twice to thrice daily while Abuja-Owerri will increase from one to twice daily.

Similarly, the frequency on the Abuja-Enugu route will increase to twice daily, Abuja-Calabar to twice daily and Lagos-Asaba to twice daily.

Arik Air had earlier last month increased the frequencies on some other key domestic routes like Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Benin, Abuja-Benin, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Asaba and Abuja-Ibadan.

Arik Air clinches awards at Security Watch Africa Awards

L-R- Aviation Security Training Manager, Akeem Oladimeji; PR & Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola; Associate Vice President, Dubai, Hamza Bukar and Chief Security Officer, Francis Okafor displaying the awards by Arik Air at the Security Watch Africa Awards in Dubai.

Adding to its laurels, Arik Air swept four awards at the just concluded 11th Security Watch Africa Awards, Lecture and Exhibition held in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates .

According to a statement from the airline, “One after the other, the executives of the airline who were at the Al Bustan Rotana, Casablanca Road, Al Garhoud, Dubai venue of this year’s event mounted the stage to receive the various categories of the awards.

First, the airline won the Best Safety and Security Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa. This is the fourth consecutive year Arik Air would be wining this award. The Managing Director/Executive Vice President of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue was named the Most Outstanding Aviation Personality in West Africa.”

Other awards won by Arik Air were the Best Aviation Security Manager in West Africa won by the airline’s Chief Security Officer, Francis Okafor and the Most Innovative Aviation Communicator in West Africa won by the PR and Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola.

Chief Executive Officer of Security Watch Africa, organizers of the event, Mr. Patrick Agbambu stated that the awards committee was impressed with the giant strides Arik Air has made over the years and its continued commitment to high standard of security and safety in eight years of operation.

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).

NCAA ALERT PILOTS ON HAMATTAN HAZE

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather alert to all Pilots indicating hazards associated with Harmattan dust haze in flight operations at this period of the year. This is according to an online statement by the authority through the General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke.

The statement further expressed that this warning is important as Harmattan is known to pose an obvious threat to aircraft particularly in areas of challenging terrains due to low visibility.

This alert is in line with the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the cessation of rainy season in 2014.

The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind that blows southwards from the Sahara across the country between the end of November to March, the following year.

On its passage over the desert, it picks up large amount of fine dust particles (0.5 to 10 micrometers) which are transported hundreds of kilometres over the south.

The effect of the dust and sand stirred by the wind is known as Harmattan Dust Haze.

In addition, the consequence of the Harmattan is a heavy fog hence air – to – ground visibility is considerably reduced.

Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions; dust haze can blot out runways, the markers and airfield lightings over wide areas. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.

Resultantly, where visibility falls below the prescribed weather minima, flight operations are likely to be delayed, diverted or outrightly cancelled.

Therefore, all Pilots shall obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET prior to flight operations at all the airports.

Pilots are similarly advised to exercise maximum restraint when strong surface wind, fog or harmattan haze is observed or forecast.

