The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Deepening collaboration for air safety

    Deepening collaboration for air safety

    The drive for enhancement in air safety among regulators, accident investigation agencies and aeronautical bodies is becoming a journey and not a destination, requiring various collaboration. Last week’s pact between the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected to raise the stakes in the implementation of safety recommendations in the sector, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    Air safety received a boost last week when the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) signed an agreement to accelerate the implementation of safety recommendation in reports released by the bureau.

    The agreement will see the two bodies pooling resources and expertise to drive the pursuit of safety in the sector.

    To cement the tie, the agencies at a meeting in Abuja raised an 11- man committee with five representatives from each organisation and one from the Ministry of  Aviation to achieve its objective.

    AIB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner Akin Olateru said the 11-man committee would review the NCAA’s response to safety recommendations issued by AIB on accidents, serious incidents and continuous operation of the State Safety Programmes (SSP) and ensure that the agency’s recommendations are implemented.

    Olateru said the committee would also consider other areas of cooperation that would improve safety of aircraft operations in Nigeria.

    He emphasised that the committee would also coordinate activities on aviation occurrences, ensure respect for the mandate and responsibilities of each organisation, effective and efficient exchange of information and data, among others. The AIB chief stated that the two agencies had worked together to ensure effective discharge of their duties in establishing and promoting higher levels of safety.

    His words: “These 11 Joint Committee members will collaborate in the review of NCAA’s responses to safety recommendations issued by AIB on accidents and serious incidents.

    “The committee will see to the implementation and continuous operation of the State Safety Programmes in Nigeria and any other areas of cooperation that will enhance safety of aircraft operations in Nigeria.”

    He emphasised that NCAA was in charge of regulating the industry, while AIB focused on investigating serious incidents and accidents to promote safety of the sector.

    Olateru reiterated the readiness of AIB to collaborate with other agencies and organisations, both in Nigeria and abroad, in ways that would ensure continuous safe skies in Nigeria, West Africa and the world.

    Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu stated that the primary objective of establishing the committee was to ensure the enhancement of thorough coordination, collaboration and cooperation processes and public safety in aviation industry.

    According to him, such coordination had been taking place between the authority and the bureau but had been hampered by inconsistently and informally.

    He described the inauguration as a giant stride towards the two agencies performing their functions in safety oversight and investigation of accidents and serious incidents to determine probable causes, implement safety recommendations to prevent re-occurrence.

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority

    Nuhu reiterated that it was expected that safety and accident investigation experts would have the opportunity to review safety recommendations proposed by the bureau and the responses provided by the authority.

    He said the two authorities were vested with  the implementation of the SSP.

    He pointed out that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 20 on Safety Management required that both authorities have access to appropriate information in the incident reporting system Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) and the Non-Punitive Reporting System to support the safety responsibilities.

    “Pursuant to the above, both authorities are striving towards establishing compatible software to enable the sharing of safety data and this also is part of the mandate of this committee.

    “It is also important that this committee continuously reviews the requirements of the Nig. CARs and the implementation of responsibilities it assigns to the Civil Aviation Regulations (Investigations of Air Accidents and Serious Incidents),” he said.

    According to him, another area of cooperation to emphasise on is the clarity on what constitutes a serious incident.

    The DG said the attachment C of Annex 13 gives guidance that was not all-inclusive, which could be open to subjective interpretation and application.

    He urged the committee to engage in ensuring the establishment of conclusions devoid of ambiguous interpretations that would ensure frictionless and seamless description of lines of responsibilities.

    “The committee will have to determine the detailed modality and methodology of implementation to ensure that there will be no compromise.

    “This is necessary, as we are supposed to have a global perspective to the final reports being issued by the bureau, as they do not constitute AIB reports per say, but Nigerian report and are ultimately available in the public space,” he said.

    He further urged the committee to address the establishment of procedures for timely transfer of occurrence to ensure valid and valuable evidences were not degraded or lost before the transfer authority began investigation.

    In a related development, the AIB is moving a step further in its enhancement of aviation safety as it has begun the training of ten accident investigators

    AIB has trained 10 investigators on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), popularly referred to as drone, to ensure data accuracy and enhancement of accident investigation by the agency.

    Speaking last week at Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) training for investigators in Lagos, Olateru said that the agency would not relent on its efforts a bid to enhance human capacity building, not just for the industry, but for the country at large.

    Olateru explained that in 2019 alone, AIB trained its investigators in the United Kingdom, United States and several other countries around the world and vowed that the management would continue to invest in human capacity in order to increase the safety of the airspace.

    The AIB emphasised that drone technology had become very critical to modern aircraft accident Investigation, which benefits included first responder capability, on-time post-crash site preservation capability, gathering, preservation and analysis of crash site evidence, 3D modelling capability and accurate and complete wreckage diagram through site mapping capability.

