The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • 21 air traffic controllers graduate at NCAT

    Twenty-one Cadet Air Traffic Controllers have graduated from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria in Kaduna State.

    Speaking at the graduation, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, urged the students  to  justify the investments in their training by  being committed and dedicated to duty, in the interest of safety of the airspace.

    Abdulsalam noted that as part of the transformation of the sector, resulting in the remodelling of airports and the deployment of sophisticated communication, navigation, surveillance  and air traffic management infrastructure among others, across the country, NAMA is investing on the training and retraining of personnel, particularly the critical manpower resources to ensure the safe, effective, economic and efficient use of these equipment and to keep pace with the dynamics of new technology.

    NAMA boss said: ”The increasing demand for air traffic services over the years, occasioned by the rapid growth in population and the establishment of state and privately owned airports nationwide vis a vis the high turnover of critical manpower arising from retirements and deaths prompted the agency to resort to contracting retired Air Traffic Controllers and Air Traffic Engineers as a short-term remedy.”

    He assured that with efforts at training young ATC cadets, the challenge would soon be tackled.

    He praised the graduates for their perseverance and hard work. He also gave kudos to the management of NCAT for the tremendous support and co-operation accorded the students during their stay.

    The Rector of NCAT, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, pointed out that the high academic standard and rigorous training offered by the institution makes it stand out as a centre of excellence and one of the best in the world.

    He urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of NCAT by impacting positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation industry.

    In its determination to bridge the manpower gap in ATC services, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in 2012 recruited 50 ATC Cadets with batch AC 57 and 58 resuming at NCAT in February, last  year while AC59 resumed in July, same year.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMA,  Abdulsalam, accompanied by a top management delegation, including the Director of Human Resources, Dr Uwem Akangson and the Acting Director of Operations, Mr Edward Ogedegbe, toured facilities at the institution.

    Places visited include the Area Airways Department, General ATS Department (which boasts of a 3D 360 Visual Tower Simulator for aerodrome control training), Flight Line and Hanger as well as the Flying School.

  • Air Seychelles to fly into Dar es Salaam

    Air Seychelles has announced the launch of twice-weekly flights to Dar es Salaam from December  2, this year, marking the next stage of growth in the airline’s regional strategy.

    The Tanzanian capital becomes the third destination in Air Seychelles’ Indian Ocean and African network, after Mauritius and Johannesburg.  The route will be operated with a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

    Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, said:  “We continue to build strength and depth in our global network, and the addition of Dar es Salaam, one of Africa’s fastest-growing business and tourism destinations, will enhance traffic flows to the Seychelles and beyond, fulfilling our mandate to be a key economic enabler for the Seychelles, supporting tourism and trade.

    “These flights will serve as an attractive travel proposition for business and leisure travellers in Tanzania, offering a direct link to our archipelago and convenient onward connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond, including the Indian Subcontinent.”

    The A320 aircraft will also offer 7.2 tonnes of weekly bellyhold capacity to and from Tanzania, giving a further boost to trade opportunities. Air Seychelles expects the service to carry a mixture of electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals into Dar es Salaam, with primarily perishable goods loaded for the return flight.

    Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Chairman, Joël Morgan, said the new route would support airline to improve regional connectivity as well as enhance commerce and leisure travel to the archipelago.

    “Dar es Salaam is a great addition to our network.  The direct link between the capital of Tanzania and the Seychelles underscores our ongoing commitment to serve the region,” Mr Morgan said.

  • Air Seychelles to fly into Dar es Salaam

    Air Seychelles has announced the launch of twice-weekly flights to Dar es Salaam from December  2, this year, marking the next stage of growth in the airline’s regional strategy.

    The Tanzanian capital becomes the third destination in Air Seychelles’ Indian Ocean and African network, after Mauritius and Johannesburg.  The route will be operated with a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.

    Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive Officer, Manoj Papa, said:  “We continue to build strength and depth in our global network, and the addition of Dar es Salaam, one of Africa’s fastest-growing business and tourism destinations, will enhance traffic flows to the Seychelles and beyond, fulfilling our mandate to be a key economic enabler for the Seychelles, supporting tourism and trade.

