By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

COVID -19 pandemic shocks have triggered new trend in the country’s air travel industry forcing cost-conscious indigenous operators to evolve many survival strategies.

To keep their operations afloat,  carriers are going for the broke by outwitting their competitors with the acquisition of newer, fuel-efficient aircraft that suites the market, lower air fares, in- country maintenance of the aircraft, sealing of commercial and technical partnerships such as codeshare and interline agreements as well as joint ventures with state governments which run airports to keep their airplanes filled with passengers.

Investigations by The Nationhave shown that though passenger traffic is experiencing a spike compared to the onset of the pandemic, new airlines are springing up with strategies to compete for their share of the air transport market, latching on the choice of equipment, route network, fare offering and others that will guarantee their survival in the sector.

While prospective  operators, namely Green Africa Airways, Value Jets, Rano Air, Jet Airways, Cardinal Airlines, Cally Air, NG Eagle Airlines, 7 Star Global Airlines, North East Regional Shuttle Limited, Kanem Air and Mambilla are gearing for take-off,  carriers, including Air Peace, Dana Air, Aero Contractors, and Arik Air are consolidating their strategies to expand operations on new routes.

Besides the spike in passenger traffic following the increasing number of Nigerians that have received COVID-19 vaccines, scores of aircraft have been brought into the country by operators, who intend to deepen their market penetration using the right size of medium aircraft.

According to The Nation,s investigation, Air Peace has brought in three brand new Embraer 195-E2 regional jets, out of the 30 it  intends to have of the aircraft type.

The decision by the carrier, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, said is cost-driven with lower fuel consumption, efficiency and utilisation of such equipment.

Other operators are also looking in the direction of medium aircraft, which according to  experts, aligns with the economics of cost in running airline business post-COVID-19.

Fledging carrier, United Nigeria Airlines, is also deploying the regional Embraer jets. The airline has brought in  four of the aircraft types to compete with other carriers on major routes.

Another carrier, Green Africa Airways, is also using equipment – size and type of aircraft – ATR 72 – 600  to raise the stakes as it expects to introduce the low cost concept in air travel in Nigeria when it begins scheduled commercial flights in July.

In the last six months, scores of aircraft have been brought into the country by indigenous carriers, proving pundits wrong that the  pandemic has been mostly negative for the sector.

While United Nigeria Airlines has acquired four aircraft in the few months of its operations, state-backed carrier –  Ibom Air has been ambitious with its fleet expansion programme of six aircraft in the two years of its operations.

Though the airline is outwitting its competitors with the use of medium Canadian jets – Bombardier CRJs – the airline is leaving nothing to chance as it a few months ago acquired two Airbus aircraft, with which it intends to make a foray into the regional market.

In an interview, its Chief Operating Officer, George Uriesi  said the carrier pioneered the first interline/codeshare agreement with Dana Air for pool of fleet to boost airline efficiency and profitability.

Considered a game changer by many industry experts, the operational/commercial pact between the two carriers would give them edge on their routes.

Some carriers, including United Nigeria Airlines, is partnering  state-owned and run airports to drive passenger traffic.

Last week, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bayelsa State government for the commencement of  scheduled flights into, and out of, the Bayelsa International Airport.

According to the terms of the agreement, United Nigeria will operate four flights daily in and out Bayelsa International Airport.

The airline is to service the Bayelsa International Airport daily from the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MM2) in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Under the MoU, United Nigeria will commence direct flights to Bayelsa International Airport in July 2021.

Also, Cross River State-backed Cally Air, recently  acquired two Boeing 737 aircraft to boost its operations.The aircraft  will be operated under a joint venture with Nigeria’s oldest carrier – AeroContractors.

The move, investigations reveal, is to break the barrier of prohibitive fares on the Lagos – Calabar and Abuja routes offered by their competitors.

Green  Africa Airways, on its part, has acquired three airplanes  for scheduled commercial operations.