    He said: “Adapting to the latest trends and technologies in accident investigation ensures that our facilities and reports are rated highly all over the world. To ensure that these trends and technologies are effectively and efficiently utilised, our staff need to be regularly trained and retrained.

    “At AIB, we believe in investing in our human capital so that they can be able to put in their best in the delivery of their various duties. To make any organisation a success story, human capital remains the greatest asset and you must invest in it. It is important to continuously train and equip the staff, give them support and they must trust you as management for them to be able to deliver on their mandate.

    “So far, this ideology has worked greatly for AIB. We now publish our final reports timely, thanks to our adaptation of the latest trends and technologies and rigorous training of our human capital.”

    The AIB helmsman declared that deployment of the technology was important to the investigation process, stressing that mishap could occur anywhere.

    He maintained the equipment could also help its investigators to capture the whole site from the initial impact point to the wreckage’s final resting location.

    “The ground marks and  wreckage  distribution  help  to  identify  how  the  aircraft  hit  the ground.  Aerial images are also useful for showing the relative positions of obstacles, such as trees or  buildings,  that  may  have  been  struck  before  ground impact.

    “They help to reveal the surrounding terrain and environment that the pilot faced if there was an attempted forced landing. And when it’s a large aircraft at an accident site, aerial images help to document the damage to its upper surfaces,” he said.

     

     

  • NUATE seeks modalities for applying intervention fund

    NUATE seeks modalities for applying intervention fund

    By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

    The General Secretary, National Union of Aviation Employees (NUATE), Comrade Aba Ocheme, has canvassed  modalities for the application of N500 billion announced by Federal Government for businesses impacted by COVID -19 pandemic.

    He said though the aviation sector was yet to get any tranche of the promised funds to assist airlines, ground handling firms and other players in the aviation, the injection of funds would assist operators cope with the economic devastation occasioned by the pandemic.

    Describing the aviation sector as worst hit, he said  further delays in offering intervention to players in the industry had culminated in many aviation firms remaining in dire straits.

    In an interview in Lagos, Ocheme said though the promised funds were intended to achieve continuity of business, employment and continuity of income for employees, uncertainty is, however, beclouding the modalities for the application of the funds.

    To avoid any drift in strategy, aviation unions, he said had drawn the government’s attention to recommendation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in partnership with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) on how to drive implementation of intervention funds for impacted sectors of the economy, including the aviation sector.

    Ocheme said the government could achieve seamless implementation of intervention funds by recognising aviation as a public good that warrants strong government regulation and oversight planning, investment and public ownership.

    He said:“The government should establish national and tripartite aviation bodies of labour, government and employer representatives to develop strategies, coordinate investment  and financial responses, plan the supply of labour and oversee all aviation operations.

  • Driving recovery pills for the aviation industry

    Driving recovery pills for the aviation industry

    A month after domestic flights resumed operations, statistics on passenger traffic continues to plummet, fueling symptoms of collapse for airlines. But, there are more headaches for carriers struggling to navigate around increasing cost of operations for aircraft, the threat of shutdown by pilots and engineers, fluctuations in the exchange rate and multiple aeronautical charges. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR writes that timely injection of bailout packages promised by the government will get airlines out of the woods.

     

    THESE are not the best of times for operators in the aviation sector as combined factors of COVID -19-induced fear of flying and rising cost of operations continue to threaten the sustainability of air transport business.

    Statistics from regulatory agencies indicate a steady decline in passenger traffic on routes operated by scheduled carriers since domestic flights resumed operations on July 8, 2020.

    Though the government staggered the reopening of airports to make way for phase implementation of new travel protocols, commercial activities at airports are yet to attain a peak.

    To put it simply, domestic carriers are in dire straits in an industry where the bust and boom circle of airlines is becoming an interesting study for airline economists.

    Aviation analysts adduce poor turn out of passengers to the low disposable income of Nigerians yet to recover from the throes of hardship triggered by the lingering pandemic.

    Airlines, whose major business is to ferry passengers from point to point are the major hit in the dip in load factor as they are forced to deplore aircraft on major routes without a corresponding number of passenger on board.

    But, the problem of indigenous carriers is beyond low passenger traffic as they continue to navigate rising costs of operations, including multiple charges by aviation agencies.

    Besides the Passenger Service Charge (PSC), which was recently increased from N1, 000 to N2, 000 by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines are now paying more for Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel.

    Besides PSC, airlines in Nigeria are buffeted with multiple charges including, ground rent, en-route navigational charges, terminal charges, ticket sales charge, apron levies, fuel surcharge, Value Added Tax (VAT) on tickets sold and other charges.

    These multiple charges, operators say, constitute a clog to the wheel of progress of many carriers which, within 10 years of set up roll this aircraft to the graveyard.

    Experts say indigenous carriers may be in for tougher times unless the government comes to their rescue by implementing the bailout package it promised during the outbreak of COVID -19 as a stimulus package to airlines already tottering on the brink of collapse.

