The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Tackling inadequate aviation infrastructure

    Tackling inadequate aviation infrastructure

    Efforts by the Federal Government to address inadequate airport and air navigation infrastructure at aerodromes are not delivering the desired result. To reverse the trend, air traffic engineers have urged the government to address the dearth of personnel and operational facilities, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR.

     

    THE  drive to improve safety in the air transport sector is engaging the attention of players across the globe as countries continue to invest huge resources in fixing dearth of personnel and inadequate operational infrastructure.

    To this end, the Federal Government said it would spend over N78 billion on critical projects in 2021.

    Besides, the national carrier, Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, said government would spend N14 billion on the construction of the second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and 10 new airports to boost civil aviation.

    But, experts have called on the government to fix the sore points at airports nationwide.

    Last week, the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) decried the shortage of manpower and inadequate operational vehicles to enable technical personnel effectively carryout operations at airports.

    Its National President, Ishaya Dung, an engineer, said this in Lagos at weekend during the commemoration of the 2020 World Air Traffic Safety Electronics Professionals  (ATSEP) Day.

    Air traffic safety electronics personnel, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO), are involved in the creation and support of ground-based electronic hardware and software systems for air navigation and traffic management.

    Dung said the dearth of personnel had affected the ability of air traffic engineers to meet their statutory obligations. He said the shortage of vehicles remained a major challenge to air traffic engineers’ function.

    According to him, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) requires that each of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance ( CNS) department in each airport is supposed to have a dedicated operational vehicle attached to it to facilitate operations.

    He stated that the fact  of not having enough training was dragging the engineers backwards in the discharge of their duties.

    According to him, the responsibility  to  perform   to the optimum rests on the shoulders of few engineers.

    He noted that as a result of the shortage of engineers, some of them travel from Lagos to Port Harcourt , Rivers State and other airports when issues arise in fixing some challenges.

    Dung said apart from the above challenges, the management of NAMA has improved tremendously on the communication equipment across the country.

    He said : “We have adequate navigation surveillance coverage within the Nigeria airspace.

    “I wouldn’t say we have enough manpower,but the status is not also too poor. We keep drawing the attention of the management of NAMA to some of these issues.”

    He said though Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has about 500 airport engineers nationwide, there is need to engage more air traffic engineers for effective coverage.

    He said in the last three years, over 150 air traffic engineers have been recruited by NAMA.

     

     

  • Emirates A380 for cargo operations

    Emirates A380 for cargo operations

    Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

     

    EMIRATES SkyCargo has started utilising its Airbus A380 aircraft on select cargo charter operations to transport urgently required cargo across its network.

    The first dedicated Emirates A380 ‘mini-freighter’ successfully transported medical supplies between Seoul and Amsterdam via Dubai.

    Working collaboratively with the Engineering and Flight Operations teams within Emirates, the air cargo carrier has optimised the cargo capacity of the Airbus A380 to safely transport around 50 tonnes of cargo per flight in the bellyhold of the aircraft.

    Emirates SkyCargo has introduced dedicated cargo operations on the A380 aircraft in response to the surge in the demand for air cargo capacity required for the urgent transportation of critical goods, including medical supplies for combatting COVID-19 in regions experiencing a second wave of the pandemic.

    Emirates SkyCargo is working on further optimising the capacity of its Airbus A380 aircraft through measures such as seat loading of cargo and has planned more dedicated cargo flights on aircraft for the month of November.

    A leading player in the global air cargo industry with a destination network spread across six continents, Emirates SkyCargo has continued to introduce innovative cargo solutions in line with rapidly evolving market conditions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The freight division of Emirates offers a variety of options for cargo capacity and connectivity to best match its customers’ requirements.

    Emirates SkyCargo operates dedicated cargo flights on its Boeing 777-F and its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft including 14 modified Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft with seats removed from Economy Class for additional cargo volume.