Besides the fledgling carriers, which are introducing new fleet of airplanes: Embraer, Bombardier ATR 72-600 aircraft, the operators are  sticking to homogeneity in aircraft types driven  by cost considerations and other economies of scale.

Chief Operating Officer, Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo said this is the time to ‘kick on’, following the problems caused by the pandemic.

Instead, the industry, he said, is gearing up. Mbanuzuo said Dana Air  is evaluating more Boeing 737-300s and its first Embraer 190 E1s, for entry into service either in the fourth quarter of the year, or first quarter of next year.

Speaking on the rationale for acquiring brand new fuel efficient airplanes as a strategy to keep the business running, Onyema said : ” The Embraer 195-E2 aircraft will further help us actualise our ambition of connecting, not just the whole of Nigeria, but the entire African continent, while feeding long-haul flights from our Lagos hub.

“The acquisition will enable us to deliver on our ‘no-city-left-behind’ initiative, which is underpinned by our goal to reduce the air transportation burden of Africans.”

Only last week, the carrier resumed flights on some new routes including Lagos – Ilorin – Abuja with plans to connect city pairs namely Yola – Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Owerri – Kaduna, Owerri – Kano , Benin – Port Harcourt , Port Harcourt – Kano , Asaba  – Kano, Port Harcourt – Kano , Gombe, and Enugu in a bid to connect the nation’s air network and reduce fares.

Besides, opening new routes, two indigenous carriers are mulling setting of of a local aircraft maintenance centre to reduce the prohibitive costs of sending airplanes for major checks overseas.

This move, one of the operators said would not only reduce operating costs but guarantee the survivability of airlines.

Investigations by The Nation also reveal that   investors are joining the aviation industry by floating commercial airlines due largely  to rising insecurity,  banditry and kidnapping in some parts of the country .

Such investors , it was learnt are latching onto the safety component that air travel offers to birth such projects.

Apart from the elite who always travel by air, middle-income earners are increasingly avoiding road travel on the grounds  of insecurity.

In the North, for instance, experts have   cited the challenges of travelling from Abuja to Kaduna, Kano, Gusau, Kebbi and Sokoto in the North-West; and Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Jalingo in the North-East.

An aviation expert, Sheri  Yari  said besides  profit, those that have the means are considering  investment  in airlines because of increasing demand for air travel.

Three of the upcoming investors in the North include :  North-East Regional Shuttle Limited, Kanem Air and Mambilla Air.

The three airlines are already processing their Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

On his part, the CEO, Top Brass Aviation and former Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Roland Iyayi, said the timing for new airlines is appropriate.

“Timing of the entry may have been informed by the downturn of the industry generally as it is easier now than before to access aircraft assets cheaply. As a matter of fact, the downturn is the best time to acquire the aircraft assets.”

He also noted that the Northern air market needs additional servicing.

“The northern part of the country is underserviced to a large extent. Therefore, it would provide the opportunity of establishing a niche for prospective airline investors. The plan I presume would hedge the confidence of a timely recovery and niche to project viability.

“How this plays out in the long term would be largely determined by whether or not the economy recovers expeditiously from the current depression,” the aviation expert said.

Another analyst and Assistant Secretary of Aviation Roundtable, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said new airlines were not coming up in Nigeria but all over the world including UAE, Columbia, USA, UK, Italy, Vietnam, South Africa and New Zealand.

He said most airlines were taking advantage of the low cost of hiring aircraft to float their airlines in Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview, NCAA’s Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu said there could be no better time to have more airlines in Nigeria if the operators acquire airplanes that are suitable for the market and effectively manager their costs.

Investigations also reveal that some carriers that suspended operations many years ago including Chanchangi Airlines Limited are putting finishing touches to their applications to return to the skies.

A source familiar with the development said the carriers is already in talks with aircraft manufacturers to acquire Embraer regional jets and ATR airplanes to reposition its stake in the air travel market.

