The Nation Newspaper

Category: Aviation

  • NAMA reviews automated accounting procedures

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is  to entrench a more-effective digital accounting system that will meet the growing demands of the agency.

    At a two-day NAMA Accountants Retreat in Lagos, its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said the programme was borne out of the agency’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline.

    He said it had become imperative to reposition NAMA and its business transactions to comply with the dynamic world of technology, especially in aviation.

    Akinkuotu urged the agency’s personnel to embrace technology, as the ease of doing business in the country demanded that they carry out their business electronically.

    He said the management would support the finance department in its quest for the best technology that would meet industry best practices and also enhance efficiency in service delivery.

    While allaying the fears that automation of business transactions would lead to job losses, the NAMA boss  expressed confidence that the interactive nature of the retreat would give staff the opportunity to use their expertise to brainstorm on challenges in the system .

    He said it would also provide the opportunity to devise new initiatives of finding solutions targeted at improving the agency’s procedures, using electronic business.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Aniefiok Umoh, called for the cooperation of staff as the agency transits from the manual system of preparing financial and management information reports to automated processes.

    He said: ”Everything in our environment is going electronic; if it is not e-learning, it is e-commerce. If not e-business, then it is e-transaction and NAMA cannot afford to be left behind.”

    Also in his remarks, the General Manager, Finance, Mr. David Akpan, said accounting just like any other profession is passing through a dynamic phase and that the role of accountants will continue to undergo a series of changes.

    Akpan, who tasked accountants to strive to remain relevant in the emerging e-accounting system, noted however , that those who continue to play by the old rules may lose out in the automation equation.

    The 2017 NAMA Accountants Retreat with the theme: “Positioning the e-Accountant for e-Business Transactions” was aimed at finding more efficient ways of revenue generation and collection, developing cost reduction strategies and enhancing financial information reporting through improved technology.

  • Airlines, airports to invest $33b in ICT

    Global airlines and airports are exppected to spend nearly $33 billion on information technology in the next four months, statistics from Geneva-based Air Travel Solutions provider ( SITA) has said.

    The amount, according to SITA, a mutlinational information technology company which provides telecommuncation services to the industry, shows that airlines are focusing their technology investments on similar priorities, in particular cyber security.

    Ilya Gutlin, president, Air Travel Solutions, SITA, said: “The air transport industry is going through digital transformation and focusing its attention on protecting the business and passengers; making it more efficient and improving the passenger experience.

    “Cyber-attacks are a very real threat in the highly interwoven air transport industry so building solid defenses is essential. Cloud services provide important efficiencies which play a key role in keeping costs down.”

    He said investments in self-service improves passenger satisfaction as they welcome the independence and efficiencies it delivers.”

    Gutlin  said: “When it comes to information technology  investment, airports and airlines are aligned to provide better, more secure service to customers.

    “The interdependencies built into air transport systems mean investments and improvements in all these areas, by airlines and airports alike, will continue to contribute to a strong global industry.”

    Antoine Rostworowski, director, Airport Customer Experience and Technology, at Airports Council International (ACI), said SITA’s research, which was co-sponsored by ACI, reveals valuable insights for the industry .

    He said there is an alignment of investment priorities among airports and airlines, which reflects the collaboration between ACI and  International Air Transport Association (IATA) on best practices.

    ACI and IATA have joint initiatives such as Automated border control, end-to-end baggage tracking (facilitation), Data Exchange, Common-Use (Airport IT) and Smart Security.

    Industry partners such as SITA and others are also involved in these initiatives to make airports more efficient and to improve passenger experience.

    Rostworowski said airlines  are focusing on providing mobile services. ”Today, the vast majority of airlines provide check-in  boarding  and flight status notifications via mobile  platforms and by 2020 more than 97 per cent  plan to do so, he said.

    According to him, a key area of growth will be providing real-time flight updates over social media which will jump from 31 per cent of airlines doing so to 92 per cent in the next three years.