    “These flights will serve as an attractive travel proposition for business and leisure travellers in Tanzania, offering a direct link to our archipelago and convenient onward connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond, including the Indian Subcontinent.”

    The A320 aircraft will also offer 7.2 tonnes of weekly bellyhold capacity to and from Tanzania, giving a further boost to trade opportunities. Air Seychelles expects the service to carry a mixture of electronics, machinery and pharmaceuticals into Dar es Salaam, with primarily perishable goods loaded for the return flight.

    Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs and Transport and Air Seychelles Chairman, Joël Morgan, said the new route would support airline to improve regional connectivity as well as enhance commerce and leisure travel to the archipelago.

    “Dar es Salaam is a great addition to our network.  The direct link between the capital of Tanzania and the Seychelles underscores our ongoing commitment to serve the region,” Mr Morgan said.

  • Expert urges review of airport security

    Expert urges review of airport security

    An aviation expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) has urged the government to review security at the nation’s airports.

    He said this had become imperative in the face of the prevailing security challenges warning that the airports were vulnerable.

    Ojikutu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Centurion Securities, said the issue should be addressed before  the United  States Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) team pay its recertification visit this month.  Government, he added, must quickly review the security programme to save it from embarrassment.

    He said stakeholders in the aviation sector are worried that the inadequacies identified by the U.S .FAA team  a few years ago may not have been addressed. This, according to him, has gravely  affected airports’ safety and security.

    Ojikutu, a former military commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said the challenge of accessing the airport has been worrisome because of the presence of many security and para-military personnel at the terminal building. He added that this has made it difficult to know which agency is in-charge to address any infraction  on safety and security.

    He said the team’s visit  may expose the nation’s airports security inadequacies urging that steps should   taken to improve the areas where lapses have been identified.

    Ojikutu said: “I do not think we are  really doing enough in airport security. Government needs to raise the bar on issues affecting security at the airport. First, it is important for government to review the aviation security programme for the airports and the entire system.

    “And we can only do that if the NCAA is allowed to do its job properly. I do not know what is going to be the focal point of the FAA reassessment, when it visits Nigeria this month. The team is programmed to be here based on the assessment it carried out on Nigeria. It is supposed to visit Nigeria to find out if the gaps identified in its previous audit have been rectified. The team needs to come and find out  how far Nigeria has gone about rectifying the gaps identified in the last  airport audit.”

    According to him, there is no timeline for reassessing any country. “Nigeria’s reassessment has become imperative because of the Boko Haram  challenge. The FAA team  needs to come around to find out the programme we had in Nigeria, the one available now and how the aviation system is handling the problem of insecurity.

    “If we cannot sustain the security programme, can we review it and what programme  do we have in place ? He asked rhetorically.

    The content of the security programme, he said,  is derived from the manual developed for the airport systems and airlines, adding that all airports and airlines are supposed to have a security programme.

    He said: “My worry has always been the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, especially the security programme in place at the airport . I have not seen enough being done about the Lagos Airport Road.”

    Some portions of the airport, Ojikutu said, ought to be closed to demarcate the airport perimeter fence from that of the security.

    “When ICAO came in 2004, it urged Nigeria to enhance the perimeter fence and the security fence, but nothing has happened since then. People are building into the runway, and I am tempted to ask if the airport has a survey plan,” he said.

    Concerning access into the airport, Ojikutu wondered who is actually in charge. “What is the regulation according to ICAO? We need to review the access control into the airport to properly define who is in charge. This has to be done in totality of the personnel in charge . The current system of having more personnel at the access point is not acceptable. The NCAA  is not fully in charge, because the Ministry of Aviation has hijacked the functions of NCAA because of political interference,” he said.

    According to Ojikutu, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is not alive to its responsibilities.

    “Look at what happened in a few incidences at some  airports.The NCAA should ask the airlines involved to review its security programme to ensure safe operations. The regulator should wake up to its responsibility and ensure that operators comply with their security plan.

    “What is the regulator doing?”He asked, adding that the government should address the challenge of inadequate personnel in the sector.

    The failure to train more people, he noted,  could be a problem as the workforce is ageing without provision for replacement. This, he said,  is unhealthy for the growth and development of the industry.