The airline controlled the northern routes in the late 1990’s  and early 2000’s .

Many passengers who spoke to The Nation expressed mixed reactions over the burgeoning of airlines querying if the large number of carriers  would  bring about lower fares.

A frequent air traveller , Comfort Idris asked : ”  At the moment air fares are still very expensive on many routes. We hope the coming to being of these new airlines will achieve some level of reduction in air fares.”

 

Our Reporter 

Experts in the aviation industry will gather in Lagos on July 25, 2021 to examine issues bordering on the management, policy and regulations of the sector at a conference put together by the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents.

The conference, which has already received the endorsement of the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) will provide a veritable platform for stakeholders to chart the way forward for the industry.

The conference, which is the 25th edition in the series would hold at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos.

Expressing their commitments to the forthcoming event, NCAA said it would always support the league at all times.

The Director-General, NCAA, Capt Musa Nuhu in a statement affirmed its agency’s support and endorsement of the conference.

He said; “We continue to partner with the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents for a successful outing as scheduled.

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“This is in line with our resolve to invest in project that could elicit solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting air travel in the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“We look forward to a fruitful deliberations and stronger industry.”

Also speaking on the annual conference, Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu described it as a rallying point for the industry that provides lasting solutions for aviation- related challenges.

He said,” The League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents annual conference has become a notable rallying point for developing lasting solutions to critical aviation-related challenges in Nigeria and beyond.

“The theme for this year’s edition; ‘Nigeria’s aviation industry: Policy, Management and Regulation’ could not have come at a better time. This is because a balanced combination of Policy, Management and Regulation is the most critical ingredient needed to achieve efficiency, productivity and sustainability in the industry.

“I and my team are definitely looking forward to participating in the conference.”

The 25th Conference and Awards 2021 is expected to be attended by over 250 aviation industry professionals; physically and virtually, cutting across the aviation agencies, security agencies, international and domestic airlines operating in Nigeria, aviation support services, travel trade sellers and buyers and captains of the aviation industry in Nigeria.

According to the organisers top aviation personalities would deliver insightful papers on a wide range of topical issues in aviation at the annual conference.

Green Africa Airways has completed the acceptance of three ATR 72-600s from ACIA Aero Leasing as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for a new airline to hold an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to  begin commercial flights.

AOC is a mandatory requirement before any airline can commence commercial operations.

In a statement, its spokesperson,  Oyinade Osobajo said the third aircraft with registration ZS-XZC /5N-GAD arrived in Lagos last Thursday.

She said amid  the pandemic-induced market disruption, Green Africa  has laid out a roadmap for market entry by deploying ACIA’s ATR aircraft to deliver affordable, short-haul connectivity between Nigerian cities to stimulate the region’s development and business activity.

Also, Green Africa Airways founder and Chief Executive Officer, Babawande Afolabi, said: “Receiving our third aircraft  signifies Green Africa’s readiness to enter into service and start serving our customers. ACIA Aero Leasing has been a very supportive partner and we are proud of this relationship.”

ACIA Aero Leasing Chief Executive Officer Mick Mooney, also said: “We are thrilled to have partnered with Green Africa’s experienced manage ment team to get their airline off the ground while supporting their ambitious mission to use the power of air travel to create a better future for customers and other key stakeholders.”

The value carrier recently launched ticket sales on greenafrica.com with flights as low as N16,500 and a ‘gFlyer Special Offer’ which takes 10 per cent  off the first booking of gFlyer Community members.

 

One of Air Peace’s Boeing 737, which was undergoing C-Check maintenance in Israel, returned to the country at the weekend.

The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BQU, according to the airline, is the fourth aircraft to return after undergoing varying levels of extensive maintenance checks.

Spokesman of the carrier, Stanley Olisa, who made this known, said  many aircraft were still undergoing maintenance overseas having been flown out before the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown that ensued.