Nigerian Airports Not the Worst in Africa

These days, it has become a phenomenon to see phantom studies or researches in the public place. For those who know, such studies should be done away with.  Some of them are politically motivated, while others hardly passed through the true test a genuine research expected to make a change in the society.
One of such was a recent study that found its way into our flagship newspaper, The Guardian.
The so-called study on the ‘best and worst’ airports in Africa purportedly conducted recently by an unpopular website was made headline news of The Guardian newspaper a few days ago.
And apparently oblivious of how dubious the report was, the respected newspaper followed up with an editorial on the same subject on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.
Surprisingly, The Guardian chose to give so much weight and attention to the report dubiously named ‘People who sleep in airports’, even though it could have adopted a precision journalism approach to the report.
Indeed, there are several well-known respected journals and news portals serving the global aviation industry, but this apparently whimsical website, People who sleep in airports, is not one of them.
Whereas, airport terminals the world-over are not expected to compete with five-star hotels as this misguided website may want to suggest, some government opposition critics have drummed up this defective and ephemeral report to suggest that something is wrong with our airports.
For one thing, it bears restating that technically and aesthetically, all our international airports (which were named in the report) and many others around the country have improved dramatically in the past four years, under the country’s most ambitious multi-billion naira airport re-modelling/rehabilitation programme.
This programme, complimented by few other upgrade programmes, took a holistic approach to upgrading the facilities at our airports and has largely succeeded in its objectives.
Secondly, the website was looking only at the comfort of passengers at the airport terminals, ignoring several other key parameters such as presence of advanced navigational equipment and security measures, which are typically used by quality journals and aviation agencies globally, to rate airports.
The three Nigerian airports rated by People who sleep in airports are the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,(MMIA1),the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Port-Harcourt International Airport. For all intents and purposes, this so-called survey falls far, far below the standard of a technical audit. That is not to say however, that a satisfactory customer experience at our airports is not desirable.
Of course, the last airplanes leave the terminal at our airports at 11.30pm, so what has any passenger got with sleeping at the airport, when there is no flight to catch at 4.am.
To be sure, flights arriving into our country come in at about 5am, by which time people can disembark and go straight to their home. So including Nigerian airports in this phantom speaks volume about its intent and how it falls below the standards.
The high technical and safety standards of our airports are not in doubt. To confirm what we already know, Nigerian airports recently passed the Category One re-Certification audit conducted by the US Federal Aviation Authority, FAA which is one of the most rigorous aerospace/airport audits in the world. This, I must say, was an achievement that silenced disgruntled professional critics, selfish naysayers and their political allies who choose not to see the giant strides we have taken to improve our aviation facilities in the past four years of the Jonathan administration. Indeed, these naysayers are still stunned by that achievement of the Nigerian Aviation authorities.
It bears restating that our international airports, including the three mentioned in the survey have been undergoing renovation and remodelling to upgrade their facilities.
This is a fact that is obvious to everyone -- it is therefore, unfair, if not mischievous to include them in any serious survey about airports. How do you justify this, if the motives of the website are not ulterior? Can you start a race when some athletes are yet tying their shoe laces, then, you say the race was fair to every one?
The Guardian in its editorial, got it wrong. The website report never said MMIA1 was the worst. It shows the lack of knowledge of those interpreting that report. The number one on a worst list which, in this case, is Khartoum Airport is the worst. Whereas, the 10th on the list, is the least ‘worst’, which is the MMIA1--going by the website report. Whereas, the number seventh (Nnamdi Azikiwe) and Port Harcourt international rank lower than the MMIA 1, according to that ranking. But The Guardian writer turned the report on its head by asserting that MMIA1 was the worst! Thats not what the report said.
The Guardian in its editorial said: “Dysfunctional conveyor belts and air-cooling system are features of the airports.” But it is common knowledge among airport users in the country that the old conveyor belts have been replaced by a new luggage handling conveyor system at the MMIA1 since early last year with capacity to handle about 1,000 passengers per hour. The Arrival lounge area has also been expanded by one-and-a- half times its previous size. These are all in a bid to improve the customer experience at the airport. The Guardian in its editorial also named “space constraints, inadequate facilities and obsolete equipment “as some of the issues plaguing our airports. These things are not new and that was precisely why government took urgent steps to improve the airports through the re-modelling/rehabilitation project.
On inadequate air-conditioning at the MMIA1, FAAN is well aware of this and has taken measures to speedily address the problem by aggressively pushing the contractor working on this to quickly complete the job and also by working hard to install alternative power systems at the airport that can support the new air-conditioning system, when regular electricity supply fails.
Perhaps, political critics of the Jonathan administration would fail to see the tremendous progress made at that airport and others across the country. They probably would not see the dramatic expansion of the lounge area, the increase of passenger handling points and installation of new luggage processing conveyor systems that can handle a 1,000 passengers per hour at the MMIA1!They would also not see the tight security measures achieved via the installation of new access control points at the airport.
It may be pertinent to point out at this juncture that the aviation agencies are not the only government agencies involved at the country’s airports. Other agencies with statutory duties there include the Nigerian Immigration Services, NIS, the Nigerian Customs, and staff of various airlines and other service providers at the airports. What this means is that the totality of passenger experience at the airports is a collective responsibility of everyone involved in providing one service or the other, which obviously goes beyond government agencies alone.
All Nigerians and other people working at our various airports both international and domestic, bear the responsibility of ensuring that their customers have the most pleasant experiences at our airports. It is not the responsibility of government alone.
For over a year now, opposition politicians have been playing politics with those laudable projects of Jonathan’s administration, because they want them to fail, not considering the fact that it is the collective image of us all as Nigerians that is at stake—if those projects fail.