    In 2006, according to Ojikutu, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had a deficiency of 250 personnel, adding that  air traffic controllers are gravely inadequate.

    He said: “Why can’t government fix the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria to train personnel for NAMA. Government is not doing enough in the training of aviation personnel. There was a Boeing 727 aircraft belonging to DHL that should have been used for fire simulation, the aircraft was sold out as scrap.

    “FAAN has a shortfall of 1,000 personnel in aviation security. This is a dangerous dimension, the structure on the ground is not good.”

    Government, he said,  should invest in the training of critical safety aviation personnel.

    “People with interest in aviation should be sent to NCAT for six months compulsory training in aviation to boost their knowledge of aviation. That way, the industry would be raising people who are knowledgable about the sector,” he suggested.

  • Airspace manager: navigation equipment in order

    The  airports’ radar  system  is working well and is capable of capturing aircraft from 150 nautical miles on secondary target.

    An Airspace Manager (ASM) in charge of Port Harcourt International Airport, Mr. Onwuakpa Marcel said the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON),  has become seamless with targets becoming easier to identify.

    Speaking on operation in Africa, Onwuakpa, aircraft separation to prevent mid-air collision has become very easy thereby reducing congestion in the airspace. The reduction  has further saved money and flight time for airlines.

    Onwuakpa, who opposed the privatisation of Air Traffic Control (ATC) said it was more of a security job.

    “It may be highly impossible to privatise ATC in Nigeria because it is more of a securely job,” he said.

    He urged the government to address the shortage of manpower in the ATC.

    Onwuakpa lamented power outages  at the airport in the past three months, saying that it has seriously affected ATC equipment.

    He commended NAMA management for providing generating sets to power its equipment

    The ATC , he said, has come of age in terms of international best practice. He advised airlines to contribute to NAMA’s seamless air traffic control by acquiring aircraft that are fitted with the latest gadgets.

    In a related development, another Airspace Manager at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Mr. Igwebuike Denwigwe,  has described the use of generating plants as unprofitable.

    He said the airport with about nine flights daily depends largely on generating plants to run its equipment.

    He disclosed that manpower shortage and lack of accommodation within the airport for its staff would make poretion at the airport tedious  when it begins a 24-hour operation.

    He urged airspace users to pay for services provided them by NAMA to enable the agency render more services, adding that it cost the agency a lot to provide such services.

  • NAMA urges Galaxy Backbone to ensure efficient telecoms service

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has urged the management of Galaxy Backbone Plc to ensure an efficient telecommunication service at the nation’s airports.

    Galaxy Backbone Plc is the Information Communications Technology (ICT) firm charged with providing effective telecommunications service at the nation’s airports.

    The call was made by the agency’s Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, when he led a delegation to the telecommunication’s headquarters.

    According to NAMA’s weekly update issued by the agency’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, in Abuja,  Mr  Abdulsalam urged Galaxy Blackbone to develop a strategic work plan to enable the firm provide  cutting edge services to  airports across the country.

    “Galaxy backbone is the sole provider of telecommunications services within the aviation environment. And its mission is to strengthen the existing business relationship between the two organisations, so there is need to  develop a strategic work plan for effective service delivery,’’ the statement said.

    Former Galaxy Backbone’s Managing Director, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, commended NAMA for ensuring the safety of the nation’s airspace.

    “This collaboration would further boost NAMA’s record of efficiency and excellence in service delivery in Nigeria,” Ilukwe had said.

  • FAAN decries high cost of power at Port Harcourt airport

    The high cost of running  power generating machines at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) is worrying its management, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Southsouth and Southeast General Manager, Mrs. Ebele Okoye  has said.

    According to her, about four trucks of 33,000 litres of diesel are used monthly to generate power at the airport.

    The absence of reliable power, she said, has led to 100 per cent dependence on generator, which has left the airport with little or no resources to run its operation.

    On cargo delivery,  she said  the airport management  is embarking on home delivery of cargoes in conjunction with an independent company.

    According to her,  as part of the airports means of generating revenue, a new toll gate would be erected in conjunction with the Rivers State government. She lamented that funding has been the greatest challenge in running the airport daily.