He said: “We have many of our aircraft on maintenance abroad. We ought to have received a good number of them but the COVID-19 lockdown in different parts of the world has been slowing work on the aircraft.”

Olisa said as more aircraft return from maintenance, it will resume suspended routes gradually and increase frequencies to selected destinations.

He said Air Peace will be deploying its two brand new E195-E2 aircraft for scheduled operations very soon as the jets are currently operating demo flights.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema said the carrier decided to increase the pay of its workers to cushion the hardship experienced during the pandemic.

He said while other airlines were rightsizing their personnel for the impact of the pandemic, which has triggered reduction of daily flights from pre-pandemic era from 135 daily to 40 to 50 flights, the workers deserve a good share of whatever fund is available.

He said:  “I looked at the hardship around and everything, and I decided that whatever little we have, let’s push it back to the staff. It is very difficult now, we have about 20 planes stranded abroad, depleting our capacity to do what we know how to do best.  Before COVID-19, we were doing about 135 flights a day. Now we are doing about 40 to 45, yet I decided to recall every staff member. Not only recalling every staff member, four months ago, I restated them to pre-COVID-19 salaries. And I decided that we should double their wages ranging from 10 percent, to hundred percent. Some people got a 100 percent increase, some others 80 percent, depending on where the person’s grade is.”

It was jubilation galore for workers of Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace last week  when the management of the the airline gave them a salary increase.

The excited workers could not believe it when they got a salary alert and noticed that  they were given a raise by the management with some receiving a 100 per cent increase, while the big earners got a minimum of 10 per cent increase.

The Chairman and CEO of the airline, Allen Onyema was literally mobbed at the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by the elated workers of the company who danced around him, thanking him for his benevolence, as some said that it was least expected at these hard times, when airlines all over the world are struggling to survive due to the devastation of Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the workers who spoke to newsmen said that what was surprising about the increase was that it came when many companies are laying off staff, especially businesses that are aviation related due to the economic downturn occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reacting to the salary increase, the Cabin Services Manager, Florence Opia said the workers of the airline were over excited because it was not expected and it came at a time when some organisations are cutting the salary of their staff and others are laying off their workforce, describing the Chairman of the company as kind hearted and magnanimous, adding that he cares for the welfare of his workers.

“The increase even came at a time when we are not operating many flights. We used to operate 135 flights a day but now we operate relatively fewer flights and he still gave us such an increase across the board, to everybody. It was shocking. We could not believe it. “The raise will boost the morale of the workers to dedicate themselves more to the company. There were even some workers who were contemplating going for greener pastures. I am sure they will stay back now and more people from other airlines will be pushing to come in. I would like to really thank our Chairman. We have been praying for him. God will continue to protect him. He remains a pacesetter. We can never take his kindness for granted,” she said.

Players in the global aviation industry have decried the infrastructural gaps in most of the African aviation countries, but said new technology, if embraced by the continent’s governments, especially through the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), would help to address the challenges.

The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Capt. Musa Nuhu, said the industry was faced with challenges pre-COVID-19 era, adding that the outbreak of the pandemic had finally exposed the problems in the sector.

Participants at the workshop organised by NCAA, in conjunction with the Aviation Strategies International (ASI) Institute and Egis, with the theme: ‘Global Megatrends and impact on aviation’,  said the gaps on the continent needed urgent attention.

They, however, said for the challenges to be properly addressed, the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) in Africa needed to drive the change through technology.

President, ASI Institute, Pierre Coutu, in his paper entitled: ‘‘Global megatrends in aviation,’ said the  industry faces one of the toughest periods in the world, because of the  pandemic.

Coutu stated that players in the sector needed to bring out the businesses in the industry to be ready for the future and called on the stakeholders to develop some areas to ensure compliance with global practices.

Coutu listed climate change, global economic power shift, demographic changes, new technology and global connectedness as some of the  global megatrends that may define the future of the industry.