    Signs of early recovery for the carriers do not appear underway as regulatory statistics indicate further dip in passenger traffic.

    The development, a source at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hinted has prompted airlines to scale down the operators to cut losses.

    Investigations by The Nation indicated that since July when domestic flights resumed operations, airlines have reduced operational capacity to 20 per cent of their capacity as against over 120 daily flights by leading carriers pre- COVID -19 era.

    A source close to Air Peace said the carrier has reduced its flights from 120 daily to just 20 flights on account of the sharp drop in passenger traffic on its major routes.

    Other carriers, including AeroContractors and Arik Air, it was learnt, have also reduced their flights to cut losses.

    Aviation analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Aglow Aviation, Mr. Tayo Ojuri attributed dip in passenger traffic to non-opening of international flights.

    He said the sector could rebound when international flights resume soon, with possibility to contribute over 30 per cent feed into domestic traffic.

    In the interim, he said the government should assist airlines to keep their operations afloat because airlines play a major role in the national economy as catalysts for movement of persons, goods and services.

    Promises of stimulus package

    In the wake of airports closure in March 2020, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the government had packaged a stimulus plan to save indigenous carriers from collapse.

    The windfall, according to the minister, was not going to be the direct release of cash but other interventions that will assist airlines to cushion the losses they incurred in the period there were no flights.

    The promise by the government to indigenous carriers, Sirika said, was some form of intervention to cushion the devastating effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. The assistance, he said, was consistent with global practices to save a critical sector from imminent collapse.

    But, a few months after the declaration nothing has happened.

     Other interventions

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that besides the declaration by Sirika, the government had designed a bailout package of N27 billion for the restart of flights, which, till date, is yet to be implemented.

    The N27 billion packages, it was learnt, was intended as a cushion for payroll grant to support airlines, aviation ground handlers, caterers, provision of single digit interest loans with a long-term repayment plan, deferred payment of taxes and filing dates.

    A source hinted that the proposed intervention by the government was also pushing to ensure the removal of Value Added Tax from airline tickets, provision of COVID -19 tests for passengers and crew, waiver of airport rent fees to airport operators.

     Experts’ view on package

    Though nothing is considered too much to get the aviation industry out of the woods, President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) Gbenga Olowo described the grant proposed by the government as paltry.

    He said it would do little to address the losses incurred by airlines and other players in the sector.

    Olowo, nevertheless, said Nigerian aviation industry need timely intervention as governments of other countries have done to assist their air transport sector from the challenges thrown up by the COVID-19.

    He advised government to consider airlines as a priority in the identified projects the intervention was meant to address.

    Executive Chairman Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison said there was no better time to assist indigenous carriers than now.

    The boss of the umbrella body of indigenous carriers urged the Federal Government to intensify action on the implementation of a stimulus package for the beleaguered sector.

    Meggison said such stimulus grant or palliatives to domestic carriers as cushioning measure post-COVID -19 should be channelled through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ameliorate the pangs airlines were experiencing.

    He said: “We call on the Central Bank of Nigeria to implement the one year moratorium on principal repayments of intervention loans it plans to give out to airlines. The bank should also reduce the interest rate from nine per cent to five per cent for one year and create an N50 billion target facility to cushion the impact of the virus on airline business post-COVID-19.

    “We insist that without government offering stimulus package and incentives to domestic carriers mitigating the impact of the pandemic on our operations and the business would not have achieved much effect.

    “It will not be out of place for government to include deliberate sourcing of loans, grants, tax waivers, special foreign exchange windows and rates, reduction of airport taxes or surcharge for airlines.

    “We would appreciate the government if it could consider other options, including approving corporate loans through the Central Bank of Nigeria and waiver of some of the charges to guarantee the survival of airlines and avoid over 100,000 direct job losses post-COVID-19.”

    Continuing, Meggison said: “What we are asking for is not unprecedented. For instance, in the United States of America, airlines are seeking a $50 billion bailout. As part of its response, an Emergency Stimulus Package Bill was passed by the US Senate and House of Representatives which reduced interest rates to 0.25 per cent. Also, the bill granted their airlines tax credit for their losses during the pandemic.

    “Our government can do the same by granting the above-stated reliefs to Nigerian airlines as a way of assisting them to recover from their losses during this very difficult time.

    “We are aware that Russia, the United States, Canada, Britain and other countries have come up with one support or another for their airlines and Nigeria will not be at default, if it looks at options of supporting the industry.

    Also, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Belujane Konzults, Mr Chris Aligbe, said the government should cushion the severe effects of COVID-19 on the aviation sector.

    Aligbe canvassed a loan of less than five per cent paid over 15-20 years for airlines.

    Gale of a sack of pilots, engineers

    As operators wait for action from government to inject the stimulus package, matters are getting to a head forcing airline owners to erase jobs.

    Three carriers: Air Peace, Bristow Helicopters and AZMAN Air eased out over 170 pilots from their organisations.