    Okoye urged airline operators and passengers to bear with the ongoing work at the airport, adding that it would  benefit all when completed.

  • ‘Rising fuel price, scarcity killing aviation business’

    ‘Rising fuel price, scarcity killing aviation business’

    The rising price of aviation fuel has led to a corresponding  increase in the operating cost of domestic carriers. This has equally affected air fares. But experts say the solution to the challenge lies in fixing pipelines that supply fuel to airports and refineries, as well as providing more storage facilities, reports Aviation Correspondent KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR.

    DOMESTIC carriers are grappling with two major challenges: scarcity of aviation fuel and high cost of the product. These have become a nightmare for airlines.

    Their operators said the increase in the price of the product has raised cost of operations by over  40 per cent.

    They argued that if the situation is not addressed quickly, the increase  would  reduce their profit margins substantially.

    Besides the high price of aviation fuel also known as Jet A I, its unavailability due to ineffective supply, remains a headache for players. Many airlines’ officials said the problem has led to the cancellation or delay of flights.

    Investigations reveal that a litre of the commodity is sold for between N160 and N170, which experts said is too high.

    For a 50-minute flight (Lagos to Abuja for instance), a Boeing 737-300 consumes 2,250kg of fuel.

    The Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, said the price of fuel had remained unstable for some time.

    Worried by the unavailability of aviation fuel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the AON called on the Federal Government to revive the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) refinery in Warri, Delta State. It urged the government to fix the pipelines supplying aviation fuel to the airport.

    The domestic carriers’ umbrella body said  aviation fuel forms over  40 per cent of their operating cost, adding that the figure is too high for business. He called on the Federal Government to intervene by ensuring that it revived Atlas Cove and Mosimi pipelines which supply aviation fuel.

    Meggison said when the pipelines were working at full capacity, they supply aviation fuel to the airport uninterrupted.

    The facilities, he said, were shut  in 1996 by the military government.

    Earlier, Meggison said, aviation fuel was ferried to the Murtala Muhammed Airport  without trucks. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), he said, should repair the pipelines, which  have been abandoned for 18 years.

    He said:  “We need NNPC to revive this pipeline so that airlines can get cheaper and cleaner aviation fuel.”

    He listed other problems in the sector to include the high cost of importing fuel, delays at seaports, which have translated to high demurrage for marketers, delay in loading at the Apapa Port and inefficient  transportation by road from the Apapa Port to the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) at the airport.

    As a result, the marketers want the aviation fuel market deregulated.

    The Warri Refinery, he said, can produce ATF, calling on the government to look into the issue as it would further reduce costs.

    Pumping fuel using pipelines and hydrant, the AON boss argued, is safer and cost effective compared to the use of tankers and fuel bowsers, adding that abroad, tankers are not deployed for fuel distribution.

    He recalled that some decades ago, Nigeria used hydrant both at the defunct Nigeria Airways  Limited(NAL) apron, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the international and Cargo ramp to supply aviation fuel to airlines.

    He said it was sad that the government allowed aviation fuel distribution to deteriorate from digital to analog, adding that until the issues are addressed, the chances of airfares falling are slim.

    He cited Cotonou, Lome and Accra as cities where the price of aviation fuel is cheaper because the airlines do not pay demurrage or use trucks  to carry aviation fuel.

    The Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi,, said  the increase in the price of aviation fuel was affecting airline operations.

    Some of the effects, he said, includes delayed and cancelled flights.

    He said: “Aviation fuel is another major factor affecting the industry. The cost of aviation fuel is not only high but the product is not always available.

    “It is unfortunate that Apapa, Lagos is the only discharging point and it has to be trucked to the airport in Lagos through the Apapa gridlock and to Abuja and other parts of the country.

    “It is disappointing that a vast country like Nigeria is still importing aviation fuel and all the entry point is from Lagos before it is trucked to other parts of the country. Most often preference is given to premium motor spirit (petrol) before Jet A1 (aviation fuel) is discharged.

    “The reservation of the product is small.There are some days Arik will need about 500,000 litres of the product but the reserve is 350, 000 litres. The issue of aviation fuel availability in the country needs to be looked into by the government. The infrastructure for the distribution of fuel to the airports has not developed to meet the growth of the airlines in the country.