He added: “There are more networks and communications, which seek to connect the world than in the past.This leads to things happening so fast in the world. According to IBM 2016 Study, 90 per cent of data in the world had been created in the previous two years alone.

“Scientists say the frequency of pandemics might increase in the future. COVID-19 pandemic was not the first pandemic ever. Aviation organisations need to plan to reduce such impacts in the sector in the future.”

For the sector to succeed another pandemic, Coutu canvassed scenario planning, adoption of future-wise strategic management, competency-based human capital, data analysis, risk analysis, partnership-based organisation and agile organisation culture, stressing that in this era, no organisation could stand alone without the supports of the others. Jean-Marc Trottier, in his paper, entitled: ‘Planning for a turbulent future,’ said climate change would affect the African aviation industry.

Trottier explained that the  pandemic would make investors and lenders to view aviation investments through differently.

Besides, Nuhu observed that the pandemic had created the need to  accelerate growth in the industry globally and ensure the needed changes.

Nuhu explained that it had become paramount for players to develop strategies that would lead to development.

He noted that technology was an ongoing issue, which a lot of the airlines had keyed into, noting that for the agencies, such changes would be a bit difficult because of regulations.

He emphasised that unlike in some CAAs on the continent, NCAA does not receive subvention from the Federal Government, stating that 80 per cent of its revenues are from the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

“We can’t go back to the way the aviation industry was being run before the advent of Covid-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to reset the sector,” he added.

The need to open up cities for economic activities through flight connectivity is gaining traction among state governments in Nigeria.To achieve this, airports and airlines have a major role to play in connecting people with places for business, investment, tourism and other activities, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

 

Air transportation is  becoming a vital catalyst for development. Such anticipated development could be leveraged latching on the provision of reliable flight services by airlines operating into various routes.

To drive this initiative, Bauchi State Government and AeroContractors have sealed a deal to connect flight services into the Northeastern state.

Last week, the deal was activated as AeroContractors operated its maiden flight into the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

In an interview, Managing Director of AeroContractors/Accountable Manager, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood said the choice of Bauchi as a destination was thought out by the airline after series of strategic planning.

He said the carrier was convinced that extending flight services into Bauchi, which is the political and economic capital of the Northeastern, would accelerate commercial, tourism and other activities. Assuring the government and people of the state of unmatched air services, he said the airline would increase the flight from daily frequency to two as operations consolidate on the Lagos- Abuja-Bauchi rotation.

The AeroContractors chief affirmed that with the recently released aircraft from its maintenance facility, the carrier will offer premium services to link passengers residing both in Bauchi and contiguous states namely: Taraba, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Plateau and other states into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.

Governor Bala Mohammed said the deal with Aero Contractors was not only timely, but also would accelerate the drive by the administration to make Bauchi the air transport hub of the Northeastern  given its strategic location with other states.

He commended the airline for the initiative to add Bauchi to its route network. Noting that AeroContractors did not give any condition for extending flight services to the state, he spoke of plans to create  a conducive atmosphere that will make the flight profitable.

Such plans, they said, would include incentives, subsidies and other interventions that would trigger patronage for the airline.

Before AeroContractors’ inroads into the route, the state government had invested huge amount to attract another carrier, which gave conditions before flights commenced.

The governor lauded the Managing Director of AeroContractors, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood and his team for what he termed a great a business decision to expand operations to Bauchi promised to support the airline in a way of subsidy to remain on the route.

He further explained that flight operations to the state would help the state open up economically for the benefit of the state and carrier, stressing that unlike Max Air, which ventured into Bauchi on the state’s government invitation, Aero came on its own because of the huge business potential in the state.

He admitted that competition on the route would engender best practice and help the carriers to up their game in providing quality service to passengers, adding that Aero’s track record in the business of aviation stands it in good stead.

His words: “One remarkable thing about Aero is that they chose to come on their own unlike Max Air that we begged to come. We are assisting Max Air. This will open up communities in the state and open up Bauchi as the hub of air transport in the Northeast. I want to thank my brother, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika for all he has done for the development of aviation in Nigeria.