    Air Peace sacked over 69 pilots in a move calculated to put the carrier on the path of sustainability.

    Citing reasons for the right sizing, Air Peace said it took the painful, but rightful decision in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health.

    Industry analysts, however, described as normal the erasure of jobs in airlines, saying global carriers were embarking on the steps to save their organisations from the collapse in the face of zero-revenue propelled by COVID -19 restrictions on flights.

    A pilot, Captain Idris Yuba said there was nothing unusual about airlines asking professionals to step aside to keep the business afloat.

    He said:” As at today, all the airlines, including Air Peace, considered to be the biggest in Nigeria are struggling in the face of traveller apathy.

    “The carriers are seriously hit after they resumed flights in July because of COVID-19 induced challenges not limited spike in operating costs which continues to increase for aviation fuel, aircraft lease rentals, aircraft maintenance, fluctuating exchange rate, insurance premiums and other obligations to aviation agencies, caterers, feelers, banks and many others.

    “Imagine, an airline such as Air Peace with over 120 flights then has come down to about 20. Yet it has a workforce of over 3, 000 and multiple taxes that are not easing out. The airlines are all closer to the brink than when they started.

    “Sadly, airline owners are grappling with industrial relations issues such as the insensitivity of aviation workers, especially the pilots and engineers who pose a grave challenge to the survival of the airlines.

    “While many of their counterparts worldwide were getting laid off, local pilots are insisting on regular pay despite the obvious. This sheer irresponsibility pilots and aircraft engineers union and recent threats to shut down the entire industry is sickening. If all carriers shut down, without help from the government, how do Nigerians move around?”

    Threat of industry shutdown

    Meanwhile, National Association of Aircraft Pilots ad Engineers (NAAPE) last week threatened to ground the operations of airlines because of the sack of pilots and engineers by three carriers, namely Air Peace, AZMAN Air and Bristow Helicopters.

    The body urged the airlines to reverse the sack of its members as failure to do that will lead to the withdrawal of services across airlines.

    Its President, Abednego Galadima said the association has been pushed to the wall with the unilateral decision by the airlines to sack pilots under the pretence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

     

     

  • Driving traffic for carriers

    Driving traffic for carriers

    Flights resumed at airports last week after three months, no thanks to government’s measures to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. But, passengers’ turnout remains unimpressive due to risks of catching COVID-19. The development is forcing carriers to deploy technological innovations to grow load factor to remain profitable, KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

    ACTIVITIES at airports nationwide assumed various dimensions last week as domestic carriers resumed flights amid new realities, three months after they suspended flights to implement containment measures by the government to stop the spread of COVID-19.

    The industry restarted operations amid fresh concerns – the risk of catching COVID19 during air travel. As a consequence, there was low passenger traffic, despite a myriad of health, safety, airworthiness and operational protocols put in place aeronautical agencies to achieve physical and social distancing on the ground and aboard aircraft.

    Though many passengers were watching keenly the turn of events, before they would show up at airports for flights, public enlightenment messages by airlines and aviation agencies appeared to miss the target of pulling prospective passengers to the airport.

    A survey by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed the unwillingness of many passengers to travel over the risks of catching COVID-19.

    The report also said the industry’s re-start plans addressed passenger’s main concerns. It also indicated that many travellers were taking precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19.

    The IATA survey revealed that 77 per cent of passengers said they washed their hands more frequently before embarking on any flight, 71 per cent said they were avoiding large meetings and 67 per cent wore face masks in public places.

    Some 58 per cent of those surveyed said they would avoid air travel, 33 per cent suggested that they would avoid travel in future as a continued measure to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19.

    When asked to rank the top three measures that would make them feel safer, 37 per cent cited COVID-19 screening at departure airports.

    Thirty-four per cent agreed with mandatory wearing of face masks and 33 per cent noted social distancing measures on aircraft.

    According to the survey, passengers displayed a willingness to play a role in keeping flying safe, with 43 per cent ready to undergo temperature checks, 42 per cent willing to wear a face mask during air travel while 40 per cent expressed readiness to minimise interaction by adopting online check-in procedures. About 39 per cent of passengers said they were willing to take a COVID -19 test prior to any trip by while 38 per cent want their seating areas sanitised before any flight.

    The survey report reads : “People are clearly concerned about COVID-19 when travelling. But they are also reassured by the measures being introduced by governments and the industry under the Take-off guidance developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    These include mask-wearing, the introduction of contactless technology in travel processes and screening measures. This tells us that we are on the right track to restoring confidence in travel,” a source said.

    “To have maximum effect, it is critical that governments deploy these measures globally,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director-general and CEO. de Juniac said: “The survey also pointed to some key issues in restoring confidence where the industry will need to communicate the facts more effectively.

    Travellers’ top concerns include Cabin air quality: Travellers have not made up their minds about cabin air quality.”