    “Foreign airlines come here once or twice daily and pick up fuel in Accra, Ghana or Cameroon, whereas Arik domestic, regional and international operations source fuel from Nigeria. This sometimes causes delays and cancellations of flights. If fuel comes in late and the some of the airports close by 6:00 or 6:30 pm, some of the flights will inevitably be cancelled.

    It is most unfortunate that while the number of local airlines is increasing, the airport facility infrastructure is not being expanded.

    “This has given rise to the congestion of the domestic terminals of the Lagos airport, Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 (GAT) and 2 (MMA2) as they are still using the small apron space meant for few airlines. The GAT terminal facility needs to be expanded. Also the apron of GAT needs to be expanded. The unserviceable airplanes parked at the apron should be removed to make way for operating aircraft.”

    The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said many airlines do not have enough aviation fuel because of indebtedness. He said because they are unable to settle their bills promptly, the independent fuel marketers are reluctant to make the product available to them.

    When Air Peace started operations, he said they were operating a direct cash payment system with fuel suppliers.

    He said: “Many domestic airlines are suffering from inadequate aviation fuel because they owe fuel marketers. This is not good for business. When we started up operations, we were paying cash on delivery for our aviation fuel.

    “We are in discussions with four fuel marketers to ensure we have uniterrupted supply. That is the way to go.”

    The Managing Director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has urged the government to resolve the challenge of aviation fuel to reduce the burden of domestic airlines.

    Bankole said: “The industry should have a window where we can service fuel. Now, how many airlines do we have in the country? The challenges are enormous and we are not making much profit, but we are just striving to remain in business.

    “The situation where airlines have to pay over 40 per cent of their earnings on aviation fuel must be addressed if the airlines, which are already struggling with numerous challenges, are to remain in business.”

    An aviation expert, who pleaded not to be named, described the development as worrisome.

    He said: “The airlines have always claimed that the marketers are anti-progress as they insist on a cash-and-carry arrangement prior to delivery. They also claim that there are insufficient fuel dispensing trucks for the operators, especially at peak hours.’

    According to one of the leading domestic operators with 126 flights daily, the airline needs about 500,000 litres daily to fuel its flights. At N170 per litre, the airline will spend close to N85 million daily on fuelling alone.

    He also said the marketers cannot fuel 15 of the airline’s 24 aircraft at the same time due to the inadequate   trucks and the constraints of the domestic terminal.

    “These cause congestion at the aerodrome because we have many aeroplanes, wide-body and narrow-body. At times, they want to service an airline’s two aircraft, go to another one, do three,  just like that till everyone is satisfied. This, on its own, is a challenge. It’s not as if we don’t have the money to pay them, but there are equipment and space constraints. As a result, we have our own fuel dump to take care of our operations in case of a sudden scarcity of Jet A-1. The operating environment is really harsh,” he said.

    Airlines’ officials caomplained of refuelling problems, saying they were affecting them. For dealers, the problem is the airlines, which owe them billions of naira, lamenting that if the debts are not paid, they would be out of business.

    However, experts have a solution  to the problem of increased fuel.

    “It is left for airlines to look, for instance, at their price structures to make sure we mitigate the effects of its rise in the industry.

    “The government policy is affecting our operations and each airline will have to look at what it does to mitigate its effects. It is a problem that we are talking with AON and the marketers with. Some things are not in our hands. The good thing about this market is competition; it drives efficiency and the prices, an expert said.

    An aviation analyst, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said the Federal Government should come up with a policy that would assist operators.

    Such policy, he explained, should focus on taxes’ reduction, fuel supply and pricing.

    He said: “What we need is a national airline policy that will strengthen the industry and our airlines. The policy should include a reduction of taxes, modernisation of air traffic control and regulatory burden reforms.”

    “It should address the stabilisaton of aviation fuel prices, former secretary, African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mr Nick Fadugba, said.

    The government, he said, should  tackle these problems to enable airlines survive.

    He said the problems could kill the airline business.

  • Firms reject new airport tariff

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) has concluded plans to implement a new charge regime on ground, office rents, apron pass, terminal car stickers, car permits as well as operational vehicle stickers. This development has drawn the ire of airlines, ground handling firms and other concessionaires at the Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports. They argue that the development will not only push them out business, it could force them to cut corners. Aviation Correspondent, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR , reports.