“If need be, we will go all out to support Aero by way of a subsidy for expanding operations to Bauchi. We have to do everything to be on this route. They have the track record and they have done their due diligence. We also plan to develop this airport into a cargo hub in this region.”

Mahmood thanked the governor and his team for the support and desire to see the airline operate to the city, promising that the carrier would continue to operate promptly and efficiently to Bauchi like it had always done to all the places the airline flies to. To him, these routes would add fresh breath to their schedule and complement the quest to rebuild the network to other cities as part of strategy to expand, hinting that Bauchi and Maiduguri are some of the under-served cities in North.

The Boeing 737-400 aircraft, which will be used for these new routes, has just been released from C-Check by the MRO team of Aero. “We are proud of our team for their expertise and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for their professionalism and support,” he said.

 

To boost capacity and efficiency in air traffic management, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has licensed 24 air traffic controllers (ATCs) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Organisation (NCAA), after their training and examination on Aerodrome and Approach Control.

The ATCs, according to its Managing Director, Captain Fola Akinkuotu,  were to be posted to strategic aerodromes.

Also, the agency has recertified 30 ATCs of various categories — air traffic control including Terminal Approach Radar, Area Procedural Control and Area Surveillance Control — after passing the required proficiency/rating tests and certified mentally fit in line with Annex 1 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and part II of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).

In a statement  Akinkuotu said since last year, the agency has recertified 194 air traffic controllers in addition to their periodic training and retraining, targeted at keeping them up to speed with latest skills and technology in air traffic management.

The NAMA helmsman also said to reduce delays and congestion in the airspace, the agency had started the construction of Aerodrome and Approach Control simulator at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, as a pilot project to be replicated at Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

 

Emirates will be showcasing its Premium Economy seats for the first time at the Arabian Travel Market 2021 (ATM).

The region’s leading travel and tourism exhibition is running this week. It will be the first in-person travel industry event to take place since the onset of the pandemic.

The Emirates stand will offer visitors from over 60 countries a chance to experience the airline’s signature product an recently introduced service enhancements across every cabin class onboard its A380 aircraft. It is  a reminder of the elevated onboard experiences in store for travellers once they get back to the skies.

The highly-anticipated Emirates premium economy seat will be on display for visitors to experience.  The seat boasts an abundant pitch of up to 40 inches, and visitors trying out Emirates’ premium economy seat will also notice its generous width of 19.5 inches and ability to recline into a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out. The seats are covered in cream-coloured anti-stain leather with automobile inspired stitching details and a wood panel finishing similar to Business Class,  designed to provide optimal comfort and support with six-way adjustable headrests, calf rests and footrests.  Customers will also find other meticulous details including easily accessible in-seat charging points, a wide dining table and side cocktail table, as well as a storage area.

Emirates will also showcase its Boeing 777-300ER game-changer First Class fully enclosed private suites exhibit, Boeing 777 Business Class seat, the newly refreshed A380

OnBoard lounge, along with other iconic products such the First Class Shower Spa and the latest version of the game-changer Economy Class seats. Across both the Emirates A380 and 777 Game changer products, visitors will notice new interior finishes and design details featuring the Ghaf tree motif, as well as an updated champagne colour palette.

 

Investigating air accidents in Africa often presents a myriad of challenges, including the dearth of qualified personnel, equipment, poor documentation, conflict among aeronautical agencies and absence of a laboratory to download vital evidence from aircraft flight data/cockpit voice recorders. To reverse the trend, countries in the Banjul Accord Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) are proposing collaboration among other things to deepen data analysis capacity, using the world-class facility in Nigeria’s safety laboratory, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

The global air transport community is beaming its searchlight on aviation in Africa.

