The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • ‘Why there’s shortage of indigenous pilots’

    ‘Why there’s shortage of indigenous pilots’

    The inbility of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in Zaria, Kaduna State to graduate students for a while, is the reason there is a shortage of indigenous pilots in the country, the acting Rector of the International Aviation College ( IAC), Ilorin, Captain Nuhu Abdulkarim, has said.

    Abdulkarim explained that before the International Aviation College , Ilorin was established in 2012, only (NCAT), in Zaria, was in existence, and for a period of about 10-11yeras, they were not producing graduates, that accounted for the shortage, he said.

    He told The Nation that there has been a dearth of professionals, not only pilots, but engineers and dispatchers. This is because we used to have only one recognised organisation, which is the NCAT, adding that the shortage of aviation professionals is having a ripple effect on the Nigerian aviation sector , as airlines are left with no choice than to hire expatriate pilots.

    The rector urged domestic airline owners to invest in the training of indigenous pilots , affirming that it is one of the ways of curbing the invasion of the industry by foreigners.

    He said: “Nigerian airlines are not training indigenous pilots. They are not participating in training, that is why people are poaching from one airline to another. I am a product of Nigeria Airways, the former national carrier that invested money in the training of Nigerian pilots. Airlines should sponsor pilots for training.This is what led, in the past to the poaching of trained pilots. When poaching was not more possible, they started bringing in expatriates.”

    He therefore urged corporate originations, state and local governments and private individuals to key into the training opportunity offered by the International Aviation College (IAC) to develop the needed manpower in the aviation industry.

    Abdulkarim said sponsoring students to the school would help the industry curtail the huge amount it spends in hard currency in taking students abroad for training, as well as save airlines huge sums ofmoney paid to foreign expatriate professionals yearly.

    In his words, “What Kwara State government has done was to provide the enabling environment. We are building capacity for the aviation industry and Kwara State government is helping. Every training you do here, you save the Nigerian economy about $200, 000 every year. I have expatriates here. I don’t like or hate them because we are one family under ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organisation).

    This infrastructure has come to stay. Let Nigerians start sponsoring people. We are not saying you should not patronise South Africa or Dubai or anywhere, but let corporate responsibility happen, sponsor Nigerians and keep them. The capacity to train and the standard to train here is comparable to any institutions.

    The Rector said the college Is equipped with seven Diamond trainer aircraft and other world class facilities run in collaboration with oxford Aviation college in the United Kingdom.

    He said the kwara state government does not interfere with the day-to-day running of the college but has assembled the right professionals to ensure that the school is run in such as way as to maintain the standards as required by ICAO.

    Abdulkarim said the classrooms are computer aid instructions, run by Oxford, adding, “if Oxford sees that we are not doing what is there on that system, they will cut us off from the system. We cannot change the books. We cannot even photocopy any part of the book, we are not allowed. Oxford does not run the college, but we have a partnership whereby we use their books and the books have been approved by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”

    He said though the school is estatablished and funded by kwara State government, it is being run on private sector standards. “From a business perspective, the College has no choice than to make sure that all its facilities are upgraded and ensure we are world standard at any time.

    “This is because we are the only one in the West African sub-region that offers world class training for pilots and other cadre of manpower in aviation in line with world standards. We have to make sure everything is done properly. The College is being run on private sector standards; it is not like another government parastatal that you expect would be run down,” he added.

  • NAHCO donates airport equipment

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, Nahco Aviance, has donated medical equipment to airports across the country. It donated a defibrillator to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA2, Ikeja.

    A defibrillator is used for delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to an affected heart and this particular one is an automated external defibrillators (AEDs) which automates the diagnosis of treatable rhythms.

    The equipment could be used by lay responders or bystanders successfully with little, or in some cases, no training at all.

    Announcing the donation, the Chairman of the company, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, represented by Mr. Ikechukwu Nwachukwu a Director of the company, said the gesture is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the airport community.

    He stated that it is the company’s hope that all stakeholders will come together to provide the needed support for the industry to grow .

    On his own part, the Chief Executive Officer of Bi-Courtney, Mr. Christophe Pennick, commended the management of Nahco Aviance for the gesture, promising to put the equipment to good use .

    He assured that a clinic will soon be commissioned to the delight of all the airport users.

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi, represented by the Director, Security Services of FAAN, Sir. Wendell Ogunedot lauded NAHCO aviance for the foresight and called all stakeholders to emulate the company.

    Meanwhile, arrangement is on for the donation of similar equipment to other airports across the country.

    nahco aviance last week handled the inaugural flight of Turkish Airlines to Kano .

    Also , Mr. Norbert Bielderman, has been elevated Executive Director Operations of nahco aviance. Before the elevation, he was the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

  • Law compelling airlines to install trackers coming

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), is to introduce legislation that would compel airlines to install automatic flight informational reporting system onboard their aircraft .