    To avoid contact between passengers and airline personnel, Dana Air has introduced WhatsApp Booking in line with the social/ physical distancing measures of COVID-19 and for ease of booking, payment and inquiries for its passengers.

    The WhatsApp booking and payment platform, the first of its kind in Nigeria, will serve as an additional platform for booking, inquiries, reservation and payment apart from the airline’s website. The Media and Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, said:

    ”We care about the well-being of our guests and we want them to be safe. This is why we are introducing this initiative to keep our guests safe, while still booking and paying the smartest and safest way from anywhere around the world.”

    Spokesman for Arik Air, Mr. Banji Ola, expressed satisfaction with the passenger traffic, orderliness and cooperation of passengers.

    He praised the arrangements by the airports authority to ensure the safety of passengers. Speaking on the resumption of flights, Air Peace spokesman Mr. Stanley Olisa said the airline had put in place reliable measures to protect passengers and staff members preflight, in-flight and post-flight.

    Olisa said the flying public should not express any worry but comply with health protocols rolled out by aeronautical authorities. He said the airline had disinfected its aircraft, affirming that its flight crew had undertaken the training to remain COVID-19 conscious.

    He stressed that passengers must wear their face masks before entering the airport terminal and on board, and were expected to submit themselves to temperature checks before boarding. According to him, “If your temperature reads above 37 degrees, you’ll be denied boarding. No loitering on the aisle of the aircraft. Hands must be sanitised and no more meals on board.

    “This is to reduce crew-passenger contact. Flying will be somewhat different but we can guarantee your safety”.

    The airline urged its customers to embrace online booking and check-in, employing its user-friendly Mobile App, to minimise contact.

    Olisa, who urged the flying public to download the Air Peace Mobile App for seamless booking and check-in, asserted that the airline’s aircraft were in perfect shape as multiple shakedown flights had been conducted for safety reassurance. He added that the airline had also been operating ‘special’ flights, an indication of aircraft airworthiness.

  • Travel Business launches platform

    Travel Business launches platform

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Africa’s premier travel platform, Travel Business, has berth the shores of the travel industry.

    The platform according to its founder, Mr Remi Jibodu intends to elevate transportation and tourism reportage as well as provoking development through the use of modern technology.

    Coming at a time when the travel industry is facing unprecedented challenges and an existential threat from the impact of COVID-19, Travel Business, Jibodu said will to ride out the storm through the provision of innovative support that will accelerate normalcy and engender economic recovery for the sector.

    Jibodu said: “Our mission is driven by the philosophy that transportation is an inseparable driver of the economy.

    “Travel Business is set to change the narrative in Africa’s travel industry through her wealth of experience and the strong ties enjoyed with the industry’s captains.”

    Read Also: Lagos launches retirees’ portal

    Speaking at the virtual launch at Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the founder Remi Jibodu expressed confidence in the transformation of the travel industry in Africa into an economy hub where it will contribute substantially to the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “Africa has the potential of creating a modern travel industry that will stimulate economic boom only if we change our orientation and philosophy of how a modern travel industry should be and embrace the new normal. This is the core of what Travel Business is bringing on board” Jibodu said.

    On the recovery of the industry as a fallout of COVID-19, he said “the travel industry is the worst hit and such has created a domino effect on the ancillary industries whereby creating an estimated 100 Million job loss according to the World Travel and Tourism council (WTTC) of which Africa accounted for 7.6Million.

    “The industry is a significant catalyst  to the accelerated recovery and growth  of the global economy considering the 2020 WTTC report of 1 out of 10 global jobs been supported by the travel industry while 1 out of 4  of all global net new jobs created over the last five years were attributed to the Travel & Tourism sector”.

    “What this means is that the survival of the travel industry is inevitable and that is where www.travelbusinessng.com comes in to provide that driving support that will guarantee stability of the industry in Africa and sustainable growth afterward”

    Travel Business has developed a platform www.travelbusinessng.com that will serve as a rallying point for the travel ecosystem in Africa through the provision of information, travel advisory and modern technological tools that will propel development.

  • ‘Why meals on board flights no longer feasible ‘

    ‘Why meals on board flights no longer feasible ‘

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Authorities in the aviation sub-sector have resolved that meals on board flights will no longer be feasible due to the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic as the country sets to restart domestic operations July 8, 2020.

    Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who made this known said  food will no longer be served on domestic flights when operations resume as part of efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus on flights.

    He said: “For this domestic operation, there will be no food. No food will be given to reduce contamination level and we will allow you to come with your mask,” he said.

    “Like the MD of FAAN had said the other day, we see it as your private thing. So it is you bring your mask, they don’t have to be the fancy ones.”

    Read Also: Arik, Aero, Dana, others begin Lagos-Abuja flights Wednesday

    Sirika gave clarifications on the functions of crew in the flight stating that because of their initial function they are in their elements, “Remember I told you on this platform that the cabin crew’s job is not to offer you tea.