Yakubu Dati

General Manager,

Corporate Communications,

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

AfBAA signs agreement with JSSI to promote importance of aircraft maintenance

L to R Bryan Moss Vice Chairman JSSI signs agreement with  Tarek Ragheb Founding Chairman AfBAA 

The African Business Aviation Association, AfBAA, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), the provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for the Business Aviation industry, to raise awareness of the importance of adopting best practices in aircraft maintenance. The strategic agreement, which was ratified at this year’s National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) meeting, will see both parties cooperating in promoting awareness of programme options to enable best practice across the aviation maintenance sector.

Under the terms of the agreement AfBAA members will receive financial, educational and business benefits when enrolling aircraft onto JSSI Programmes. In addition JSSI will provide a variety of tools and incentives to promote the adoption of certain industry “best practices” including the adoption of hourly cost maintenance progammes for executive aircraft, engines and Auxiliary Power Units (APU). It is anticipated that through encouraging the adoption of hourly cost maintenance programmes, the perception of Business Aviation as an efficient and safe mode of transportation in Africa will be improved.

“We are delighted that we have reached this agreement with JSSI,” said Tarek Ragheb, AfBAA’s Founding Chairman, “This type of arrangement underlines AfBAA’s commitment to providing its members with tangible benefits whilst at the same time encouraging the adoption of best practice for the African Business Aviation industry. We believe this will serve to enhance aircraft values, reinforce a positive perception of the value of African aircraft and will provide operators with an additional layer of expertise in maintenance planning and performance. This is all invaluable for the African market.”

The agreement fits with AfBAA’s strategic plan to focus on developing four important pillars of the African Business Aviation sector – Safety, Training, Finance and Advocacy. Taking effect immediately, the agreement will run for an initial five-year period.  AfBAA and JSSI will make the benefits available for aircraft based in Africa and that are jointly identified as suitable for the programme.

Boeing Conducts World's First Flight with 'Green Diesel' as Aviation Biofuel …ecoDemonstrator 787 flies on sustainable fuel made from vegetable oil, waste animal fat

Boeing has completed the world's first flight using "green diesel," a sustainable biofuel that is widely available and used in ground transportation. The company powered its ecoDemonstrator 787 flight test airplane yesterday with a blend of 15 percent green diesel and 85 percent petroleum jet fuel in the left engine.

"Green diesel offers a tremendous opportunity to make sustainable aviation biofuel more available and more affordable for our customers," said Julie Felgar, managing director of Environmental Strategy and Integration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We will provide data from several ecoDemonstrator flights to support efforts to approve this fuel for commercial aviation and help meet our industry's environmental goals."

Sustainable green diesel is made from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil and waste animal fats. Boeing previously found that this fuel is chemically similar to HEFA (hydro-processed esters and fatty acids) aviation biofuel approved in 2011. Green diesel is chemically distinct and a different fuel product than "biodiesel," which also is used in ground transportation.

With production capacity of 800 million gallons (3 billion liters) in the U.S., Europe and Asia, green diesel could rapidly supply as much as 1 percent of global jet fuel demand. With a wholesale cost of about $3 per gallon, inclusive of U.S. government incentives, green diesel approaches price parity with petroleum jet fuel.

"The airplane performed as designed with the green diesel blend, just as it does with conventional jet fuel," said Capt. Mike Carriker, Chief Pilot, Product Development and 777X, Boeing Test and Evaluation. "This is exactly what we want to see in flight tests with a new type of fuel."

Green diesel is among more than 25 new technologies being tested by Boeing's ecoDemonstrator Program aboard 787 Dreamliner ZA004. The program accelerates the testing, refinement, and use of new technologies and methods that can improve aviation's environmental performance.

On a lifecycle basis, sustainably produced green diesel reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 90 percent compared to fossil fuel, according to Finland-based Neste Oil, which supplied green diesel for the ecoDemonstrator 787. The flight test was coordinated with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, and EPIC Aviation blended the fuel.