    “At airports, self-service processes at check-in, bag drop and boarding are increasingly popular with passengers and 89 per cent  of airports are investing in these processes.

  • Air transport yet to attain full potential

    Air transport yet to attain full potential

    Activities in the aviation sector in the last 57 years have been a sore narrative. Reason: the industry has navigated around failed airlines; un-utilised bilateral air services agreements, absence of a national carrier, an army of unemployed aircraft pilots/engineers and ill-equipped unviable airports. Experts say the sector is yet to attain its full potential,  KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports

    IT is not yet uhuru  for air transport in Nigeria. For a regional player with a strong carrier at independence 57 years ago, the aviation narrative has been one of shattered hopes. The sector has been on a downward spiral since 2004  when the national carrier, the Nigerian Airways was liquidated.

    Having attained its peak in the 80s stakeholeders, operators and others expected Nigeria to become a hub on the continent, but that is not so. Fifty-seven after, the sector is yet to attain its full potential.

    Regrettably, the situation is such that the once-vibrant sector is  tottering on the verge of collapse. The sector can only boast of eight struggling domestic carriers. Somehow, the sector missed positioning itself on the path of growth as it has over 50 carriers in the past 57 years. It is a sector bedevilled by many challenges that seem to be insurmountable.

    From its enviable position at independence, currently, Nigeria does not have a national carrier. Besides the absence of a national carrier, the challenges facing the industry have hindered its progress.

    Experts say the failure of aviation sector to deliver in 57 years could be traced to the government’s inability to put in place a deliberate policy to drive the sector’s growth.

    Industry watchers and airport users say not much has been achieved in the sector in 57 years.

     

    Airlines

    At least 50 airlines, which operated in Nigeria  since October 1, 1960, have gone into extinction.

    Nigeria  Airways Limited (NAL), established in 1958, two years before independence was liquidated in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    At independence, NAL flew the country’s flag around the world.

    The airline represented Nigeria robustly at both regional and international routes until it developed its problems in the 1980s when the public dominated sector  was deregulated.

    The  industry was deregulated in 1985/86 by the Ibrahim Babangida-led administration; since then, many airlines have collapsed.

    Airlines that have dotted the  landscape in 57 years of independence include: Albarka Airlines, Fresh Air, Okada Air, Virgin Nigeria Airways, EAS / NICON Airways, Spaceworld Airlines, Afrijet, IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines.

    Others are Chrome Air Services, Sosoliso Airlines, ADC Airlines, Freedom Air Services, Slok Air, DASAB Airlines, Amako Airlines, Concord Airlines, Oriental Airlines, Trans Sahara Airlines, Air MidWest, Falcon Air and Bellview Airlines.

    Other defunct airlines include   Flash Airline, Hold Trade Airline, Gas Air, Jambo Express; Savannah Airline, Intercontinental Airline; and HAK Air.

    Others include Zenith Airline, Barnas Airline, Trias Airline; Associated Airline, United Air Service, Aras Airline Ltd, Nigeria Global, Nigeria Eagle, Harco Airline, Premier Airline, Al Bashir; Axiom Airline, Forward Air and Das Air and Cargo.

     

    Existing carriers 

    About eight carriers, including Arik Air, Aero Contractors of Nigeria, Medview Airlines, DANA Air; Air Peace, AZMAN Air, Overland Airways and First Nation Airways operate scheduled flights in the domestic sub sector.

    These airlines, according to investigations, are burdened with over 37 airport and navigational charges in an atmosphere they describe as unfriendly.

    For these carriers, there is nothing to cheer in 57 years of independence.

     

    Why carriers fail 

    In an interview with The Nation, a former spokesman of Nigeria Airways, Chris Aligbe, said many airlines failed since independence for many reasons.

    He listed the factors for airlines’ failure to include poor government policy, owner manager syndrome, lack of understanding of the industry, lack of sound business plan, poor utilisation of equipment and wrong models.

    He said: ”The operators’models were not right. They used wrong models and some of those who entered the airline industry early were not professionals.