    “They came into the industry because of people who were getting air-sick so we thought we would be putting nurses in the airplane to look after those people who are sick.

    “Since then, they metamorphosed and they became something new. They want to give you tea because many people don’t get sick anymore, they will either give you coffee, offer you food and drink and so on.

    “So the main purpose of the cabin staff is to ensure that we all remain safe for your welfare and your health.”

  • NCAA suspends aircraft operated by private, charter carriers

    NCAA suspends aircraft operated by private, charter carriers

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended some aircraft in the fleet of private charter carriers for non-compliance with Operations Specifications Part G covering aircraft leasing operations.

    The NCAA listed the affected aircraft to include planes marked with registration number:  CL604-N605JA operated by Jedidiah Air; CL604-N880ET operated by OmniBlu ; CL604-N604WL operated by West Link Airlines ; G.IV-N990EA operated by NestOil ; CL601-N253LA operated by West Link Airlines; G1159A-N313MS operated by Izy Air and CL604-G-FABO operated by Jet Support Services.

    According to its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu has directed that the affected carriers and their airplanes undergo full audit in line with relevant Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR).

    Part G, is part of the NCAR, which prescribes conditions for the wet leasing of aircraft in Nigeria.

    Read Also: NCAA bans private jets for charter

    In a related development, the NCAA also suspended the operations of some aircraft in the fleet of Skypower Express Airways Nigeria limited for non-compliance and violation of the provisions of NCAR Part 9.2.3.4.

    The Regulatory body in a letter dated June 30th, 2020 reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/129 signed by the Director General Captain Musa Nuhu titled: Suspension of the Ops specs Part G (Aircraft Leasing Operations) of your organization’s Air Operator’s Certificate issued the suspension addressed to the Managing Director of Sky Power Express Airways Nig Limited.

    The letter in part read: ”Be informed that by this action your organization ceases to exercise all the privileges associated with Part G authorization.

    “Furthermore, the operations of the following aircraft listed on the Part G of your organization’s operations specifications are hereby suspended pending a full audit of your organization and compliance with all the relevant NCAR.

    The aircraft in the fleet of Skypower Express Airways affected by the suspension include: “Hawker 800XP:N838BB, Hawker 800XP: N552ME, Hawker 800XP: N749WW, Hawker 800XP:ZS-EXG, CL604-D-ANGB , CL604-T7-NMN , CL601-N580KR and  Gulfstream 200-N100EK.

  • Six airlines resume flight July 8

    Six airlines resume flight July 8

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Six domestic carriers: Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Air Peace, DANA Air, AZMAN Air and Max Air are set to resume flight operations July 8, 2020.

    Their resumption follows their compliance with the safety, health and other guidelines rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    Checks on their websites by The Nation confirmed their readiness for flight operations such as Lagos – Abuja, Abuja – Lagos and other routes.

    Information gleaned from the websites of these carriers show that passengers will be paying nothing less than N33,000.00 on the economy cabin.

    In a statement at the weekend, Arik Air said it will be resuming flight operations following the Federal Government’s decision to re-open Lagos and Abuja airports.

    Its Managing Director, Captain Roy Ilegbodu said the carrier will be operating three daily flights from Lagos to Abuja in the first phase of the restart while Port Harcourt will be added to the schedule from Saturday, July 11, 2020 when the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa is reopened for operations.

    Read Also: FAAN out with fresh guidelines as domestic operations begin July 8

    He said: “Passengers have been assured of their safety and well-being at every stage of their flight as the airline has put various measures in place in line with COVID-19 health protocols as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport three hours before scheduled departure times so as to have ample time to undergo all security and health protocols before flight. Furthermore, all passengers are required to come properly kitted with their face masks”.

    Arik Air Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu elaborated: “We are ready to fly our esteemed customers again. All preparations have been made to make flying in this extraordinary period in the world safe and pleasurable.  Arik has worked actively with aviation agencies for an effective re-start of the industry and also ensure that agreed health measures are effectively implemented”.

    Air Peace on its part said it will operate three flights on the Lagos – Abuja route as well as return flights on the same route.

    DANA Air on its part said it will operate flights but did not state the number of rotations. According to information gleaned on the website of AZMAN Air, the carrier said it will operate two flights out of the Lagos Airport into Abuja, while it operates a lone flight on the Abuja – Lagos rotation.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cautioned domestic carriers not to violate the terms of the protocols handed over to them for restart.

    Its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu who made this known at a webinar coordinated by the authority said: “All stakeholders must meet the protocols set by the NCAA. If you do not meet, you are not granted permit to start.

    “Some airlines will be given approval to start. Not all airlines and airports will start.”

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Yadudu who also spoke on security at the airports said the closed-circuit televisions installed are effective.

    “We have CCTVs across our airports and have proven to be effective.

    The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi commended the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu on efforts made to get airports ready for the restart.

    Only last week, FAAN released new procedural guidelines for air travelers and other airport users. The new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of theCovid-19 virus.