    NCAA Director-General of NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, said the proposed law would make it mandatory for domestic airlines to comply with the installation of the safety equipment on board their aircraft, as it is the practice in other parts of the world.

    He said the installation of the equipment has become imperative because it will assist to track the parameters of all aircraft engines flying in the Nigerian airspace as an additional measure to promote air safety .

    Akinkuotu, who spoke at a briefing at the NCAA headquarters to review the activities of the industry in 2013, said as from next year, NCAA is going to digitalise the issuance of pilots licenses flying in the country He said the digitalisation of pilots license is informed by the need to have up to date information on all pilots flying in the Nigerian airspace.

    He said the NCAA invited foreign auditors to assist in the technical and safety audit of DANA Air to exchange ideas with other global experts and not on account of lack of in-house capacity by the regulator.

    He said the audit of DANA Air took enough time for the NCAA to carry out a comprehensive technical and safety investigation of the airline, in the interest of safety.

    He said DANA Air is carrying out closing of open times fingered in the audit carried out with a view to resuming operations very soon.

    He denied grounding the operations of IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines, saying the carriers violated the regulation which prescribes that they should have at least two serviceable aircraft before they could exercise their air operators ‘ certificate .

    Akinkuotu spoke of plans to train more aircraft inspectors and other technical personnel to boost its oversight capacity adding that from 2014, a law would be put in place to ensure all domestic airlines undergo the compulsory International Operations Safety Audit ( IOSA), carried by the International Air Transport Association ( IATA).

    He said: ”From next year, the NCAA is going to put a law in place that will make the installation of aircraft flight information reporting system compulsory. Although, a few airlines have complied with this regulation, but the new law will make it mandatory.

    In the same vein, the NCAA is also going to put in place a law that will make IOSA audit for domestic carriers compulsory. We will also make interlining of tickets one of our cardinal programmes . This will make air travel a lot more easier.”

  • FAAN forecasts 9.7m passengers for MMIA by 2017

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) George Uriesi has taken a look at the authority’s operations, predicting what they will look like in four years.

    Passenger traffic, he said, would rise from over 9.7million and aircraft movement to over 1,138,639 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos in four years.

    Cargo volume, he said, would rise from 170million kilogrammes to 188 million kilogrammes in 2017.

    Uriesi said passenger traffic at the Lagos airport grew from 5,117,034 in 2008 to about 7,185,669 last year while aircraft movement increased from 84,198 to about 105, 334 during the same period.

    The same trend, he said, was replicated in cargo. Freight rose from a total of 164 million kilogrammes to 170 million kilogrammes within the period.

    Lagos airport, Uriesi said, was expected to be a hub as the on-going construction of transit in facilities would have come on stream within the next five years, adding that the number of the airlines are expected to increase as a result of improved infrastructure.

    He called for a cordial relationship with stakeholders in a bid to foster industrial relationship.

    “I am glad to say that in the years under review, we have maintained healthy relations with our stakeholders while fostering positive industrial relations in MMA. Nothing will give me greater joy than the sustenance of the existing cordial relations and industrial peace,” he said, adding that effort is being made to improve working condition for enhanced productivity.

    Uriesi said the authority was yet to get the best because of several battles he had been fighting to liberate FAAN from the clutches of some selfish Nigerians who see the agency as a cash cow and want to milk it dry with different obnoxious concessions and agreements .

    He said he was satisfied with the progress being made in some of the regions, lamenting that most of his energy is wasted on what he termed, “distractions’’.

    “I don’t normally regret anything, but I do have one regret and that is that in my estimation, I am really able to give about 10 per cent of my capacity to FAAN and that is the truth,” he said, adding: “The remaining 90 per cent is distractions, and if I had the opportunity to give even 50 per cent of my capacity, a lot of things would have been different. I keep fighting to get more capacity allocated to FAAN. So, in general, whatever is happening is 10 per cent of my capacity; that is the truth,” he stressed.

    The FAAN boss explained that the regional meeting of the airport managers has remained useful and has served as a source of feed back to him. ‘’I always feel happy when am being briefed by the Regional General Managers. I get feedback from the regional meetings. You will find out that this is very useful in the near future as we begin to realise the resources of the organisation and make it more better.’’

    The Regional General Manager, South West, Edward Olarerin said the Southwest Region of the airport authority has continued to play a leading role among airport regions, especially in operations and revenue generation.

    He said it is the resolve of the region to further consolidate its leading position.

  • ‘Delta Air flew 110,000 passengers’

    Delta Airlines has flown over 110,000 passengers out of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, this year, its Commercial Manager , for East and West Africa, Mr Bobby Bryan, has said.

    The passenger traffic by the American carrier is above its projection for the year, he added.

    Bryan said the airline expects to fly more passengers out of the country next year as economic indices portend more growth in the Nigerian economy beyond the oil and gas sector .

