The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • Air Peace gets third B 777

    Air Peace has taken delivery of its third Boeing 777 aircraft.

    The airline’s latest bird touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, about 3:20pm last Wednesday.

    It was honoured with a spectacular water salute staged by men of the Fire Service Department of the Federal Airports of Authority of Nigeria, with a crowd of the carrier’s management and staff as well as aviation authorities and airline workers cheering ecstatically.

    Air Peace said the latest aircraft in its fleet was a big boost for its plans to soon start long-haul flight operations to Sharjah, Dubai, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

    Read also: Air Peace decorates two new captains

    Addressing reporters shortly after the aircraft marked with registration number 5N-BWI and named “Anuli Peggy Onyema” landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Allen Onyema said the airline had proved beyond doubt that it was the face of the bright future of the country in the global aviation industry.

     

  • Pensioners seek support for FAAN

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, has called for the implementation of a new passenger service charge being proposed by FAAN to meet the challenges of maintaining airports across the country.

    Last year, FAAN proposed a hike in passenger service charge for travellers on domestic and international flights.

    Though the authority did not state the new charge, passengers  pay N1,000 for domestic flights and passengers on international flights pay $50.

    In an interview in Lagos at the weekend, Comrades Rasaq Ope and Emeka Njoku, chairman and secretary, called on the Minister  of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to, as a matter of urgency, direct the implementation of the new passenger service charge to meet up with   economic realities.

    “We are aware of how much the private terminal is charging passengers and other customers and FAAN has not increased its passenger service charge in the last nine years. It is based on that, that we call for the implementation of new charges to enable them meet the growing challenges of airport maintenance.”

    They urged Sirika to direct  debtors of FAAN to start the settlement of debts owed the agency, adding that the minister has been too quiet on those owing FAAN, especially airlines and concessionaires.

    According to them, aviation should be given proper attention, especially with the inauguration of new terminals across the country.  They added that soon the revenue generated would not be able to take care of the overhead cost of the agency.

    They also disclosed that billions of naira was being owed FAAN by various concessionaires, airlines among others saying that the debts were crippling the operations of the agency.

    On the proposed carrying of firearms by aviation security personnel, NUP called for the creation of a special unit that would be in charge of firearms.

    While calling for the training and retraining of FAAN workers to meet the trend of operations, the pensioners condemned undue interference from politicians in the running of the organisation saying that it does not allow for the growth of the organisation.

    “We don’t want FAAN to collapse and the minster must act fast. We don’t need grammar because the Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika has failed in the past three years. We ought to have a new national carrier, maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities but nothing.

    “We thought as a professional that by now things would have changed in the aviation sector but nothing has changed because the minister has failed. Where is Bilateral Air Services Agreement BASA fund for the past six years?’’ the association asked.

    They called on the Federal Government to look into the stoppage of BASA fund and to let the Nigerians know what went wrong.

  • IATA clears air on billing settlement system in Nigeria

    Global airlines regulator International Air Transport Association (IATA) has clarified the implementation of its new generation billing settlement system in Nigeria.

    Its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Alexander De Juniac, stated this in an online interview.

    Juniac said the new generation billing settlement system was designed to facilitate the operations of over 290 global airlines and 50,000 accredited travel agents.

    He said the implementation of the new generation billing system has drawn the attention of a few countries, including Nigeria and other global partners.

    Juniac said the new system is not a programme specific only to Nigeria, but it represents the modernisation of the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) used by more than 50,000 IATA-accredited travel agents around the world.

    He said the new generation IATA settlement system was being rolled out progressively to all 180 BSP markets.

    IATA, according to him, is working with travel agents and other representatives to introduce the new system to other platforms, including Passenger Agency Programme Global Joint Council (PAPGJC) and Agency Program Joint Councils (APJCs).

    These platforms, he said, would enable IATA’s travel agent partners contribute to the development of the new system.

    Juniac listed the benefits of the new system to include strengthened protection against fraud through an enhanced risk management framework for travel agents.

    The new system, he said offers travel agents three levels of accreditation, which allows them to choose the level that best matches their business model.

    He said: ”The new accreditation models are making it easier for local Nigerian travel agents to become IATA-accredited through a lighter option (GoLite).

    “This model operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, thereby minimising financial risk, while facilitating accreditation for small and mid-sized businesses.

    “Regardless of the accreditation model, to become accredited in any country, including Nigeria, one must comply with local licensing and registration requirements to sell travel. Agents continue to remit locally any “cash” amounts due for tickets issued in BSP Nigeria.