                                                                                                                                 Source:Boeing

Shettima: NCAA should discipline operators that cut corners

Dr. Kashim Bukar Shettima

In this interview with Chairman of Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, Dr. Kashim Bukar Shettima; where he bares his mind on the goings-on in the Nigeria aviation industry and proffer possible and realistic solutions based on his experience as a business aviation operator and investor. Excerpt:

What can you say about the aviation regulation Nigeria?

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority being the regulator needs to understudy the air operators  in order to come up with an informed decision to enhance the industry.

They should work proactively to forestall occurrences and ensure that operators carry out   maintenance as at when due and discipline operators that cut corners. The NCAA in its regulatory functions must protect the investors in the sector as an encouragement, but  must ensure strict compliance to the regulations irrespective of their familiarity with the operators/ investors.

Pilots’ unemployment, what do you see?

Nigeria has enough trained pilots to fly our aircraft, but a lack of commitment, has resulted in the operators recruiting foreign pilots. The Nigerian pilot’s lack of enthusiasm in developing careers and willingness to frequently  jump ship, in the quest for greener pastures “High Pay” and sometimes failing to honour the obligation of the training bond signed with the operator.

Recently, a pilot approached me to employment, he was employed and trained, but surprisingly he left our services for another company after incurring substantial amount on his training. The question is, how do we help our people with such attitudinal problems?

If not for attitudinal problems of Nigerian pilots which is discouraging, our preference would be to engage Nigerian Pilots only. However, I tried to overlook some of the shortcomings of our Nigerian pilots, particularly with the encouragement of my new MD, who is desirous to employ Nigerian Pilot.

It is advisable that the NCAA should look into this and adopt appropriate measures to curtail pilot and engineer turn over in the employment of the operators.

What challenges do you see concerning our engineers?

I observed that some of the young engineers are over ambitious. In the maintenance arm, we have avionic engineers, airframe and power plant, but the required engineers in the current trend is avionics because everything is now computerized. There are more of avionics issues now in the aviation industry than mechanical. The Nigerian engineers are not carrier- centric, as they want to know everything, so they jump from one company to another.  There are more than enough aircraft on ground for the engineers to maintain.

Do you think government should give incentives to airline operators in Nigeria?

Globally, governments of some countries have developed some incentives for their airline operators in relation to parking fee, landing, fueling etc. The non-incentive from Nigeria government is the cause why many airlines do not exist today. I feel that government should subsidize some of these charges for indigenous investors/ operators.

The tendency of the Nigerian Government to patronize foreign airlines does not grow our economy and should such inclination continue, it is impossible for the aviation sector to develop in Nigeria.

It is a fact that a lot of people do not understand the working of aviation sector, as it is not money making machine. Everything about aviation is money whether you fly or park the aircraft, you must pay bills. It is mandatory requirements to employ Nigeria at the point of processing AOC, which we must comply with, but then, how do you generate revenue when the enabling atmosphere is not conducive. I have to fly or to maintain an aircraft to generate income for the company.

What is your take on airport management?

Airport authority wants to control everything. I have been imploring them to give us land with the right infrastructure to build a facility. If Abuja airport for instance is properly operated, it will be generating more revenue than it is currently doing and the revenue will be used to maintain the airport.

When the authority is putting forward something like an airport, they need to discuss and consult those who will use it eventually.

All over the world, the airport are now a private sector driven affair. Only person that maintains and operate aircraft or Fixed Base Operation (FBO) facility understands how to operate and manage airport facility in the third world countries .

The Federal Government is looking at floating a national carrier,  is this appropriate?

The government does not have any business running an airline. The moment it become government affairs, it will be laid on the line.

This should be left for the private operators. The government can encourage airlines to co-operate and support them offering a national carrier status and fly the Nigerian flag. It should not be government affairs only.

For instance, look at the British airways is no longer run by government, it is privately run. They have the full backing of the British government. That is the way our government should go about the issue of national carrier. With my experience about aviation, the government should reconsider this proposal.

JET A1 has been a going concern with air operators any proposed remedy?

As a matter of urgency, Nigeria needs a refinery producing  jet A1. It is very important to invite  some of the local oil and gas tank owners, operators and marketers to be part of this. I am saying this because a substantial part of the operating cost goes into fueling. We cannot continue to depend on imports to provide Jet A1 for our operations.  Since the Kaduna kerosene refinery got shut down nothing has happened. The refinery can be revived also to support the production of aviation fuel.