    Through its responsiveness and agility, the air cargo carrier has been able to maintain the flow of essential goods and trade across international markets during the pandemic, often providing a much required helpline to communities around the world.

    Taking a lead in the supply chain for the global distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, Emirates SkyCargo announced recently that it set up the world’s largest EU GDP compliant airside hub in Dubai dedicated for the COVID-19

  • Dana Air reconnects Enugu

    Dana Air reconnects Enugu

    Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

     

    DANA Air has begun daily flight from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja with additional flights between Abuja and Owerri.

    Its Chief Operating Officer, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo said the daily flight was introduced to enable passengers connect cities for business and leisure as well as pay visits to friends and family.

    Mbanuzuo said : ”The re-introduction of Enugu is part of our gradual and strategic route expansion drive and the frequent requests by our guests for us to return to Enugu and increase frequency between Abuja and Owerri to serve our teeming passengers.

    ”The hospitable people of Enugu require an airline that can take them from one point to another conveniently, on schedule, with seamless value added services at very pocket-friendly fares. These are some of the options we are bringing to the good people of Enugu. ”

     

  • Air Peace explains aircraft weight policy

    Air Peace explains aircraft weight policy

    Our Reporter

     

    AIR Peace at the weekend explained its aircraft weight policy, saying it dropped some luggage at Abuja Airport last Friday to ensure the carrier did not exceed the maximum take-off weight of its plane.

    The airline said the weight policy was in line with its consistent safety practice of ensuring that its operations aligned with global prescription on conditions of safe flight as it affects allowed take-off weight of aircraft.

    The clarification by the airline, its spokesman, Mr Stanley Olisa, said became imperative given the misrepresentation on some platforms that its aircraft were unsafe.

    A passenger, a lawyer, alleged that some luggage were left behind at Abuja Airport on Friday due to ‘weight restriction issues’ .

    Air Peace said the luggage was deliberately left because it was unsafe to overweight the aircraft.

    “We are stating categorically that all our aircraft are safe and airworthy, and it is a globally accepted fact that every aircraft has a weight limit.

    Read Also: ‘Air Peace pilots not on strike’

    “For the flight in question, we did not carry all the luggage because the aircraft had reached its maximum weight capacity. It would have been unsafe and dangerous to do otherwise. We did the right thing- a safety measure that is known worldwide.

    ‘’Airlines, all over the world, drop bags to avoid being overweight. So how does this translate to being unsafe? ”

    Last week, Air Peace  announced the arrival of another ERJ-145 which has been undergoing C-Check.

    The aircraft, with registration number 5N-BVD, arrived Lagos last week.

    “Most of our aircraft were out on C-Check during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have started arriving one after the other” , the airline said.

     

  • How to get airlines out of the woods, by experts

    How to get airlines out of the woods, by experts

    Our Reporter

     

    EXPERTS and stakeholders have described as grossly inadequate the N5billion proposed as COVID -19 Intervention Fund for airlines and others providing services in the industry.

    They said though  the government meant well for players in  sector, the N4 billion announced by Aviation Minister, Captain Hadi Sirika as intervention to indigenous carriers and another N1 billion for other businesses in the sector was enough indication that the sector is on a slow march to recovery.

    Sirika, who disclosed  the intervention plan last week in Abuja, at the just-concluded three-day Public Hearing hosted by the Senate Committee on Aviation, said the criteria for the disbursement of the funds were underway.

    Worried over the development, President, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI), Gbenga Olowo, berated the government for approving a paltry N4 billion as intervention fund for the airline industry.

    He said such a move by the government was not only insensitive but an after-thought at a time indigenous carriers were grappling with about N360 billion loss.

    Olowo said : ” Mr President and Minister Hadi Sirika, thank you for the palliative. Domestic airlines alone are owing about N22 billion to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Domestic carriers incurred over  N360 billion loss.  This is aas a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasonable countries intervened in their aviation industries in the second or third month. This is the eighth month and Nigeria is just responding.