    “What I think and sincerely recommend is that the government should declare the airline industry an infant industry. The major one, the Nigeria Airways, government liquidated it by itself, unfortunately.”

    Also, Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, said the aviation narrative since independence had not been encouraging.

    He said though the sector has navigated through many learning curves, it is yet to attain its full potential.

    Onyema said unless an  appropriate policy was put in place, more airlines could collapse.

    He said: “If many airlines have collapsed in Nigeria, there are fundamental issues to be resolved. There are no night flight facilities at many airports.”

     

    Policies/Infrastructure 

    Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, attributed lack of sound policies and failure to effectively implement existing policies as the bane of growth of the sector since independence.

    He said: ”In my 23 or 24 years in this sector, it has had 28 ministers and within that period, we don’t need a rocket scientist to know that there will be a lot of confusion.”

    Aviation Round Table (ART) Chairman, Gbenga Olowo said  many things were wrong in the industry.

    He, however, spared a thought on attempts by the government to concession some airport terminals warning that it should be carried out with utmost transparency.

    He said if this is done well, it could be one of the few strides achieved since independence.

    Since independence, controversy continues to trail the state of airports across the country.

    Though the number has increased over the years, industry players are yet to agree on the model for airport management.

    With over 28 airports and 30 air- strips scattered across the country, which is sufficient evidence of a highly developed air transport network the question of consistent policy on airport development and maintenance still remains elusive after 57 years of independence.

    With increasing clamour for private sector inclusion in airport infrastructure development, the concept of concession is still a battle ground for government and aviation workers.

    With many state governments constructing their airports, the viability of airports  managed by the Federal Government agency – Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) remains a vexed subject.

     

    State of airport facilities 

    Nigeria, unarguably, parading the highest airports in Africa, has since independence failed to upgrade facilities at some of her  airports.

    The ambitious airports remodeling project embarked on between 2011 and 2015, is yet to produce the desired results.

    Though a few new terminals were refurbished in Lagos, Kano, Benin, Enugu, Jos, Abuja and Yola, many terminals still remain abandoned.

    The  13 agro-allied terminals started a few years ago at airports nationwide are now in ruins.

    Operators continue to complain over porous security at airports with poor perimeter fences and communication gadgets, which has paved the way for rising incidence of stowaways.

    Experts say many airports lack basic equipment and facilities, which  include landing aids, airfield lighting, perimeter fencing, adequate fire cover, screening machines and CCTV.

     

    Bilateral air agreements 

    In the last 57 years, Nigeria’s performance at the international arena  has continue to dip.

    Since the liquidation of NAL, the carriers have failed to reciprocate the bilateral air services agreement it signed with over 75 countries.

    According to Meggison, the failure to reciprocate air services agreements means Nigeria is at the short end of the stick.

    According to statistics from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), over 27 foreign carriers operate flights into the  country.

    Some of the 27 foreign carriers are granted multiple entry status.

    Such status, experts said, had consistently condemned accounts for the underdevelopment of the domestic sector of the industry.

    Apart from Medview Airlines, which flies into London, Jeddah and Dubai,  no Nigerian carrier is operating flights  into routes outside West Africa.

    Arik Air, which operated flights that hitherto operated flights into New York, London, Johannesburg, Dubai and other routes is struggling to keep its domestic and regional routes afloat.

     

    Pilots unemployment/aircraft maintenance 

    Engagement of indigenous professionals is at its lowest level in the sector after 57 years of independence.

    Nigeria, which was the haven for training of aviation professionals in the 1960s, parades the highest number of unemployed indigenous pilots and aircraft engineers.

    According to Meggison, there are over 1,000 young pilots and engineers trained both at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, Kaduna State and institutions abroad that are seeking for job in the sector.

    Many airlines, he said, were unwilling to engage them because of lack of experience.

    Rather, foreign pilots and aircraft engineers dominate the cockpit carting away foreign exchange out of the country.