    He observed that navigational and other aeronautical charges are higher in Nigerian airports,as against the global standards, saying as long as such charges are deployed to fix critical airport infrastructure , it will be to the benefit of airlines, the government and its agencies .

    He said: ”Though Delta Airlines has a positive relationship with Nigerian aviation authorities , we have observed that there are moderate operational charges here We look forward to a situation where government will spend the accruals from such charges on critical airport infrastructure.”

    He said Delta Airlines is interested in entering into code share and interline agreements with domestic airlines,but regretted that existing Nigerian carriers are yet to meet the best international technical, commercial and global safety standards.

    He said most Nigerian carriers are yet to meet the global stringent standards that will give room for such agreements. ”Delta Airlines is interested in working with Nigerian carriers if the airlines meet the safety , technical and commercial standards.”

    To sign any code share agreement such airlines must meet the stringent safety , technical and commercial standards, he said, adding that Delta Air is open to ideas, but Nigerian airlines must put themselves in a position to cooperate.

    Since we launched service in 2007, Delta has carried more than 675,000 passengers between Nigeria and the United States

    In 2013 we have flown 110,000 passengers with an average load factor of 81 per cent. Nigeria is a very important market for Delta and we have been focused on making significant service enhancements for our business and leisure customers, he said.

    Last year we introduced our new flat-bed seats on our Atlanta service, he said, stating that Lagos was one of the first destinations in our transatlantic network to receive the seat, an indication of the importance of the route to Delta.

    The feedback from customers in little more than one year has been very positive, he stated.

  • Firm introduces cargo wrapping technology

    To protect cargoes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, a firm, FMC Aviation Limited has introduced a wrapping an equipment to minimise pilferage at the cargo terminal.

    Besides providing a plastic seal around cargoes meant for export, the equipment will also save cargo from the negative effects of weather.

    Speaking to The Nation, in Lagos, the Managing Director of the firm, Mr Herbert Odika, said the equipment was provided for cargo and clearing agents as one of the measures to improve the safety of cargoes meant for export.

    Odika spoke of plans to engage agents and other players in the cargo sub-sector to consider the consolidation of cargo, which will be put in pallet and wrapped for export using the plastic seal.

    He said the provision of the new equipment would assist freight forwarders to standardise their operations as is done in other parts of the world.

    He said such technology is already in place in Ethiopia and South Africa, urging the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to consider it as a prerequisite for the protection and packaging of cargo meant for export.

    Odika said: “This technology of wrapping cargo in a plastic seal in pallets is already the norm in other parts of the world. It is one of the steps to enhance the safety and security of cargo meant for export.

    “It will bring about consolidation of cargo, a practice that is already in place in other countries. It will also assist to eliminate the challenge of cargo pilferage at the airport.”

  • NAMA gets report on Niger Delta air traffic

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has received the report on the communication navigation surveillance and air traffic management ( CNS/ATM) assessment on low level flight operations for helicopters in the Niger Delta region.

    The report, according to its Managing Director, Nnamdi Udoh is an evidence that the proposed deployment of multilateration surveillance system in the Niger Delta by the Federal Government was on course.

    As part of its implementation, the agency early this year inaugurated NAV Sar Consulting of Canada to prepare a report for assisting NAMA in making decisions on the scope of control of low-level flight operations in the region.

    Udoh said the report was based on the information provided by NAMA, its advisers representatives and selected third parties.

    “The estimates, assumptions and findings underlying the recommendations,” according to the firm, “are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.”

    “The report is meant for the information of senior management and key stakeholders of NAMA and its representatives. The preparation of the report and the analysis is at the request of NAMA in line with IATA’s agreement for consulting services between NAMA and NAV STAR Consulting,” he said.

    The Managing Director of the agency, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, while receiving the report from the Director of Operations, John Oyegiri,said the technical input from the consulting firm would be scrutinised before launching into the next phase of the project which is the implementation billed for next year.

    Describing the report on the operation of Helicopters in that region as essential for the successful take off of the new surveillance system, noted that the step taken by the agency was in line with global practices before embarking on this safety critical project like the case in reference.

  • Why airlines fail in Nigeria, by operator

    An airline operator, Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed has attributed the high mortality rate of domestic airlines in Nigeria to lack of proper planning by operators.

    Mohammed, who is the Managing Director of Discovery Air, explained that many people venture into airline business without adequate preparation.

    Such ill-preparation about the business, he said, has contributed significantly to the collapse of many airlines.

    He said: “The short life span of most airlines could be attributed to lack of proper planning as well as the harsh and non-conducive business environment which makes it difficult for operators to access long term credit facilities.

    “It is only when you have a well thought out plan of what is required to run the business that you could hit the ground running and remain in business.

    “Many people just dabble into the business without adequate preparation. This accounts for the high rate of failure of many airlines.”

