The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Banks sabotaging PAAR, Customs alleges

    Banks should be held responsible for the delays in the issuance of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), Customs  Area Controller, Lilypond Area Command in Apapa, Lagos Mrs Talatu Isa, has said.

    At a stakeholders’ meeting, Mrs Isa said since the upgrade of the PAAR platform by the Nigeria Customs Service, PAAR documents could be generated in less than 48 hours.

    She said the Customs management had set up a committee to address genuine cases relating to PAAR, urging the agents to take advantage of the committee instead of going to Abuja to seek solutions.

    “Everybody here will agree with me that PAAR is now efficient. This was made possible by the grace of God and the Comptroller-General OF Customs and his team. They have given us a new platform, a platform where you can upload your documents, and that very day, you can get your PAAR, or at most the next day. So, if you have any problem, contact your bank, they might be the saboteurs because for us, we don’t have any problem. That platform is very efficient and robust,” she said.

    Mrs Isa said the Command generated over N5.2 billion between January and March, including the N2.2 billion collected last month.

    “Your contributions and effort in ensuring seamless trade facilitation has yielded results. This month we have been able to make N2.2billion as revenue,” she added.

    Soliciting for the cooperation of the agents, Mrs Isa charged them to ensure honest declaration to avoid delays in taking delivery of their consignments.

    “When you raise false declarations, that is where the problems start arising and the moment we start having issues, you start crying delays. There cannot be delays if we don’t have issues. If your declaration is contrary to procedures, certainly, there would be problems,” she said.

  • Delta posts $213m profit

    About  $123 million has been recorded by Delta Airlines in the first quarter of this year. This represents increase of $7 million over last year.

    The airline’s Vice President,  Joanne Smith said in a statement that passenger revenue increased  by five per cent to $7.7 billion, which “shows the strength of Delta’s revenue momentum even through the revenue loss from weather and a shift of the Easter holiday traffic into April”.

    According to him, “we see continued revenue strength as we move through the year from corporate revenue gains, the benefits of the Virgin Atlantic joint venture and improved ancillary revenues.

    “These initiatives, coupled with a solid demand environment, should lead to unit revenue growth in the mid-single digits for the June quarter,” he said.

    Total operating expense in the quarter, he said, increased to $18 million . This was driven by the impact of employee investments, which include $79 million higher profit sharing expense..

    He disclosed that the company returned $176 million to shareholders, adding that on March 14, the company paid $51 million to shareholders, which represents a $0.06 per share quarterly dividend.

  • Minister: Aviation will contribute N1tr yearly to economy by 2020

    Minister: Aviation will contribute N1tr yearly to economy by 2020

    •’500,000 jobs coming’

    SUPERVISING Minister of Aviation Dr Samuel Ortom has promised to increase the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from N200 billion to N500 billion next year.
    In an interview in Lagos, he said the sector could increase its yearly contribution to the GDP from N500 billion in 2015 to over N1 trillion in 2020.

    Aviation, Ortom said, could also generate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.
    He said: “The aviation sector currently contributes about N200 billion annually to the GDP, but the industry can contribute over N500 billion to the GDP annually if developed further by 2015.

    “This is our target in 2015, perhaps by 2020, the aviation sector should be contributing N1 trillion annually to the nation’s economy annually and support well over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.
    “The aviation road map as you are aware, is a comprehensive blue print on how to transform the Nigerian aviation industry into a modern, viable, profitable and sustainable one.”

    Ortom said: “The roadmap gave birth to the upgrade of all 22 federal airports, building of five brand new modern international terminals to be located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
    “Work on the terminals has started and would be completed by 2015. The roadmap also defined the future of perishable cargo terminals in Nigeria.

    “Already, 14 of those terminals are under construction and most of them, if not all, should be inaugurated by 2015.
    “The roadmap also talked about the concept of aerotropolis – a concept that would turn airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt into business hubs, offering world-class services in travel/tourism, entertainment, commerce/industry and lots more.”

    ”We are hoping they would all be ready by 2015, all things being equal. Besides, the five international terminals, just about 15, out of the 22 are still being done. In fact, out of these 15, five are almost ready for commissioning and the remaining 10 maybe ready before December or thereabouts.

    “Work is in progress on the airports and the 14 cargo terminals. I have started inspecting the progress of work done and the facilities across the airports to ensure the airports are delivered on time and to specification.

    “So far, I have visited Enugu and Owerri. I also visited Kaduna and Abuja. I will also be visiting Lagos and some other states where we have projects ongoing in the coming weeks. We are not leaving anything to chance.”

    Ortom said efforts were on to attract investors, adding that an investment strategy through stakeholders engagement had been put in place to attract private sector players.

    Ortom said: “During those intensive engagements, discussion lines on investments areas were opened and we are continuing engagements on that. I maintain, and you can take this to the bank, we are investor-friendly and no rational mind can discredit our sincerity of purpose.
    He said the merger of aviation agencies would reduce overhead costs and financial waste.

    The Federal Government has considered the proposal for the merger as recommended in the White Paper issued after the Steven Oronsaye report as one of the ways to move the industry forward.
    The government, Ortom said, would not embark on the implementation of any policy with adverse effects on the industry.