    ” I think the government should just leave us to die, then we will know Nigeria has no aviation industry. N4billion palliative for the aviation industry is very insensitive. I condemn it totally.

    ” The airline industry is not made up of aeroplanes alone; there are allied services, people that produce onboard service are part of it; there are those who produce distribution, which we call sales and marketing, these are now outsourced and it is all part of the aviation industry.

    “This is without forgetting handling companies, they are all part of aviation. So how do you want to share N4billion among them?”

    On his part Chairman West Link Airline, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia who lauded the Federal Government for the gesture appealed for an upward review to about a trillion naira.

    “If you look at the contribution aviation does for the country and the effects of the pandemic itself, it hit aviation more than anyone else and I would only plead that the government should rethink it and look at it because there is no economy that would grow in this modern time without aviation.”

    Captain Mshelia  stressed that the Minister needs to do more in convincing the Federal Executive Council of the genuineness of airlines’ cause.

    He said: “If we don’t take time to look at it critically and support aviation, we stand the risk of having our airlines eliminated one by one and in reality, we are suffering, really suffering.”

    In suggesting the N1trillion bailout, Captain Mshelia listed areas where funds were needed urgently by airlines including aircraft maintenance, training and retraining, spare parts, Jet A1.

    Head of Research, Zenith Travels, Olumide Ohunayo said the bailout should be no less than N100 billion.

    He argued that airlines in other countries  are already accessing the second tranche of bailout which includes a reduction of service charges to about 50 per cent  which is currently ongoing in various parts of Europe.

    Ohunayo said,” Sincerely, I think that N4billion for bailout is grossly inadequate and the timing is a bit too late for me.

    On what the funds should be,  he said :”I don’t think anything less than N100b is too big. it’s not like you’re giving them this money free, it will be a loan and they will pay back.if you’re given them free, I’d say yes it’s okay but you are not, so bring out the conditions let’s see how the condition favors them or are we waiting for new airlines to come and join them?

    “You cannot do it for airlines who are dead or who are just coming in airlines , which  without an  Air Operators ‘ Certificates? For me, this should be strictly for the scheduled operators.

    Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation  Smart Adeyemi informed the  minister that its proposed N5billion COVID-19 intervention fund was  inadequate and unacceptable as it will not be enough to save jobs in the industry or keep aircraft in the air.

  • Emirates restores Lagos/Dubai daily flight

    Emirates restores Lagos/Dubai daily flight

    Our Reporter

     

    EMIRATES Airlines said it has increased its flight frequency on the Lagos / Dubai route from four times weekly to daily service effective November1, 2020.

    The expanded schedule, the carrier said, offers enhanced connectivity for customers to Emirates’ destination network via Dubai to over 100 destinations.

    Emirates operates its modern Boeing 777-300ERs between Lagos and Dubai.

    To ensure the safety of travelers,  the carrier said visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests can be  taken within 96 hours of travel , which is mandatory for passengers arriving to Dubai and the entire United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The airline said Nigerian travelers can now travel with confidence because of the  free cover on COVID-19 related medical expenses should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel.

    Read Also: FG lifts ban on Emirates Airlines

    The insurance cover, the UAE carrier said, will be effective for passengers travelling from December 31, 2020 and will remain valid for 31 days in the first sector of their journey.

    In a statement, the carrier explained : ”  This means Emirates passengers  can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel onwards to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination.

    “The free, global cover for COVID-19 related costs is further complemented by the comprehensive set of measures that Emirates has put in place at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its passengers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes to all passengers.”

     

  • How Captain Balo is upping the concierge ante

    How Captain Balo is upping the concierge ante

    Our Reporter

    A great business idea necessitates unlimited credit and big success, and a great company starts small. Making a company, brand, or organization what it is, is achieved together. Nevertheless, a great business idea necessitates unlimited credit and big success.