    “Additionally, we offer IATA EasyPay, a virtual wallet for agents to pay for tickets in the BSP. IATA EasyPay operates using a local bank account in Nigeria, which does not involve cross-border transfers.”

  • BA treats Abuja passengers to classic lounge

    Premium passengers of British Airways (BA)  flying from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, will be treated to royal reception before departure courtesy of Strong ground Delivery Services Enterprise (SDS) Lounge Services,  which has provided a world-class lounge for BA passengers.

    Unveiled in Abuja, at a ceremony graced by major stakeholders, the newly set-up Lounge is a replica of one at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where BA premium passengers are the treated to assorted cuisine and pleasure.

    Speaking at the cake-cutting ceremony, BA Customer Service Duty Manager ( Abuja) Mr. Jide Oladoye said BA customers deserve royal treatment. “They deserve it, and today marks a turning point for our customers, particularly our premium customers. Definitely, our passengers are going to relate with this experience. For a while now, they have been wanting great experience in our lounge.

    This is just the beginning,  because by the time we moved to the new terminal,  I’m sure we are going to even do better than what we are having here today “,said Oladoye.

    Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN) Regional Manager, Mr. Mohammed Sanni said SDS Lounge is the best of its kind.

    “This is a well-furnished, equipped lounge.

    Read also: Abuja Disco promises uninterrupted power supply in Niger

    “We pray they move to the new terminal where you will see a more improved facility passengers can enjoy. We have always insisted we should improve our facilities time to time for the comfort of our passengers.

    ‘’With this development, I ’m not surprised it has keyed in into our plans,” the Airport Manager, observed.

    FAAN Chief Security Officer, Abuja International Airport, Mallam   Mohammed Tijani Yakassa lauded the initiative. He said: “It ’s a good innovation. I’m really impressed with the way they changed the pattern of the Lounge.   Initially, the lounge was not as large as we have it now. The way it’s transformed now is very interesting.

    ‘’They have done a good innovation job here. Initially, the lounge is for BA. I think there is a cooperation between BA and SDS. Probably, the SDS are going to manage it for British Airways.

    “The British Airways passengers will be using it. Most of the passengers will be surprised, including those that have been using it. By the time they come back they will be surprised with the changes that has taken place, “ he said. BA Global Lounge Manager Mr. Lukasz Wyrzykowski expressed satisfaction with the new lounge under the management of SDS.

    “In Nigeria, we have our lounge in Lagos at the international airport and in Abuja. I’m impressed with what I see here. The lounge is beautiful. We have been operating in Abuja for about 20 years.

    ‘’We operate a daily flight, we operate first class. Therefore, we have many customers who expect to have a lounge before they go on board of our aircraft. We are working with SDS. We refurbished it to a very high standard. We have got beautiful furniture. We improve our catering proposition so that customers can enjoy; have something to eat before they go on board the flight; they can have a drink, they can have some wine, coffee and they have a selection of foods.

    “We have a real working partnership with the SDS in Abuja.

    ‘’They helped us to developed the lounge. I have seen the two terminals and  I’m happy they are looking great.

    ‘’At some point we will move to the new terminal and this will be massive improvement for our customers,“ Lukasz said.

  • Air Peace decorates two new captains

    Air Peace on Monday elevated two members of its flight crew to the rank of captain, urging them to sustain the high safety standards the carrier is reputed for.

    Speaking during the decoration of Mr. Oluwasegun Fatonade and Mr. William Devine as captains at Air Peace Corporate Headquarters in Lagos, the carrier’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema said he was proud that they scaled the tough tests for donning the four-bar epaulette.

    The rigorous requirements the new captains were subjected to, he insisted, were necessary to ensure they were qualified for the high quality of the airline’s flight operations.

    He assured that Air Peace would continue to reward excellence as a pro-staff organisation and ensure that its workers were promoted without regard to ethnicity and favouritism.

    “I’m one of the happiest persons today. I take pride in seeing people grow. We are pro-staff. In our own little way, we try to ensure that staff enjoy their time here. Anyone can become anything they want to be here without discrimination.

    “I don’t meddle in matters involving selection and elevation of our flight crew. It is strictly on merit. For the flight crew training team to have adjudged the new captains worthy of flying for Air Peace, they really must be good. It says a lot about their quality. The tough tests they passed through before being selected for elevation as captains was necessary to ensure the sustenance of the high standards of our flight operations.