You can imagine, Arik Air fueling a B737 with 50% load factor. This is not encouraging for the business. Arik Air is doing fantastically well. Government should encourage more operators so we can have more of the likes of Arik Air in the country. Though, Arik may still be facing other peculiar problems. I am not saying that government should throw money at every player, but criteria must be put in place to checkmate how operators handle the support given. Aviation is supported all over the world and this should be applicable in Nigeria and will enhance operators performance to provide quality service.

What are your concerns about airline operators’ association?

Starting from General Aviation Operators, which include business Jet Operators and wide-bodied operators, we must come together as one. If we must have associations, it should not be more than two. There can be one for the wide-bodied operators  because they have their structure on how they run their operations. The corporate jet Operators should have their own, but we can still synergize.

The more we are together the better for us all. When a house is divided against itself, it will be susceptible to external threat.

What  do you say about the scrutiny of jet owners?

Individuals, who want to bring their aircraft should not be discouraged by the government. But if they bring aircraft for private use, it should be for private use and they must go and apply for private category license. They will go through the state security services (SSS) for screening. They can also take their friends if they want but not for hire or reward. If anybody is caught violating this rules, they must be sanctioned or impound their aircraft.

What is your opinion on the proposed location of simulation in Lagos?

This project is a laudable one and airline operators will benefit from it immensely. It will reduce the cost operators spend on their pilot training abroad and more revenue for the government. Having said this, in my opinion is, the simulation project should not be located anywhere apart from the Nigerian College of Aviation , NCAT Zaria. If this project is in NCAT it will enhance this school productivity and be valuable to the school. NCAT will blossom if this kind of project is situated there. We know what is being done in Zaria in terms of training for pilots, engineers and so on hence, the need for government to put this project there. Everybody should be going to NCAT to do their simulation training. Apart from the proposed location, this project is going to be a wonderful project for the aviation sector and it will draw patronage from neighboring countries and afar. If they bring the simulation people should pay so that the standard of the college will be upgraded. Importantly, NCAT has produced well experienced Pilot and Engineers for this country.

Aviation journalists want govt to resolve customs and agents’ crunch

Murtala Muhammed Internation Airport, Lagos

The league of Airports and Aviation correspondents LAAC has called on the federal government to resolve the crisis that led to the closure of the cargo warehouses at the Murtala Mohammed International airport, Ikeja.

A statement issued in Lagos over the weekend by the chairman of LAAC, Mr. Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo said the continue closure of the cargo warehouses has continued to portray the Nigeria  airport in a negative manner before the international community.

According to Mr Iwelunmo, no matter what led to the crises between the officers of Nigerian Customs Service and licensed  clearing agents at the cargo shed, they ought to have settled their differences and open the place for business to end the untold hardship it has brought to the masses.

“This is not the time to apportion blame, in the interest of the masses government must and intervene and open the shut warehouses for people to commence business. As stakeholders, we cannot fold our arms and watch the industry go down”

"Its less than a month to Christmas and our brothers and sisters all over the world are sending items down here only for those items to be locked up. Its not the interest of the people that theses warehouses remained shut."

The LAAC chairman lamented that the nation has lost millions of naira since the warehouses were shut few weeks ago. "Our major concern is the perishable goods, government should do something to alleviate the sufferings of exporters and importers”

The League warned that government should not allow agents to start using neighbouring countries to bring in their cargoes as it will not do the nation any good.

“The crises the country is facing from Boko Haram is enough and continue closure of the warehouses will add to the suffering of those that are struggling to survive. We want them to soft pedal, broker peace and resume operation"

According to Iwelunmo, this is the time to keep Nigeria one and government must avoid anything that will bring disaffection in the system especially with the austerity measures in place by the government as every generated revenue must count.

He noted that this was not the first time that customs and their licensed agents were having misunderstandings adding that a lasting solution should be proffered to ensure that the ugly trend does not continue.

NAMA to commence 24hr service in remote stations

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is to commence 24 hour service in all its remote stations across the country to provide services for its customers.