Reason? The world is worried about statistics on air accidents on the continent, despite its low contribution to global air traffic in terms of passenger/cargo operations.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2020 Safety Report showed that, despite the low global aircraft traffic due to the coronavirus lockdown, Africa still recorded six accidents in the year under review.

The report stated that two of the accidents were fatal, involving turboprop aircraft, adding that this was the same number of fatal accidents the previous year.

IATA stated that the focus on Africa would continued to be on accelerating the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s safety-related standards and recommended practices (SARPS), adding that it was joining forces with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) on a three-year safety project to provide technical support to the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), to ensure that they achieved and maintained global aviation safety standards.

IATA said flights reduced by 53 per cent to 22 million last year and fatality risk remained unchanged compared to the five-year average at 0.13 per cent.

Since Africa has also led the world in major accidents and other safety incidents, safety groups on the continent are forging a coalition to reduce accident rates by improving regulatory framework.

To drive this initiative, the Banjul Accord Accident investigation Agency (BAGAIA) is proposing a $1.5 million integration of Flight Data Analysis Capability for member states to provide each other with a core analysis capability with the world-class Nigeria Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)’s FDR/CVR Safety lab as the hub for technical support.

BAGAIA Commissioner, Charles Irikefe Erhueh, made this known at the weekend, during a visit to the Guinean Civil Aviation Authority in Conakry where he discussed the importance of the regional aircraft accident investigative body and steps needed to drive its establishment.

Erhueh pointed out the importance of establishing an independent investigation body to investigate aircraft accidents, expressing optimism that Guinea would show interest like Sierra Leone and others.

He also called on the Guinea Civil Aviation Authority to deepen the country’s membership of BAGAIA, by meeting their obligations to the regional body, especially on clearing their outstanding subscription.

The Guinea Civil Aviation Authority Director-General, Mr. Mamady Kaba, promised the establishment of independent investigation agency soon, adding that the Bill was at the final stage.

He also said Guinea would clear its outstanding obligations once the Act was signed into law.

“That the papers for the creation of the AIG was created three years ago and they are looking forward to it assenting into law; that they are willing to clear the outstanding when the Bill is signed into law with the measure they will put in place,’’ he said.

Erhueh assured of BAGAIA’s commitment to member states in ensuring that the country was up to speed, noting that aviation is global.

The participants further deliberated on who pays for investigation when it is delegated to BAGAIA. The commissioner stated that only logistics would be handled by the state where the accident occurred since they were contributing their quota as stated in the agreement.

He said there were so many values to tap or gain from BAGAIA,  with offerings of training and assistance in Universal Safety Operational Audit Programmwe (USOAP) and collaboration with other states.

On the proposal for flight data analysis capability for member states, as highlighted in the commissioner’s presentation. He said once the proposal reached fruition, the body would provide each state with a core flight data analysis capability at AIB’s FDR/CVR safety lab.

According to the presentation, each BAGAIA member state would receive a laptop/workstation with flight data analysis software, audio analysis software, and flight animation.

He visited Guinea Accident Investigation Bureau Director-General Mr. Soumah Ahmed Tidiane and the deputy, Hadja Oumou Diallo.

Erhueh reiterated the need to embrace a good working relationship with an independent investigation body, with hope that its main objective would not be to apportion blame or liability.

He also visited the Airport Fire Commandant, Mr. Alpha Camara, and his team, stopping at the Guinean Meteorology Agency.

It would be recalled that, last year, Erhueh engaged the Minister of Tourism and Transport in Cape Verde, Dr. Carlos Duarte Santos, on the importance of a regional investigative agency.

He said there was the need for the body. According to him, the importance of BAGAIA could not be overemphasised, in addition to strengthening collaboration among member-states on investigation of accidents and serious incidents.

Erhueh reiterated the need to enlist other African countries into the fold and create a larger capacity not just for the region but also the continent.

On capacity building, he told the Minister that to enhance those key proponents of accident investigation, and that there was the need to train their investigators.