    Meggison said the sector has diminished as many domestic carriers spend billions of dollars yearly for overseas maintenance of the aircraft, which was carried out at NAL facility in the 1970s and 1980s.

     

    Civil aviation autonomy / category one FAA rating

    Despite many challenges confronting the sector, the NCAA, however, achieved autonomy in 2006 with the signing into law of the 2006 Civil Aviation Law.

    Before securing autonomy, the Authority was using the 1964 Act to regulate civil aviation matters.

    The autonomy, however, paved way for the attainment of category safety status on 2010, which has since been revalidated in 2014 and this year.

     

    Crashes 

    Like other African countries, Nigeria has grappled with poor air safety record since independence with many air crashes.

    It reached its peak in 2005/ 2006 with the accidents involving Bellview, Sosoliso and ADC Airlines. .

    Although a few crashes occurred in 2012 involving Dana Air and Associated Aviation, the government has since put some measures in place to sanitise the sector.

    Part of the measures include regular audit of airlines, ban on some aircraft types and pegging of age limit for planes brought into the country.

     

    Concession/ certification 

    Though no airport was privately managed in 1960, the concession model adopted by the government for the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two in 2007 could be described as one of the strides in the last 57 years.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a few months ago declared the MMA 2 as an example on how to manage airports.

    He said: ”If MMA2 is a mistake, let the mistake be replicated all over the country. It is an evidence of how the private sector can change the narrative of our aviation sector as is the case the world over.”

    Amid controversies still trailing the deal over  tenure, the terminal managed by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited gives a ray of hope over what might become of plans by the government to concession other airports.

    Besides, the recent certification of Lagos Airport by the NCAA is  a landmark for the sector.

    Also during the period, a Nigerian, Dr Bernard Olumuyiwa Aliu, was appointed the President of the global aviation regulator – International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    Another Nigerian, Saleh Dunoma, the Managing Director of FAAN, became the President, Africa, of the Airports Council International (ACI).

    For the sector, it is not yet uhuru for Nigeria at 57 years of independence.

  • Sirika pushes for airports certification

    Sirika pushes for airports certification

    NIGERIAN airports certification will reduce insurance premiums, attract more foreign carriers into the country and lower charges for domestic operators, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said.

    Besides, insurance premiums and charges reduction, certification of airports, Sirika said, have put Nigeria on the global safety chart, with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to be published in the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO) Aeronautical Information Report (AIR).

    The aeronautical information report is a list of certified aerodromes endorsed by ICAO.

    Speaking to The Nation last week, in an interview in Abuja , Sirika said  Lagos Airport certification would make it attract global bidders under a concession arrangement.

    Apart from the Lagos Airport, which was certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) last week, Sirika said  airports in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna and Enugu will be next following the parameters established by ICAO for their certification.

    According to Sirika, other airports will also undergo audit to prepare them for certification in line with the Abuja Safety Declaration by African leaders in 2003.

    African Ministers of Aviation and Transportation, at a safety conference in 2003, set 2015 as the deadline for African countries to certify their airports.

    The Minister said though 2015 was set as deadline for all African countries to certify their airports, Nigeria was ahead of many countries  yet to get their airports ready for the global safety audit.

    He said team work was involved in getting the Lagos Airport certified as the government had to engage international organisations, including ICAO, and Airports Council International (ACI) to provide technical support and capacity development to enable Nigeria scale the hurdle.

    Sirika said Nigeria would build on the momentum achieved with the certification of Lagos Airport to prepare other airports to attain the requirements spelt out in ICAO Annex 14.

    He said the annex required that Nigerian airports must meet minimum safety and security standards.

    Sirika said:”Certification of airports is good for Nigeria. Not just, for the prestige it gives to the country, but it is an endorsement that the Lagos Airport is safety and security compliant in line with ICAO regulations.

    “ It will reduce insurance premium paid by the airport authority and other service providers, including airlines, it will reduce charges and could even bring about lower air fares.