    The bid by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to  generate revenue  has pitted it against airlines, ground handling firms, catering outlets, cargo companies and other concessionaires at the Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports.

    The operators have vowed to block the airport authority from collecting new rents on ground and offices, car permits and operational vehicle stickers, describing the move as wrong.

    The resistance of the operators is coming on the heels of the rise in the  charges. Some  operators say  the new charge might have adverse effects on their business.

    Industry watchers warn that the exhorbitant tariff could force operators to cut corners, thereby having serious infraction on air safety and security.

    Ground handling firms, domestic and foreign airlines, catering outlets and other ancillary service providers at the Murtala Muhammed,Port Harcourt and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airports have raised the alarm over   arbitrary charges rolled out by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    According to investigations, the increase in the charges range from 30 per cent in some categories to over 1,566 per cent increment  in others.

    However, stakeholders, acting under the auspices of Airport Operators Committee (AOC), comprising the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, (SAHCOL), the Nigerian Aviation Handling, Company, (NAHCo), Plc local and foreign airlines and concessionaires to FAAN are mapping out strategy to resist the authority  from enforcing the  charges.

    Major international cargo airlines, including DHL, Cargolux, Emirates Cargo, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo Airlines, IAS Cargo  and  Kenya Airways  and others are affected by the new regime.

    The President, Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, described the new charges as unacceptable.

    He said foreign airlines had written to FAAN to express disapproval to the new rates. FAAN, he said, was yet to respond to its letters.

    This development has led airlines and other operators to park some of their operational vehicles outside the apron to avoid payment of the new charges.

    But the General Manager, Corporate Communications FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, described the new charges as part of efforts to boost revenue.

    Dati said: “The new charges are in line with the general increase of our tariff last year. The new rate was not affected till this year, to give the operators ample notice. FAAN   applied static rate in the last 11 years as its cost recovery strategy.

    ‘’The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recognises that whatever service is rendered should include cost recovery. The maintenance of runway, terminals and other safety infrastructure has necessitated  this measure which is for the sake of safety.”

    A document by FAAN showed that under the new charges, airlines, ground handling companies, airline catering outfits in Lagos are expected to pay N2,000 per square metre as opposed to the old rate of N1,500 per square metre, which represents over 33.333 per cent.

    Ground handling firms, airlines and other service providers in Lagos are also expected to pay N60,000 as opposed to  the old rate of N30,000 representing over 100 per cent increase.

    Operators in Lagos are to pay N150,000 for apron pass as opposed to the old rate of N50,000, representing 400 per cent increase.

    In Port Harcourt, ground handling companies, airlines and other operators are expected to pay N2,000 as ground rent per square metre as opposed to the old rate of N500 per square metre representing 300 per cent increase.

    For apron pass in Port Harcourt, the affected firms are expected to pay N1.2 million as the new rate as opposed to N250, 000 representing over 380 per cent increase.

    The affected firms are requested to pay a new charge of N20,000 and N500,000 for car permit and operational vehicles sticker.

    In Abuja, the new rate for apron pass is N250,000 as opposed to N250,000, which represents over 1,566  per cent increase.

    According to an official of the affected firms, who declined to mentioned his name in print, such arbitrary increase in charges by FAAN could act as a disincentive to investors in the sector.

    He said the new charge is having adverse effects on the revenue of the firms at the three airports, adding that if not properly managed it could affect safety.

    He said to avoid the new rates, operators may be forced to cut corners, a development that is inimical to the growth and development of the industry.

    He said FAAN should carry stakeholders along in their bid to introduce new charges, such that operators could adjust.

    He said: “What I think FAAN should have done is to carry stakeholders along, while increasing their various charges. I am convinced that these charges just increased for operators in three airports are arbitrary. It is already affecting many firms. There was no effective communication with stakeholders. With what they have done, airlines and others would find it difficult to invest in the airports, because arbitrary increase on operational charges could be introduced anytime.

    Such inconsistency in policies confirms the arbitrariness in the system. I wish FAAN would focus on non aeronautical sources of revenue, as it is done in other parts of the world.”