    Our reporter went above and beyond in taking accurate information to our audience, going to great lengths to create a productive interview session with Captain Oluwaseun Abdulhafis Balogun, a Nigerian but international pilot.

    The young man was born on 4th November 1990 and hails from Ogun State’s western region of Nigeria. He was born and raised in Warri, Delta State, and received his primary and secondary education there.

    He graduated from Bells University of Technology in Ota, Ogun State, with a bachelor’s degree, and he also bagged a Federal Aviation Administration pilot license.

    He is, however, a lifestyle pundit as well as a human resource consultant, among other things. He is known as a multifaceted business tycoon who founded a renowned concierge company in America and was named one of the country’s most opulent concierges.

    READ ALSO: Oluwaseun Balogun nudges concierge industry to greatness

    Oluwaseun planned to expand the development to Nigeria as soon as he realized his capabilities. Even so, he intends to create a subsidiary of his company in Lagos, Nigeria.

    Through this company, there will be a sufficient provision of services for clients of various social statuses.

    He also enjoys spending time with his friends while travelling around the world and learning about new countries, as well as having fun.

    As a result, Oluwaseun is fascinated with making people happy and doing things that make them feel better. Hence, David Grutman, the owner of LIV, America’s largest nightclub, and high-end restaurant chains, is cited as his exemplar.

  • Firm unveils N250m facility at Lagos Airport

    Firm unveils N250m facility at Lagos Airport

    An indigenous firm, Free On Board, is to build a N250 million packaging factory at the Lagos Airport for goods and logistics, in partnership with the Handling Company (NAHCO) and other international partners.

    The factory, according to the firm’s promoter and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oluwajimi Adebakin, will create a window, Brand Nigeria, which will ensure proper labelling and packaging of any product intended for export.

    Adebakin, who made this known to reporters, said discussions were at a final stage with NAHCO for the commencement of the packaging project as the site has been secured.

    Describing Brand Nigeria as a national assignment, he said the project’s objective is to ensure that exported products meet international standards.

    Read Also: Lagos Airport Command gets new CP

     

    The FOB boss said the firm will offer credit to motivate Nigerians interested in export business.

    “This is why we believe that 100 tonnes of cargo on a daily basis is achievable in a nation of over 260 million people if only 10million of us play an active role in this endeavor, we will be doing more than 100 tonnes a day and we see an opportunity to reduce unemployment drastically across the country.”

    He called for a subsidy for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure that charges were waived on goods to encourage exporters, adding that growing export business remains part of the solutions towards a diversified economy.

    Adebakin urged exporters to register with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council for easy movement of goods.

  • Protecting aircraft cabin against COVID-19

    Protecting aircraft cabin against COVID-19

    Global aviation is ramping up efforts to ensure cleaner aircraft cabins through disinfection and decontamination of  seats in airplanes, tray tables, armrests, overhead cabins , lavatories and crew stations. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR writes that airlines, airport authorities and others are embracing  the use of residual microbial shields for a safer travel environment.

     

     

    The drive to achieve improved safety in the air travel environment is gaining global traction as airlines, ground handling firms, air navigation services providers and others are leaving nothing to chance in embracing health driven technology and products that will mitigate fears of COVID-19 infection.

    As part of the global containment measures, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and other regulators have  prescribed the use of sanitisers for fumigation and decontamination of  airports. The strategy of using residual microbial shields  in dealing with the strain of the virus, investigations  have shown has led to the endorsement of some agents for the cleaning of aircraft cabins, airport departure and arrival halls, check-in counters, boarding gates  and other platforms for air travel.

    Towards this end, Nigerian carriers and other airlines worldwide are embracing a residual microbial shield, which has validity for 28 days in disinfecting and decontaminating air travel equipment, including aircraft cabin, departure halls, screening and check-in counters to achieve a safer travel environment.

    The residential microbial shield investigations by The Nation reveal is an exceptional first generation sanitiser that stands out with lasting effect wherever being applied.