In an online statement fThe managing director of NAMA Engr. Ibrahim Abdusalam who disclosed this in Enugu at the 32nd annual general meeting/election of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) said the proposal for takeoff has been made.

Engr. Abdusalam explained that the management was looking up to bringing on board the multilatration for the Niger Delta region and the voice Network for the coverage of the whole country as the major projects that will start running soon.

According to the NAMA boss, it will be used to provide training for staff as soon as they commence.

Engr. Abdusalam explained that the AIS project was on cause adding that issues surrounding its take off were being resolved with the contractors handling the project especially as tests and training have been done.

He also announced that those on level 8 and 9 will be groomed together on the job in some of the major airports in order to acquire experience and make the job more effective.

On workers attitude, Engr. Abdusalam warned against creating division in the system either through unionism or non-challant attitude among workers.

According to the NAMA boss all issues concerning welfare and training were being tackled and would have been addressed in the coming year adding that no worker was being deliberately denied of his or her right but laws must be followed.

In his welcome address the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) Engr Makanjuola Ebenezer appealed to the management of aviation agencies to focus on the training and retraining of engineers in the system for a better performance.

Engr. Makanjuola also called for the release of financial benefits, and promotions as at when due as air safety cannot be jeopardised.

Nigeria CAA resolves over 50, 000 complaints from consumers …34 foreign airlines now operates into the country

NCAA logo

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA through the Directorate of Consumer Protection (DCP) has resolved 55,000 complaints in almost two years.

However, some of these complaints were roll over cases from the previous years but were eventually resolved alongside subsequent ones.

According to a statement by the General Manager of the agency’s Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke , ‘In 2013, a total number of 15,839 complaints were received from 13,954 International airlines operations and from the Domestic airlines 382 from 65,368 operations. While, between January and September 2014 there was a drastic reduction in complaints as the Authority received 5,578 from 11,683 foreign operations and domestic 184 from 51,212 operations.

These complaints have a preponderance of missing baggage cases from foreign carriers which was 14,828 and 202 from domestic carriers in 2013.In 2014; there was an obvious decline with foreign carriers having 5,428 cases and 97 for domestic airlines.’

Ndubuoke further explained that delayed flights on International routes were 2341 and 24,358 complaints from local routes in 2013.On the other hand; in 2014 the international airlines had 3288 an upward movement due to some certain extraneous factors while the local airlines had 24,111 a marginal decrease.

Similarly, there were 131 complaints arising from cancelled flights from the international carriers and 229 from the domestic carriers in 2013.A total number of 345 flights were cancelled in 2014 while on the domestic flights we had 167.

Overbooking and Denied boarding on foreign operations had 57 complaints and 63 for local operations. The subsequent year 2014 saw foreign operations providing 31 complaints and the domesticate operators had likewise (31) a reduction from the previous year.

In addition, Domestic operators had a total of 97 mishandled/misrouted baggage where (76) were found.  While 5,428 on international routes and 22,895 were found.

Other complaints such as pilferage and discourtesy on the international flights received a total number of 109 complaints in 2013 and 101 on domestic. These complaints reduced in 2014 to 83 on international route and 59 on the local route.

With the attendant increase in the volume of passenger traffic, the regulatory Authority has correspondingly strengthened the Directorate of Consumer Protection (DCP). A wide range of enlightenment campaign was embarked upon by the NCAA and it is ongoing.

This was done by extensive training of the corps of Consumer Protection Officers to augment their capacity to monitor flight operations at the various airports. In addition, they were skilled in receipt, processing, mediation and resolution of complaints from aggrieved passengers.

At the end, Consumer Protection Officers were posted to all the Airports in the country. This is to ensure that passengers derive maximum comfort in all their trips. To all intent and purposes, the airlines are now very much aware of their responsibilities to their passengers and complaints are dwindling.

As a corollary to the increase in consumer protection activities and the success rate of positive closure of complaints and attendant compensations, these have caused a multiplier effect on the number of foreign airlines operating into Nigeria. It rose from 29 in 2013 to 34 in 2014 while other applications are receiving attention.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken a decisive and strong approach to ensure all airlines operating in and out of Nigeria must ensure safe, secure and comfortable operations. Passengers parting with their hard earn cash must get value for their money while all the rules of engagement on the tickets must be continuously upheld.