    “ As government is preparing airports for concession; their certification will shore up the value. Now the world will know that flights in and around Nigeria are safe and secure and that will increase the value of our airports and shore up the value of our infrastructure, especially as we are geared towards concessioning.”

    Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Saleh Dunoma, who spoke in an interview, said the certification of Lagos Airport was achieved because of the concerted efforts of aviation agencies, which worked as a team to close the gaps identified during the audit.

    Dunoma said though the certificate handed to FAAN by  Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the Lagos Airport is for three years, the authorised would ensure that it upholds the safety, operational and technical standards to avoid either the cancellation, revocation and suspension of the certification.

    Dunoma said:”We are very excited to hand over the document conveying certification of Lagos Airport to the Minister in Abuja, we are confident that will will sustain the tempo to get other airports certified.

    “Aerodrome certification is a primary requirement by ICAO . We are happy that Lagos Airport has met the standardisation, uniformity and harmonisation of facilities as spelt out by the global regulator. This is enough indication that our drive to get Nigerian airports certified is yielding results.”

    He said with the certification of Lagos Airport, FAAN can now concentrate on Abuja airport. Dunoma said: “From Lagos will now move to certify  other international airports. FAAN is determined to maintain and surpass the aerodrome certification. It was a concerted effort with all our sister agencies as well as the Airports Council International (ACI) and the ICAO regional office.

    “ We are appreciative of their support and the support of the  Minister, who stood steadfast and created the enabling environment for this to happen,”he said.

  • AIB boss charges NAAPE on professionalism

    Accident, Investigation Bureau (AIB) Commissioner Akin Olateru  has urged members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.

    According to Olateru, if NAAPE members, aircraft engineers and pilots in various organisations display professionalism in the discharge of their duties, the aviation industry would experience more growth and continue to remain safe for flight operations.

    The AIB boss  disclosed  this at the weekend when NAAPE leadership, led by its President, Abednego Galadima, visited him in his office at the Murtala Muhamed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

    He  lauded NAAPE for its professionalism in dealing with the management of various organisations in the industry, adding that their attitude had brought stability to the sector. He enjoined them to continue with this approach.

    He said:“There is no organisation without workers and if there is no organisation, there will be no workers. Your association has demonstrated enough professionalism. It is not about money, but you have been consistent with the truth. Without NAAPE, there is no aviation. NAAPE is the most important union in the industry.

    “I am not, however, saying that other unions are not important. But, everything surrounds aircraft,” he said.

     

     

    If there is no aircraft, there is no aviation. NAAPE comes first in the industry. So, I will want you to also enjoin your member to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.”

    Commenting on the release of accident reports by the bureau, Olateru observed that none of its reports had been faulted by any individual or organisation in recent time.

    He said this was so due to the new approach adopted by the current management, which removed accident reports from the apron string of individuals to collective contributory.

    He explained that because of the quality of works done by investigators, no engine or aircraft manufacturer had faulted the reports of the agency on aircraft incident or accident.

    “The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika recently told me that we should not rush our reports so that it can’t be faulted by anyone. So, I took the time to take him through the process to show him that our reports can’t be faulted. Our reports are not done individually again.

    “Now, we have groups comprising of experienced and inexperienced investigators. No one personalises reports again. And after the groups have finished their work with the draft reports, we send them to stakeholders for their comments and observations. On getting feedbacks, we now do a general review, which involves virtually all the investigators, before it goes out for proof reading.”

    Olateru insisted that aviation industry anywhere in the world is technical and volatile, stressing that whatever developments that takes place in other sector affects aviation industry.

    He  disclosed that Sirika was working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure that interest rates on loans obtained by investors in the sector was not more than nine per cent, stressing that this would go a long way in improving standards in the sector.

    He emphasised that it required expertise for an investor to run an airline business successfully and enjoined investors in the sub-sector to allow proven professionals to run their business.

    In his remarks, Galadima commended Olateru for bringing stability to AIB within a short period of time.