  • Expert advocates scrapping of ministry

    To cut administration costs, the Federation Government has been urged to scrap the Ministry of Aviation.
    The Director of Research at Zenith Travels, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, who gave the advice, also urged the government to cut the number of directorates and management staff at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
    He contended that instead of implementing the Steven Oronsaye report, which recommended the merger of the NCAA, NAMA and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the government should borrow a leaf from developed countries that merged their ministry of aviation with transport.
    He said: “If the government is sincere about driving the cost of governance down, it should scrap the ministry of aviation with immediate effect. We can effectively operate without a standalone ministry. What we get from the ministry is signing of unfavorable bilateral air services agreements (BASA) that are detrimental to our carriers, impulsive interference in the day-to-day administration of the agencies, insatiable appetite for spending BASA funds and coercing agencies to pay for chartered flights and other services.
    “NAMA is a provider of air navigation services, which is done at a fee to local and international airlines. Government should reduce the number of directorates and top management staff, which grew astronomically under the last chief executive officer without commensurate level of service and revenue generation. The organisation should make efforts to recoup funds owed by local carriers.
    “NCAA is the regulator and backbone of the industry.We must put our best foot forward and be bold enough to engage foreign technical assistance, if need be. It is advisable to advertise openings and recruitments for able and competent hands, rather than politicise employment. The organisation’s organogram is skewed and inappropriately placed due to the political employment witnessed in the last two years,” he said.

  • Arik explores flights to India

    Arik Air has begun exploring the possibility of introducing a direct service to India, following a recent visit from the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria Ajjampur Rangalah Ghanashyam to the airline’s headquarters in Lagos.
    The High Commissioner was at the Arik Air Aviation Centre to explore opportunities on how to facilitate direct flights between Nigeria and India. Presently, there are no direct flights between the two countries, with travelers currently forced to board connecting flights through Addis Ababa, South Africa or Dubai.
    According to the High Commissioner, direct flights between Nigeria and India would boost business, tourism, save passengers flight time and reduce the stress of the journey.
    He said: “Direct flights are also important during medical emergencies, because direct movement of patients during emergencies would save a lot of lives.”

  • Don’t approve post-shipment inspection of aircraft, govt advised

    Former Managing Director of the defunct Capital Airlines, Mr. Amos Akpan, has advised the Federal Government against granting airline operators approval to import aircraft before the equipment is inspected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    Akpan said in Lagos that importation before inspection would compromise safety which he described as “key in the global aviation industry”.

    Akpan argued that if such requests were granted, it would create room for operators to bring aircraft that do not meet the required standards as provided in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) 2006 and 2009.
    “There are pressures from some factions of the aviation community proposing that operators be granted permit to import aircraft and NCAA inspects it on ground Nigeria. Their reason: to save the money our NCAA inspectors spend on tickets and per diem on overseas inspection trips. We should not push for the passage of this bill. Nigerians will bring aircraft that do not satisfy NCARs 2006/2009 requirements. They will then use political connections to influence NCAA to permit them to operate such aircraft. Ordering them to return such aircraft will be difficult. They will cook the books and bring arguments to pressure regulatory authorities to bend the rules,” he said.
    On the zero tariffs on the importation of aircraft and parts, Akpan praised the government for the waiver, lamenting that, despite the gesture, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) was yet to take full advantage of the opportunity it had been clamouring for.

    He said the association had been unable to submit a comprehensive list that would give them access to benefit from the waiver.

    “The most frequently used items were not covered by the exemption. These are aircraft tyres and lubricants. Records from the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (nacho aviance) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) import warehouses in Lagos reveal all lubricants and tyres are dutiable,” said Akpan.

  • Slok Air to return

    Years after its suspension, Slok Air is set to return, if it makes a headway in its discussions with Emirates Airlines.
    Its Chairman, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, told reporters in Lagos that discussions were on between the Middle East carrier and Slok Air on how to deliver a world-class airline.
    Kalu said Slok Air was negotiating with Emirates on how to secure the maintenance of its aircraft, before it returns.
    He said: “Aviation business is the most difficult thing to do. When the plane goes up, you are in trouble; when the plane is on ground, you are in trouble. I can only do this if Emirates agrees on the partnership that we are discussing.
    “Emirates is one of the best airlines in the world and Sheik Ahmed is one of the best managers and the chairman of Emirates is the best chairman that I know and the CEO of Emirates Tim Clark is one of the best chief executive officer you can think about so they are going to go to Kano and Abuja by August so if they agree to maintain my aircraft locally and become our partner Slok Air will come back.”
    He added: “Slok Air has advanced discussions to that effect. The discussions have been on going. President Jonathan is a friendly president that likes more business in Nigeria not like the other president that kill business.
    “So, we are discussing, it is the logistics that we are working out for Slok Air to return.”

  • Why helicopters are not allowed to fly at night, by NCAA

    Why helicopters are not allowed to fly at night, by NCAA

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ruled out the flying of helicopters at night – for now.