    According to its spokesperson, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu: “All passengers must arrive at the airport properly kitted with their face masks on.

    “They must also ensure a minimum of one point five meters physical distance. Aviation Medical/Port Health personnel would screen each passenger and ensure the use of face masks.

    “Hand sanitizers would be provided for passengers before entrance, at the waiting halls/lounges and pre-boarding gates, all footwear would be disinfected and sanitized by foot mats placed at all entrances to the terminal building.”

  • Aircraft maintenance organizations constitutes association

    Aircraft maintenance organizations constitutes association

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Operators of Aircraft Maintenance and Overhaul Repair (MRO) have set up a group: Association of Aircraft Maintenance Organization of Nigeria (AAMON) to speak in matters to related to the business as well as protect their investment in the sector.

    The new association comprise all aircraft Maintenance organizations in Nigeria, Fix Base Operators, Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MROs) organizations and all those involved in the maintenance of aircraft in the country.

    Chairman of AAMON, Engr. Isaac David Balami said the new association would help protect the interest of members and to demand support of government and stakeholders so as to grow the business of aircraft maintenance and reduce capital flight from the country.

    The body, Balami said will also provide employment, grow aviation technology which will lead to the manufacture of aircraft spares and eventually, manufacturing of aircraft.

    Announcing the birth of the new group, Balami, who is also the Accountable Manager of 7 Star Global Hangar Limited, a start-up MRO facility in Nigeria, lamented that the total cost of aircraft maintenance in West Africa is over $1 billion annually.

    He said Nigeria had the highest number of aircraft ferried overseas for maintenance and therefore expended about 75 per cent of the said amount.

    “Indeed, Nigeria is not alone in the critical infrastructure deficit. He further stated that none of the West African countries has a MRO, conceding the MRO hubs to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – all of which have national carriers that are dependent on Nigerian market for traffic”.

    Read Also: World’s biggest aircraft Boeing 777X makes historic test flight

    The dominant MRO players on the continent according to him can be divided into African and non-African operators. Local MRO providers include South African Airways Technical (SAAT), Ethiopian Airlines Maintenance and Engineering, Kenya Airways Technical, Air Algerie Technics and Tunisair Technics.

    Non-African operators include Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), Direct Maintenance and Sabena Technics. He listed other joint ventures such as Air France Industries’ and Royal Air Maroc’s Aerotechnic Industries.

    He noted that over the decades, the aviation sub-sector in Nigeria had suffered because of its inability to establish proper Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities, a crucial infrastructure that ensures that the airline aspect of the business maintains a balance in its cost-intensity, stressing that With the emergence of new MROs in the country it is logical to look at areas of synergy to grow the budding market.

    “When you talk about Nigerian airlines you are talking about West Africa because Nigeria is actually West Africa, whether you like it or not; and across the sub-region, over $1 billion is spent annually on aircraft maintenance and that is a fact. Nigeria contributes about 75 per cent of this expenditure.

    “That is a huge capital flight. Those of us that are in the sector and in MRO business, feel frustrated about it.

    “This is obviously a serious blow to Nigeria’s economy because I think that if the Aviation Ministry has $1 billion, you can imagine what they will do with it. So the point is that we must stop that leakage. It is not a matter of let’s try; we have to stop it. The private sector has to be involved because government cannot do it alone.

    “Yes, there is 100 per cent interrelationship between cost of airline failure and cost of maintenance overseas. Asides aviation fuel, maintenance is the second biggest cost for Nigerian airlines and it is affecting our airlines badly.

    “The issue is when you put Boeing 737 on the ground and it is not flying, you will be losing over $100,000 every day. This is because your fixed cost and your variable cost are known. You cannot change it because whether you fly or you don’t fly you will still do maintenance; whether it is after 500 hours, 1,000 hours or 18 months, whether it is D-check, whether it is C-check; that you are not flying does not mean that you won’t conduct checks on the aircraft,” he stated.

    Balami identified high cost of maintenance overseas as the major reason why Nigerian airlines go under after a short period of operation.“Aircraft maintenance is determined by the calendar and cycles. So when you are not flying, you may not be getting the cycles, but the calendar is affecting it; so at the end of 18 months, you must do it.

    “When you do it overseas you spend extra cost, including fuel cost, visa for your crew, allowances you have to pay, hotel accommodation and time you are going to spend. You are also going to pay for navigational charges. If you are going to the US, you will be losing about three to four days. You will stop and fuel. What you will spend on your aircraft taking them overseas will be enough to pay your staff for a certain period,” he explained.

    On the struggle for homegrown solution, the AAMON President said both private and public efforts to revive the essential facility in Nigeria lately have not yielded the desired result.

    He said the Akwa Ibom’s state government about three years ago completed its state-of-the-art MRO complex with the hope that both local and foreign investors will be attracted to complement it with more capital-intensive equipment and expertise. None he said has been seen till date as the hangar lies fallow.