    He promised that the association would work closely with the management especially in the area of accident prevention and would also sensitise his members on non-hazard and violation according to Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    He added: “We want to see that the industry grows. We are here to see that aviation in Nigeria grows and gets a win-win for employees and employers in the industry. We recognise that AIB has paucity of funds, but despite this, the bureau has been paying the license fee to NAAPE members in the agency.

    “I will also use this opportunity to call for the release of promotion letters to our members in your organisation as the year is running out. Also, I seek proper placement as it affects our members. We will support you, but as friends, we will also tell you the truth.”

    Besides, Comrade Ocheme Abba, the General Secretary of NAAPE, said the meeting was necessary in order to forge a relationship between the two organisations.

    He reiterated that one of NAAPE’s mandates was to ensure growth in the industry, which he said the association had carried out successfully over the years.

     

  • No plans to take over airports, says Bi-Courtney

    Operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two ( MMA2) Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited has said it has no plans to take over Lagos and Abuja airports proposed for concession by the Federal Government without following due process.

    Rather than protest against government’s plan to concession  the two airports, the firm advised workers and other stakeholders to request the government to guarantee transparency in the process that will bring about private sector management of the airports.

    Its spokesperson,  Steve Omolale, said Bi-Courtney will be favourably disposed to participate in the process of managing the airports, given its pedigree in handling aviation infrastructure.

    Omolale urged workers and stakeholders to show understanding in the matter as experience had shown across the world that private sector management of airport terminals remained the best.

    He said: ”We, therefore, wish to enjoin well-meaning Nigerians and even those protesting against the decision to concession the airports that rather than oppose this arrangement, in the interest of national progress, they should request and ensure a guarantee of total transparency of the new process for the aviation industry to reap the full benefits of PPP, and of course, having pioneered this initiative successfully in Nigeria, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited should definitely not be left out.

    “Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited  feels that the protest march against the Federal Government’s proposed concession of Lagos and Abuja airports by some stakeholders in the aviation industry, during which they carried banners, pointedly accusing the company of preparing to take over the airports in collaboration with Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), without following due process, is a misrepresentation of the situation.”

    According to Omolale, “if indeed, there is any truth in the statement credited to the protesters, we would like to assure the public that BASL is prepared to demonstrate again what it has achieved so far at MMA2, if given the opportunity to operate the airports being proposed for concessioning. “This is because it is now very clear that only the private sector has the capacity to provide the needed infrastructure and technical know-how to help the Federal Government achieve its laudable objectives for the much-needed progress in the aviation industry,”he said.

    He continued:“The aviation industry obviously needs to be revamped to bring the services and infrastructure standards to what is comparable elsewhere in the world with a clear focus on passenger facilitation and comfort all over the country. With our track record and experience at MMA 2, we are unequivocally committed to this objective and entitled to the option of first refusal for the airports being proposed for concessioning.

    “Countries in Europe, especially Great Britain, which pioneered the idea of PPP in 1992 with its Private Finance Initiative (PFI), and even up to the United States of America, have since embraced the idea, and they are better for it today.

    “Many developing countries are also embracing the model because of its numerous advantages and Nigeria should not be left behind. In fact, the Jamaican government published the initial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy documents, popularly called PPP3 in 2012, which has led to the government divesting its large interests from the Sangster International Airport.”

     

  • NAMA begins sectorisation of airspace

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has begun the process of fashioning the Lagos Sub-Flight Information Region (Sub-FIR) airspace into sectors – Lagos West and Lagos East Area Control Centres (ACCs).

    Giving the indication at a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum at NAMA headquarters in Lagos, its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said the project was aimed at “reducing congestion on the available en-route radio frequency. It also includes increasing Air Traffic Management (ATM) capacity in order to manage the growing air traffic volume and simultaneously reduce delays within the Kano FIR.”

    He said the effort would bring about optimum utilisation of the airspace by reducing controller-pilot workload, thereby increasing efficiency and quality of service delivery.