    Read also: FG to revisit national carrier project, says Sirika

    “It’s not everyone that was tested that made it. I urge the new captains to continue to work hard to sustain the high quality of our flight operations. The position of a captain is one that comes with huge responsibility, but I have no doubt they will excel in their new roles,” Onyema said.

    For his part, Air Peace Head of Training, Captain Ndubisi Ekwempu, who presented the new captains to Onyema for decoration, described them as hardworking and dedicated members of the flight crew.

    Their elevation to the left seat, he said, was well deserved. He, however, urged Captains Fatonade and Devine not to rest on their oars.

    He commended Air Peace chairman for giving the training team the liberty to do their job uninfluenced.

    Ekwempu praised the flight crew training team for working hard to produce the new captains.

  • FG to revisit national carrier project, says Sirika

    Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation on Monday said that plans were underway by the Federal Government to revisit the national carrier project.

    The minister made this known while defending the ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Aviation in Abuja.

    He said that the ministry only suspended the project to put adequate measures in place, promising that the project would be delivered soon.

    He said the project, which was President Muhammadu Buhari’s brainchild would not be allowed to die.

    He expressed concern that despite being a huge aviation market, Nigeria could not boast of a national carrier.

    He said; “We have to suspend the earlier plans for the national carrier for strategic reasons. The move was not killed.

    ”Provisions have to be made to continue to fund activities of advisers and so on, to ensure that it is delivered.

    ”The carrier will be delivered within the life of this administration, this I can assure you.

    ”It is not forgotten by government. It will continue and we are doing everything we can to deliver it,” he said.

    The minister, however, stated that the carrier would not be funded solely by government.

    ”It is Public Private Partnership (PPP). The private sector will lead and deliver while the government will play its role.

    “Viability funding is also being addressed. After that, then the full business case which is the implementation stage. It is at that point that it will be advertised for people to come in and participate,” he said.

    He said that the process would be transparently done through local and international fora and media.

    He added that anybody who was interested in getting in information on funds spent and other processes was free to do so, stressing that the ministry would be willing to respond.

    The minister lamented that besides the huge revenue loss due to absence of a national carrier, Nigerians still pay exorbitantly to use air carriers belonging to other countries.

    According to him, one of the major ways to save Nigerians of exorbitant airfares is to have a national carrier.

    ”When I was in the House of Representatives in 2006, we did invite British Airways to discus and the answer we got was that they charge exorbitantly because Nigerians can afford it.

    “They charge these fees without corresponding challenge. It is very difficult for the ministry to tell entrepreneurs what they should charge.

    “This is the whole importance of having a national carrier. It is about competition. Nigerians are highly mobile people with very huge businesses. You find out that the first class and business class is always full,’’ he said.

    Read also: Sirika, 400 delegates for NUATE conference

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Adamu Aliero, commended the minister for his efforts at repositioning the aviation sector.

    He, however, said that the sector was capable of generating huge revenue for the country if well positioned.

    He advised the minister to engage more often with critical stakeholders including the National Assembly for advice in carrying out his mandate.

    He further advised agencies under the ministry to be up and doing in securing the lives of Nigerians, who often use air transport as well as ensuring that they complied with international best practices.

  • Criticism on Boeing 737 Max 8, misdirected – Air Peace

    Despite global criticism trailing the crash of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in the fleet of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines, Chairman, Air Peace, Allen Onyema said on Wednesday that the carrier had no regrets placing order for the aircraft type.

    Onyema said the airline took the steps to order the airplanes in response to the yearnings of Nigerians desiring to fly new airplanes.

    Onyema said it was unfortunate that Nigerians were criticising Air Peace for ordering 10 aircraft of similar models.

    He said: “When we placed a firm order for the 10 brand new B737-Max 800, it was the toast of the global aviation industry.

    “We were only responding to the yearnings that Nigeria airlines should be flying modern planes.

    “It is unfortunate that Air Peace is being criticised for an aircraft that will not be delivered until 2023.

    “We believe it is the work of our detractors, but we will not be deterred,” he said.

    The US government has ordered a review of the way Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft got its licence to fly.

    It comes after two crashes in five months, amid suggestions from experts that there were “clear similarities” between the disasters.

    Transport secretary Elaine Chao has asked the US inspector general to audit the aircraft’s certification process.

    One focus of crash investigators has been the Max’s anti-stall system, which Boeing says needs a software update.