    However, Aero Contractors, early 2018, made a breakthrough in aircraft routine maintenance programme for Boeing 737 classics types.

    The facility, domiciled at the Lagos airport, cuts the cost of overseas repairs by half. At the official opening a year ago, the organisation already had aircraft on maintenance queue to last its engineers the entire year.

    It was though a small facility compared to the huge demand, the effort again demonstrated that such investments are not beyond Nigeria, where there is a will.

    Secretary of AAMON, Daniel Erin who is the Accountable Manager for DJSD Aviation Support Services urged the Federal Government to put proper policies in place that will allow local airlines to grow via homegrown MRO facilities.

    Erin said no airlines could survive with fuel and sundry charges taking 60 per cent of revenue, while overseas maintenance and overhead compete for 40 per cent balance.

    “That way, airlines are bound to go bankrupt. What policies have we put in place to support the local carriers? It all boils down to our policies. How far have we gone with MROs, a critical facility? What developments do we have now or aspiring for? We must be able to answer all these.

    “We need to get our MRO plans off the ground and also increase the level of infrastructure at our airports. Let us give support to our local carriers with some forms of concession. It does not have to be bailout funds but basic concessions that give them comparative advantage over other foreign airlines that operate in our economy,” he said.

  • Aviation unions mobilize against concession of airports

    Aviation unions mobilize against concession of airports

    By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

    Unions in the aviation sector have announced plans to mobilize against the concession of four airports by Federal Government saying the motive for giving away the four most lucrative terminals does not serve national interest.

    They threatened to make the airspace ungovernable should government ahead with the concession, which they have described as self-serving insisting that the recent Certficate of Compliance handed over to Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika as questionable .

    The unions said Sirika is not giving full information to President Muhammadu Buhari on the project with the way he was pursuing the project in a hurry without following the procedures spelt out for such exercise by the relevant agencies of government.

    The unions including: National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and AUCPTRE in a joint press briefing, accused the minister of serving his self-interest without reference to the Project Dekivery Team.

    Speaking on their behalf at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, Comrade Ocheme Aba, the General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) accused the Minister of Aviation of completely sidestepping the team and has gone ahead with his own programme.

    Read Also: Domestic flights to resume July 8

    On June 24,  2020  Sirika received the Certificate of Compliance issued him by the ICRC which confirms that he has complied with all needed requirements to proceed with the process of concession for the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

    However, the unions said airports to be concessioned needed  transactional scope ; which needs to be communicated publicly began re the ICRC issued any certificate of compliance to Sirika.

    Aba said: “As far as we know, the Transaction Adviser has yet as at date, not submitted the report of the scope of the Transaction to the Project Delivery Team. This raises the big question as to what is really being concessioned at those airports.

    “The whole airport? Or, are we to believe that only Terminals will be concessioned? Or facilities within the terminals? No one knows, except the Minister of Aviation. And this draws attention to the opaque nature of the concession conjecture.

    “With the Project Delivery Team (PDT) – which includes the ICRC – was still discussing the issue of Transaction Adviser (TA), the Minister of Aviation was on air announcing the approval of FEC of a TA and his fees. Both the TA and the fees were apparently decided solely by the Minister. Up till date, the PDT has not been allowed to take a position on the matter, its effort in that direction being frustrated.”

    For that reason he said, the unions have decided that it shall have to review its membership of the PDT if this type of public deceit will continue.

    Aba further accused Sirika of usurping the responsibilities and powers of the governing board of aviation agencies.

    “The Minister has completely usurped the functions of the management and the Governing Board of the Authority. As such he has arrogated to himself the powers to enter into agreements in the place of FAAN. This is to the extent that there is now no difference between the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). This is a serious infraction; a travesty and an anomaly.”

    “As can be clearly seen from the foregoing, the planned concession of the only four revenue generating airports of FAAN is an ill wind of which the only beneficiary is the source of the wind. As such, our Unions come against the exercise and will resist it with our strongest stance. We are compelled to act so in recognition of our corporate citizenship and our sacred responsibility to the general public and fellow Nigerians to safeguard our common patrimony.”

    On the nationwide action, the unions said: “For avoidance of doubt, our Unions with all aviation workers, particularly FAAN workers and pensioners, will not co-operate with the concession program of the  Minister of Aviation and will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that the machinations of the few against public interest ends here. The concession of Nigerian airports in the opaque manner prescribed by the Minister of Aviation must be denied daylight so as to suffer perpetual darkness.

    “We shall soon publish our itinerary of public nationwide protests against this unsavory machination. These protests shall last as long as the idea to concession Nigerian airports remains alive. In furtherance of the objective, we have sought the support of the NLC, TUC and ULC for the purpose of escalating the processes of engagement and protests. Never again, with the unfortunate mistake of selling of national assets to government officials and their cronies as happened in the electricity sector, shall we allow such to happen in Nigeria. Never again!”.