    Akinkuotu, who was represented by the Director of Operations, Mr. Gabriel Akpen, noted that sectoristion of the Lagos Sub-FIR would reduce the safety implications of overload on the air traffic control system and personnel. It will also provide functional air navigation services that would meet international standards within the Kano FIR at no cost to the users, he said, expressing optimism that the service quality of Communication Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) would also be enhanced.

    The sectorisation process,  Akinkuotu said, will be streamlined in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Standard and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPs).

    As part of the process, the NAMA boss said the agency was optimising the VHF radio and also installing a high-powered stand-alone VHF radio as backup to the total VHF coverage of Nigeria, adding that controller working positions on the ACC consuls are in proper ergonomic positions.

    Akinkuotu revealed  that the agency has embarked on aggressive manpower training and simulation exercises, in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to shore up capacity, adding that on-the-job training for air traffic control officers at Kano Area Control Centre, which has a running two-sector operation, was in progress.

    Created out of Kano Area Control Centre, which controlled the entire Nigerian airspace in 2001, the Lagos Area Control Centre manages 15 subsidiary aerodromes within the southern sector of the Nigerian airspace, including flights overflying the upper airspace

     

  • ‘Kenya Airways may be shut any moment’

    ‘Kenya Airways may be shut any moment’

    Kenya Airways may be shut any moment from now, following the insertion ‘performance based leave’ clause for its Nigerian staff, The Nation gathered on Monday.

    The new development is creating unease in the Nigerian aviation sector.

    Sequel to the ugly development, the  National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has, however, petitioned the management of the airline over what it described as obnoxious law, stressing that it would not allow it to stand.

    The petitioner also copied the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Minister of State for Aviation, Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and Director, State Security Services.

    A petition dated September 11, 2017 with the reference number NUATE.GS/CM.KA/ENP/0015-17, signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye and made available to our correspondent said that despite the lucrativeness of the Nigerian route to the airline, the country’s staff working with the airline were treated as slaves.

    According to the petition, Kenya Airways earned over N10 billion between April 2015/2016 to March 32017, out of which the entire total staff cost for the airline was a mere 1.7 percent.

    The union said that it had been in talks with the management of the airline in the past three years for the review of the condition of service of the workers, but decried that the management reversed almost all the agreements it reached with it without recourse to it.

    The petition added: Rising from the Lagos meeting, management pleaded for two weeks within which to get back to us, which later turned out to be almost two months. This negative disposition notwithstanding, we honoured the August meeting with high hopes considering the fact that the only issue yet to be settled was that of the appropriate percentage to be paid Nigerian workers of KQ (Kenya Airways) on leave allowance.

    “But, the meeting turned upside down with new management proposal of performance-based clause tied to the payment of leave allowance, which is clearly alien to the Nigerian legislation and applicable labour laws.”

    NUATE in the petition said that it rejected in totality the management’s decision to cancel matters already reviewed and agreed upon in Lagos with the airline’s team.

    The petitioners also condemned the alleged executive recklessness of the management to cancel the payment of arrears of monies that was due to workers arising from review of salaries, allowances and other ancillary matters in their collective bargaining agreement.

    The union immediately demanded the restitution of all the agreements reached in Lagos and immediate setting the appropriate machinery in motion to commence its implementation.

    It warned that failure of the airline to address all the issues raised within 14 days, threatening that it would not hesitate to cripple its operations in the country.

    According to investigations, the airline in its new policy for the country’s workers said that payment of leave for the staff would be based on their performance on the job while workers would not be entitled to leave allowance during public holidays, which is a reverse from the present policy.

    With the new policy, rather than the 100 percent lave allowances workers are entitled to, they would now be paid between 10 to 100 percent, depending on the recommendation of the Human Resources Managers of the airline in the country and Kenya.

    Apart from this, the workers and their union’s leaders, also alleged that all previous agreements reached with the management of the airline in Lagos were cancelled by its management in its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The new policy of the airline has, however, angered the workers and industry unions who said the policy was against the Nigerian labour laws and issued the airline 14 days ultimatums to address the issue.