    Specifically, he noted that unlike in Europe and America, where there are finance companies that are willing to lease aeroplanes to operators, Nigeria is seen as a high risk country and operators are therefore forced to pay upfront making them to grapple with limited resources.

    He said the firm will commence operations with three modern aircraft and progressively grow its fleet to service its expansion plans that is based on due diligence of the market.

    He said: “We have in the last one year taken time to study the successes of global legacy airlines and have adopted strategies to suit Nigerian operations.”

    Mohammed said the airline was set up about a year ago to provide travellers good customer service and fill the gap of shortage of commercial aircraft in the country.

    He said the airline will commence commercial flight operations soon as it has taken delivery of a Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

    The Boeing 737-300 aircraft is the first in the series of three aircraft to be delivered within the next one month.

    The aircraft which arrived in the the country from England last month will be involved in demonstration flights as part of the process for the issuance of the Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    According to him, with the arrival of the aircraft the airline is fully prepared to complete the AOC’s certification processes.

    He however expressed optimism that with the successes so far recorded and compliance to the NCAA’s guidelines for start-up airlines, AOC will be issued to it soon.

    “Discovery Airways is now closer to commencing domestic commercial operations in the country very soon. We may even commence commercial operations by mid-December to offer more choices to travellers during the Yuletide,” he said.

  • Minister decries foreign airlines harsh treatment of passengers

    Minister decries foreign airlines harsh treatment of passengers

    Minister of Culture & Tourism Mr. Edem Duke has called on Emirates Airlines to ensure that travellers are well treated while on board their aircraft because they are the main reason why the airline is in business.

    He said reports of shabby treatment of by foreign carriers is becoming unacceptable because customers deserve some level of dignity in the way they are handled by providers of air transport services.

    Speaking at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki during the launch of Emirates Holiday package last week, Duke disclosed that Nigerians are the most travelled in the world.

    He said Nigerian passengers are unique passengers because they do not only travel for leisure, they also spend a lot money in the course of their travel.

    “This is why Nigerians are rated as the fourth largest spenders in the world. Nigerians spend big when they travel but that is just what we are. So as Emirates Holidays, you must understand them if you really want to please them,” he said.

    Duke urged Emirates Airlines not only to showcase or sell the destinations of other countries to Nigeria, but also sell Nigeria as a destination to other foreigners.

    He said the government was poised to improve the tourism sector of the economy, adding that such could only be achieved if the firm worked with the government in making such dreams come through.

    Emirates Holidays develops exotic packages for Nigerian travelling to Dubai and other destinations. It also develops packages for Nigerians outside the country to come into Nigeria.

    “So Emirates Holidays and Tour Brokers International (TBI) should create products that will make them comfortable,” he said.

    Vice President, Business Support, Emirates Airlines, Mr. Fabio Prestijacopo, noted that the firm was working in conjunction with Tour Brokers International (TBI) as its local partner in Nigeria to sell the best holiday packages to Nigeria to travel all across the world.

    He further pointed out that the main drive behind the holiday packages during to showcase the forthcoming Dubai shopping festival that is comes in January and February 2014 .

    According to him, the Emirates Holidays packages range from $1,245 to $2,880 for Nigerian passengers as the period would afford them the opportunity to enjoy their holidays.

    He said: “Emirates Holidays is committed towards giving our esteem Nigerian customers the kind of service and products that they expect when they travel on Emirates Airlines.

    “When it comes to booking holidays and making those everlasting memories when they travel, we are most willing to offer such experience to them.

    “Emirates Airlines is expanding and it is one of the reason why we operate Emirates Holidays to add to the value the airline is offering. We will ensure that we give them the product that they demand for and we treat them with dignity and create a lasting impression in their heart,” he added.

     

  • Airline offers five per cent discount

    A new entrant into the market, Africa World Airlines, has promised to pay travel agencies five per cent commission for the sale of its tickets.

    This is coming a time the regional carrier started two daily return flights from Accra to Lagos.

    With this development, Africa World Airlines becomes one of the 24 international airlines operating into the country.

    Its Head, Commercial, Ridwane Adamou, who at a meeting with travel agents in Lagos, said the airline promised to pay the commission said it was aimed at encouraging agencies to sell it tickets amid the stiff competition in the industry.

    He added that it is in line with the airline’s strategy of gradual, but steady expansion into West Africa that it chose the country as its first destination of choice.

    He said: “We are introducing our very comfortable flight services to the market, which is based on the promise of safety, on-time schedule and comfy cabin configuration.”

    Adamou said the airline would operate 14 weekly flights from Kotoka International Airport, Ghana to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),Lagos with modern aircraft which average age is four years.

    He added that Accra/Lagos flight would be serviced with Embraer 145, with 50 passenger economy seats.

    The airline, which has three aircraft started flight operations last year from Ghana.