He further said there was an ongoing investigation into a helicopter accident in Nigeria in which members of BAGAIA could be drafted in observer capacity.

He said their involvement as part of the investigation team would enhance their capacity in accident investigation.

Santos agreed to synergise with the Institute for the Prevention and Investigation of Aeronautical and Marine Accidents (IPIAAM), Civil Aviation Authority and BAGAIA to move the industry forward in Cape Verde.

He promised to clear the agency’s outstanding subscriptions to the commission.

Santos agreed with Erhueh on the need for on-the-job training, stating that it would enhance the investigators’ capacity.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been commended for apprehending a private jet operator who allegedly converted its aircraft into charter services, thereby denying the government and the agency the required revenues and taxes.

Chairman , West Kink Airkunes Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent at the weekend.
He said the regulatory agency needed the support of all in order to effectively sanitise the industry.

He explained that full autonomy of NCAA would further empower and embolden it to carry out some reform processes in the sector, lamenting that a few of the operators who carry out this act were “connected” in the country.

According to him, Capt. Musa Nuhu, the current Director-General, NCAA with his international experience and exposure was ready and willing to carry out the needed reforms in the sector, but said all hands must be on deck to make this work.

Mshelia, however, frowned at the 60 days suspension of the culprit and planned seizure of its Permit for Non- Commercial Flight (PNCF), saying the punishment was too little to deter others from engaging in such act in the future.

Rather, he suggested that the regulatory agency should hand over such culprit to the security agencies for proper prosecution, insisting that such act was an economic crime against the state.

He, however, observed that NCAA’s action may be limited because of the civil aviation regulations, but declared that for proper cleansing of the sub-sector, it was proper for the Department of Security Services (DSS) and other security agencies to wade into the matter.

Mshelia advised that instead of engaging in illegal charter services, some of the private jet operators should change their license to commercial, airlift clients legally, create more jobs for teeming professionals and pay the appropriate levies and taxes to the government.

He said: “NCAA in what they are doing at the moment, they need our help. So many of us know the truth and we can help NCAA to act. We have a system that is hopeless, but you cannot say the truth in the public, otherwise you are called the radical. It shows us that the current NCAA helmsman is determined to exhibit what he has learnt from outside. The man was in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He knows what is happening in other countries, he has seen it and he has come to say no.

“The real truth is that there are powerful people behind all these illegal actions. If they are not, it would have been easy to flush them out. They want to live big. Some of these people are in a position to stop this in a minute, but they are involved in it. If we dig deeper, we will find them out.

“I disagree with the DG on the 60 days suspension of license. That is a crime against the economy of the country. That is a crime against all we stand for. Why will NCAA just give such a little punishment? The punishment should be more serious.

“I want to call your attention to something, NCAA is not a law court; it has its limitation legislatively on how it can punish citizens legislatively. I want to advise that the NCAA should go further by handing over the culprit for prosecution in the law court. In that case, it will be in order. To me, the 60 days is too little.”

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Nuhu at a virtual meeting last week had disclosed that the regulatory agency had apprehended a private jet operator who uses its equipment for charter services.

He also said that the culprit’s license whose identity was not revealed would be suspended for about 60 days with additional sanction if found guilty.

According to Nuhu, the regulatory body had put in mechanisms to identify these illegal operators who convert their private jets into hire and reward, thereby denying the Federal Government the requisite revenues,, while the registered charter operators also lose clients and revenues.

He threatened that the agency would apply full weight of the law in this regards, stressing that it had also increased its ramp checks to reduce such dastardly act in the industry.

He said: “These private operators are required to file monthly reports on the number of flights conducted and with passenger manifest for us to look and determine that possibly these are legal charter operations.

“We are dealing with actually one of the Permit for Non- Commercial Flight (PNCF), the enforcement team has recommended 60 days suspension of its certificate in addition to fine. So, they have a period of 30 days for which to get back to us or protest or bring evidence that we ask them.”