    Read also: Air Peace takes delivery of third B777 aircraft

    In a memo to inspector general Calvin Scovel, Ms Chao said she wanted the review in order to “assist the Federal Aviation Administration [the regulator] in ensuring that its safety procedures are implemented effectively”.

    After the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft last week – which followed a Lion Air disaster in October – there were questions about why the FAA took so long to ground the 737 Max.

    Meanwhile, Europe and Canada said they would seek their own assurances over the safety of the aircraft, a move likely to complicate plans to get the aircraft flying again across the world.

  • Air Peace takes delivery of third B777 aircraft

    A Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, has taken delivery of its third Boeing 777-300 aircraft in preparation for the airline’s commencement of international operations.

    The 374 capacity aircraft, christened: “Anuli Peggy Onyema”, touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 3.20p.m on Wednesday.

    The aircraft, from Texas, United States of America, was received by the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema and other top aviation personnel.

    Onyema told newsmen that Air Peace had taken delivery of its first and second B777 aircraft in February and August 2018 respectively.

    He added that one more aircraft was being expected before the end of the year to boost the airline’s international operations.

    According to him, the Federal Government has granted approval to Air Peace to begin flights to six international destinations, which are London, Dubai, Sharjah, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

    “We thank God that we have taken delivery of the third B777 aircraft in preparation for our international operations.

    Read also: Aviation group highlights risks in drone use

    “We hope to begin our flights to Dubai and Sharjah within the next two months.

    “From there, we will proceed to Johannesburg, Mumbai and Guangzhou in that order,” he said.

    Onyema said that Air Peace had created 3,000 direct jobs and 6,000 ancillary jobs for Nigerians, stressing that the newly acquired B777-300 aircraft would create an additional 1,500 jobs.

    He urged Nigerians and the Federal Government to continue to support the airline which was set up to put the country on the global aviation map.

    The Air Peace boss maintained that safety remains a core policy of the airline which had outsourced its aircraft maintenance to two internationally recognised firms, BCT Aviation of Britain and Aero Space Industries of Israel.

    On the recent air crash involving an Ethiopian Airlines B737-Max800 aircraft which killed all 157 people on board, Onyema said it was unfortunate that Nigerians were criticising Air Peace for ordering 10 aircraft of similar models.

    “When we placed a firm order for the 10 brand new B737-Max 800, it was the toast of the global aviation industry.

    “We were only responding to the yearnings that Nigeria airlines should be flying modern planes.

    “It is unfortunate that Air Peace is being criticised for an aircraft that will not be delivered until 2023.

    “We believe it is the work of our detractors, but we will not be deterred,” he said.

    Also, the Chief Pilot of the aircraft, Capt. Stan Went, said that B777-300 was a delight for both pilots and engineers, saying it has a very good safety record. (NAN)

  • Boeing working on software update to boost safety, says CEO

    Boeing’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Muilenburg said  the aircraft manufacturer is taking actions to ensure the safety of its 737 Max jets in the wake of two crashes that killed 346 people.

    In an open letter addressed to airlines, passengers and the aviation community, Muilenburg said Boeing will soon release a software update and offer related pilot training for the 737 Max to “address concerns” that arose in the aftermath of October’s Lion Air flight that plunged into the Java Sea, killing 189.The planes’ new flight-control software is suspected of playing a role in the crashes.

    Muilenburg said Boeing representatives are supporting investigation into the cause of last week’s crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 that killed 157.The United States and many other countries have grounded the Max 8s and larger Max 9s as Boeing faces the challenge of proving the jets are safe to fly amid suspicions that faulty sensors and software contributed to the two crashes in less than five months.

    The letter reads: “We know lives depend on the work we do, and our teams embrace that responsibility with a deep sense of commitment every day.

    “Our purpose at Boeing is to bring family, friends and loved ones together with our commercial airplanes—safely.

    “The tragic losses of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 affect us all, uniting people and nations in shared grief for all those in mourning.

    “Our hearts are heavy, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board.

    READ ALSO: 350 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes grounded

    “On safety measures, he said: “Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone.

    “This overarching focus on safety spans and binds together our entire global aerospace industry and communities.

    “We’re united with our airline customers, international regulators and government authorities in our efforts to support the most recent investigation, understand the facts of what happened and help prevent future tragedies.

    “Based on facts from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident and emerging data as it becomes available from the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident, we’re taking actions to fully ensure the safety of the 737 MAX. We also understand and regret the challenges for our customers and the flying public caused by the fleet’s grounding.

    “Work is progressing thoroughly and rapidly to learn more about the Ethiopian Airlines accident and understand the information from the airplane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders.