    The sanitizer, which gained traction due to ongoing global pandemic , investigations reveal has been proven to survive on surfaces for up to nine days.

    Investigations have shown that during aircraft cleaning, the residual microbial shield known as Zoonocide Z71 is applied as a super fine mist to aircraft using electrostatic sprayers to refresh and fortify the protective layer to disinfect the aircraft cabin.

    Global aviation regulators described Zoonocide Z71 as a tested formula against  a variety of pathogens for up to 28 days on surfaces and 24 hours  on hands as sanitisers.

    The regulators said while traditional antimicrobials only work while they are wet, Zoonocide Z71 offers a continuous germ-killing barrier that protects surfaces and keeps germs from colonising many times longer than typical sanitiser protocols and hygiene regimens.

    To confirm its effectiveness, United States’Airline added Zoonocide Z71 microbial Shield, an EPA-registered antimicrobial coating that forms a long- lasting bond with surfaces and inhibits the growth of microbes to the airline’s already rigorous safety and cleaning procedures.

    United Airlines  is applying the coating weekly on more than 30 aircraft seats, tray tables, armrests, overhead bins, lavatories and crew stations and expects to add this latest measure to its entire mainline and express fleet before the end of the year.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has endorsed the Zoonocide Z71 microbial shield for use in terminals managed by it.

    Besides United Airlines and FAAN, other players in the sector have commenced calibration of their equipment using ZOONO antimicrobial hand, surface and cabin shield to cleaning and disinfecting measures.

    Managing Director, Pesticorp Associates Limited Mr Kunle Williams said the technology is gaining acceptance in the aviation and allied sector.

    He said the residual microbial shield remains a key solution to any threat of virus and virus-related challenges in the travel and allied sector.

    Williams, also the National President of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) said: “Zoono has provided an answer to frustration of repeating disinfection procedures.”

    Also, United Airlines Customer Officer, Toby Enqvist described the residual microbial shield as a long lasting sanitiser that will provide a high proficient level of protection for aircraft as well as protect airline employees and passengers.

    Enqvist said : “As part of our layered approach to safety, antimicrobials are an effective compliment to our hospital-grade High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air filtration system, mandatory mask policy for customers and daily electrostatic spraying. We have overhauled our policies and procedures and continue to implement new, innovative solutions that deliver safe onboard experience.

    “United Airlines in the US is applying the Zoonocide Z71 Microbe Shieldat Chicago O’ Hare International Airport and expects to expand it to its six hubs and 200 airports where United  Airlines aircraft remain overnight in the coming months, including each of United’s seven hubs as well as Boston, Cleveland and Las Vegas.”

    Williams said: “We advise that more Nigerian airlines and airports begin to take advantage of this formula by utilising the most advanced application of antimicrobial protection to their aircraft.

    “Zoonocide Z71 Microbe Shield will deliver an exceptional and effective layer of microbial protection for passengers and airline crew to make the environment inside the aircraft more safe and clean.”

     

     

  • Ibom Air connects Enugu

    Ibom Air connects Enugu

    Our Reporter

    Ibom Air will from today spread its wings to the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu from Lagos and Abuja bringing the airlines flight destinations to five.

    The carrier operates flights on Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and now Enugu routes. It is expected to hit the Coal City and add smiles to the faces of passengers in the southeast while providing them comfort and reliable service at affordable fares.

    Ibom Air’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. George Uriesi, said: “We’re launching our Enugu flights from Lagos and Abuja as part of our organic expansion strategy. Our aim is to offer our trademark experience of schedule reliability, on-time departures and excellent service to a wider pool of domestic travelers across the country.”

    Enugu makes it the second route the airline is expanding to after the domestic restart as it commenced flights Monday 20 , June, 2020 into sister state, Calabar.

    The airline, which started operations on June 7, last year, has hinted of plans to start regional and international operations soon.