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.