    “Our team is on-site with investigators to support the investigation and provide technical expertise. The Ethiopia Accident Investigation Bureau will determine when and how it’s appropriate to release additional details.

    “Boeing has been in the business of aviation safety for more than 100 years and we’ll continue providing the best products, training and support to our global airline customers and pilots.

    “This is an ongoing and relentless commitment to make safe airplanes even safer. Soon we’ll release a software update and related pilot training for the 737 MAX that will address concerns discovered in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident.

    “We’ve been working in full cooperation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board on all issues relating to both the Lion Air and the Ethiopian Airlines accidents since the Lion Air accident occurred in October last year.

    “Our entire team is devoted to the quality and safety of the aircraft we design, produce and support. I’ve dedicated my entire career to Boeing, working shoulder to shoulder with our amazing people and customers for more than three decades, and I personally share their deep sense of commitment.

    “Recently, I spent time with our team members at our 737 production facility in Renton, Wash., and once again saw first-hand the pride our people feel in their work and the pain we’re all experiencing in light of these tragedies.

    “The importance of our work demands the utmost integrity and excellence—that’s what I see in our team, and we’ll never rest in pursuit of it.

    “Our mission is to connect people and nations, protect freedom, explore our world and the vastness of space, and inspire the next generation of aerospace dreamers and doers—and we’ll fulfill that mission only by upholding and living our values. That’s what safety means to us.

    “Together, we’ll keep working to earn and keep the trust people have placed in Boeing.”

  • ‘How to save airlines from collapse ‘

    Operators in the aviation industry have urged the Federal Government to map out strategies that would prevent further crash of the naira against other foreign currencies, especially the  US dollar in order to save indigenous carriers from collapse.

    According to the operators, since 2015 indigenous operators have been hard hit by increase in exchange rate, which has had negative effects on their business.

    Speaking last week at the 2019 Quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting (BBM), organised by the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Med-View Airline, Muneer Bankole, said the sudden crash of naira against major currencies in 2015 led to the deplorable state of the operating airlines in Nigeria.

    He cautioned that further increase in the exchange rate would negatively affect the fortunes of the airline sub-sector.

    He said   the crash of the naira led to the depletion in the fleet of Nigerian carriers, as maintenance cost increased, while spare parts became astronautically high.

    Bankole called on the government to introduce policies that would make the naira stronger against foreign currencies especially the dollar, noting that with this, more organisations would spring up and provide jobs for the teeming population.

    He said: “As you are aware that before this administration came on board, naira was N150 to a dollar and that was the target of everything we were doing, including leasing of aircraft and others. But, suddenly, it went to N500 and more. Then, a lot of challenges came in and you still have to pay your money back in the same value of the currency in which you took before.

    “We are praying now that the exchange rate should go down and not increase as predicted by some people. This will create better life for Nigerians. What government should do today is to bring it back to the minimal level by which we can grow our economy. It should go back to N250 or maximum N280. This can be done gradually,” Bankole said.

    Read also: Boeing’s 737 Max problems put $600b orders at risk

    Operators at the forum castigated the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for allegedly working against the laws and regulations of the country through its practices.

    President , National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), Bernard Bankole,  in his presentation, accused IATA of absorbing some unregistered travel agencies into its platforms, thereby killing the sub-sector in Nigeria.

    According to him, IATA absorbed some of the travel agents without recourse to the regulatory body in the industry. He stressed that the duty of  Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was being usurped by the international body.

    He, however, called on NCAA to strengthen its regulations in order to weed out unregistered practitioners in the system.

    In his presentation, Director of Air Transport Regulations, NCAA, Group Captain Edem Uyo Ita, said there are at least 600 travel agents on the portal of IATA. While only 200 of them were NANTA members, just 157 of them are on NCAA’s register.

    He insisted that IATA was violating the country’s law through its conduct, noting that the regulatory body could not regulate an agency, which doesn’t register with it.

    Ita, however, admitted that the NCAA regulations needed to be tightened in order to plug all the loopholes in the system, especially among the travel agents in the country.

    “We agree that we are poor with our regulations, but we have to take up IATA too for violating Nigeria law and NCAA regulations. IATA doesn’t consult with NCAA when coming up with charges or new regulations for the travel agencies.

    “Yes, NCAA has not been forthcoming in its regulations because people don’t report things to us. Before IATA can admit anyone into its platform, it should first of all ask them to show proof or registration with NCAA.”