    Investigations also shows  that the new charges are exclusive of the five per cent turnover the agency collects from most of its clients annually while it also receives about seven per cent on each kilogramme of cargo cleared for importation by ground handling services.

    Meanwhile, a source hinted that  some of the old charges were introduced a few years  wondering why the agency would want to increase the fees within  barely 24 months after.

    The source said: “We, as AOC members, have met several times with FAAN on these new charges and told them that we won’t be able to pay them because they are so arbitrary that we can’t afford them. In other developed airports, some of these charges are not paid by operators, but FAAN is forcing them on us.

    “However, FAAN officials have been going round disrupting our operations and causing unnecessary delay to our clients, especially at the tarmac. We have even written a petition to the Ministry of Aviation on this, but till now, we have not received any response from them. It is unheard of anywhere that you increase charges yearly, especially in a sector that we are striving to survive.’’

    The managing director of one of the ground handling firms, who pleaded not be named, urged the government to create more spaces for operators in cargo business.

    The creation of additional space, he said, had become key because of the volume of cargo and equipment they use at the airside.

    “We don’t need to be begging for space, especially when we said we are giving an option to allow private sector participation, how do you help them if they continue to beg for space; if they are continually denied of space, how do they expand?

    “Warehousing cargo is the duty of handling companies and airlines that are in it,’’ he said.

    He, however, said the FAAN might want to build warehouses but it must offer it to a handling company that would manage it.

    He said FAAN has no business in cargo handling. He said: “Absolutely, they are our landlord; they are the owners of the airports. FAAN is the landlord; we are the ones to move in, since we say it is private partnership. You want private investors to come in; when they invest, how do they get their money back; if we have a competitor, who is our landlord?”

    The chief executive of another cargo company, who also pleaded not to be named, identified erratic power supply as part of the challenges ground handling firms are struggling with at the airports.

    He said: “Infrastructure at most of the airports are not in top shape. Power supply is the biggest challenge. It has increased the cost of operations. We are hopeful that with privatisation of the power sector, things will improve. We are also recommending to the government that there should be an independent power project for the airports. This will enhance power supply to the airports.

    ‘’This is not  our  problem alone, but a significant problem for the private sector. It has affected us a bit. We run several generators and provide some infrastructure around the airports such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTVs) and a lot of other things.

    ‘’At the end of the day, because the primary issue in this industry revolves around safety and security, we cannot but do these things because if we don’t, we might not be in business.

    ‘’If you look at our results in 2011 and 2012, at the profit and loss, you will see that we have been spending lots of money to maintain those things. It’s part of the cost of doing business, but we sincerely hope and pray that with the privatisation of power and other reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government, we will see the impacts of those things on our cost profile and we can become more profitable and give our shareholders more dividends.”

  • Air traffic controllers seek better workplace

    The National Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA)  has expressed concerns over the poor state of control towers at the Jos and Kano airports.

    The controllers said the control towers at the airports are bad. calling on the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to improve their working condition.

    The President and the General Secretary of the association, Messrs Victor Eyaru and Banji Olawode, stated this in a statement  in Lagos.

    NATCA said: “The ATCs work environment should be made conducive for controllers. Worthy of mention are control towers in Jos and Kano.

    “The installation of equipment at the Kano new control tower has not been completed after many years of waiting.

    “Despite improvements recorded in recent months, the problem with the ATC communication at the two Area Control Centres in Lagos (127.3MHz) and Kano (124.1MHz & 128.5MHz) and that of Kano Centre is worst. It needs further attention.

    “The installation of equipment at the Kano new control tower has not been completed after many years of waiting. The complete abandonment of the repair work on centre taxiway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport for over five years has reduced the capacity of the airport considerably, leaving controllers and pilots to sweat it out at busy periods.

    “ATC have not been trained for the past two years while those that have been trained have not been posted for the on-the-job training towards completion of the training up to four years after the commencement of the training.  This, the NAMA Management blamed on no money. Training should be taken more seriously if the present level of air safety is to be maintained and surpassed.”

    The union proffered that provision of Controller–pilot data link communications (CPDLC) for data communication between pilots and controllers would reduce the sole dependence on voice communication.