    Its Acting Director-General Mr Benedict Adeyileka, said helicopters would not be allowed to operate 24 hours until NCAA completes the survey and mapping of flight paths.

    The Nation learnt that helicopters or rotary wing operators as they are classified, can only operate between 6.00 am and 7.00 pm in line with regulations.

    But helicopters operate at night in countries, such as the United States and United Kingdom, though under regulations.

    In these countries they are used to move men and materials to oil rigs.

    Adeyileka said NCAA would expand rotary wing operations backed by adequate policy and regulatory framework.

    NCAA, he said, embarked on survey and mapping of the airspace to identify telecoms, radio and television masts and other high rise installations to guide helicopters at night.

    He said apart from reaching the masts owners the flight paths, the authority also informed them to ensure that they have red lights to give signals to helicopters in flight.

    Until, he said, challenges hindering night operations are addressed, 24-hour helicopter operations would not be approved by the authority.

    Adeyileka added: “The NCAA will not just give approval for 24 hours helicopter operations until all issues are resolved concerning the litany of telecommunication masts that litter the flight path.

    “We will only approve night operations for helicopters until we carry out a comprehensive survey and mapping of all masts around the country . The essence of this is to give approval to the route that helicopters would fly without colliding into masts either belonging to telecommunication companies or radio or television stations.

    “Even some highrise installations, we need to identify where these obstacles are located, properly identify and map them, so that the helicopter operators will know the path to fly.

    “Until all these issues are resolved, the NCAA will only allow helicopters to operate during the day.

    “Though a few night flights may be allowed when are emergencies .”

    He continued: “Our plan to ensure that whatever the NCAA approves concerning helicopter operations is covered by appropriate laws and regulation.”

    Some years ago, the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced a change in night flying regulations which will allow aircraft to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in the hours of darkness.

    All civil aircraft flying at night in the UK must comply with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).

    But, since June 2012, this requirement has been removed allowing pilots to decide whether to fly VFR or IFR.

    Visual Flight Rules are an internationally agreed standard set of operating rules designed to help prevent collisions between aircraft and the ground by ensuring that pilots fly in weather conditions that enable them to see a potential collision and take action to avoid it.

    Instrument Flight Rules are a more restrictive set of internationally agreed operating rules, which include additional measures to help prevent collisions between aircraft particularly when flying in weather conditions where pilots may not be able to see other aircraft or obstacles.

    This include cloudy weather with its attendant poor visibility in areas with high volume of traffic

    The changes are being made to take into account new and emerging European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations for pilot licensing and rules of the air.

  • NAHCO gets award

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) has clinched the ‘Cargo Company of the Year 2013 award’ at the Sixth Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Conference, Exhibition and Awards at the Tinapa Resort, Cross Rivers State.

    According to the Business Development and Corporate Strategy Manager of nahco, Mr Sanya Onayoade, with latest award, the firm has become a two-time winner of the NIGAV Awards, having won the Handling Company of the Year Award at the 2012 edition.

    He said the yearly event was organised by FCI International Limited , which seeks to recognise firm,organisations and individuals for best practices and outstanding contributions towards developing the industry and related activities.

    Some of the achievements that qualified the firm for the award, he said, include its strong and exceptional corporate governance, broad working knowledge of the industry.

    He listed other factors to include the certification and membership of various international bodies, quality service delivery, impressive clientele base and ownership and operation of the largest warehouse in sub-Sahara Africa.

    Meanwhile, Nahco Aviance has reiterated its commitment to excellent service delivery. He said it would spare no effort to make the customers happy.

    Speaking in Lagos, where he offered passenger service, the Managing Director of nahco aviance, Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo, said this was just the beginning of greater things to come as the new nahco is set to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders.

    The event was part of the activities marking the Company’s 35th year anniversary.

    Oluwasegun-Ojo handled the check-in formalities of a London-bound Virgin Atlantic passenger Mr. Michael Olusesi.

  • New cargo terminals ready soon, says FAAN MD

    The six cargo terminals being constructed nationwide will be completed in 16 months, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, has said.

    Their completion will enable Nigeria reap the benefits of the projected 2bilion pounds perishable cargo market in Africa, he said

    Dunoma spoke at the fourth Annual Emerging Airports Conference & Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates

    He called on foreign investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s investment climate and invest in the sector.

    Dunoma also described the remodelling of 22 airports across the country as a veritable foundation for investments in the sector.

    He said: “Opportunities abound in the aerotropolis project where investors are guaranteed return on their investments.”

    He invited investors to be part of the aerotropolis and fresh produce market, describing Nigeria’s rating as the 26th economy in the world as an indication that the country is taking its pride of place as the truly.

    The Federal Government’s transformation in the sector has received a boost as the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja emerged the Best Emerging Airport – Africa Region – in Abu Dhabi.

    Dunoma received the award at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

    The organisers of the conference who cited the revolutionary turn-around of the airports in Nigeria as some of the reasons for the award, also applauded the aerotropolis and the fresh/perishable cargo projects as indicators of an emerging giant.

    The awards also featured conferences and an exhibition which attracted over 15 airport directors, CAA’s airport companies from the emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Middle East.