  • Cutting costs through local aircraft maintenance

    Cutting costs through local aircraft maintenance

    Foreign countries have been earning huge revenue from Nigeria’s inability to conduct major maintenance checks on domestic aircraft. The amount is believed to run into several billions of naira. But, last week’s approval by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to Aerocontractors Airlines to carry out ‘C’-check on some Boeing aircraft series at its Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO), will reduce the loss by domestic aviation industry, saving operators millions of dollars, time, and the inconveniences associated with offshore maintenance of airplanes, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    Logged by huge maintenance costs, domestic airline operators may soon have their burdens lifted – at least by a certain margin.

    This is because of the approval granted the AeroContractors Airlines by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct ‘C’-checks on certain Boeing aircraft series at its Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) workshop in Ikeja, Lagos.

    They include Boeing 737-300; 400; 500; 600; 700 and 800 series.

    The approval is the first by NCAA to any airline.

    The approval is for comprehensive 18 months maintenance repairs on aircraft, otherwise known as C-check.

    Prior to the approval, Nigerian carriers with Boeing 737- Classics ferry their aircraft to either Morocco, South Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, Middle East, United States or South America for the mandatory 18 months C-check, which costs operators an average of $2 million per aircraft.

    According to investigations, there are 24 Boeing 737-Classics on the fleet of domestic carriers.

    Boeing Aircraft constitutes over 60 per cent of the planes in the fleet of indigenous carriers, many of which have Boeing 737,  500, 400, 300, and 800 series in their fleet.

    Majority of the active domestic carriers, such as Arik Air, Aero Airlines, Air Peace, AZMAN Air, Medview Airlines and Hak Air,  have Boeing aircraft dominating their fleet.

    Domestic airlines will save over $ 48 million spent on offshore maintenance of 24 Boeing 737– Classics.

    In an interview, Aerocontractors of Nigeria Managing Director Captain Ado Sanusi said: “We are proud to receive the certification by NCAA to commence this service for airlines across the West African sub region.

    “This is the first in Nigeria, and West African aviation industry and is a huge boost to our position as a maintenance facility. We are pleased to announce that our hanger has been expanded and all necessary facilities and manpower for the C-check maintenance have been put in place”

    “This is a great relief for Nigerian airlines, as local maintenance of aircraft up to C-check level will bring huge savings in foreign exchange in aircraft overseas maintenance.

    “This will reinforce the strength and quality of our brand. We will continue to offer the most reliable, safe and secure operations, which the airline is renowned for.”

    Describing the maintenance facility as a major instrument for Aero’s turnaround efforts, Sanusi said other operators in West and Central Africa would benefit from the facility.

    He said Aero had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Europe-based engineering firm, AJ Waters; South African Technik, and Ethiopian Airlines for pooling of expertise and tools to carry out the C- checks.

    He said Aero invested over N60 million on the expansion of the hangar.

    He, however, appealed to the government to grant the maintenance facility the status of a free trade zone to enable the airline import and export aircraft, tools and spares across the world without Customs inhibition.

    “On the whole, we look forward to greater feat as we bravely march out of our downturn to a future that is set to be even brighter than our past glory.”

    Air Peace  Chairman Allen Onyema said the government should encourage more operators to set up aircraft maintenance centres to reduce the huge costs spent on heavy aircraft repairs.

    He said: ‘’What I will advise the government to do first is that; it must facilitate the establishment of a very good maintenance hangar that can do up to D-check and the whole world will be coming here to maintain their plane and we will be getting foreign exchange.

    ‘’Air Peace alone spends huge foreign exchange to maintain our aircraft overseas. None of our planes come back with less than $3 million for every C-check because we do comprehensive C-checks.

    “This year alone, we have sent about seven aircraft overseas for C-check; that is over $21 million from one airline alone. You can imagine if the hangar is situated in Nigeria. If this money is domiciled here and used here, it will create a lot of jobs. So, we need a maintenance hangar.’’

    Investigations revealed  that Nigeria has over 350 aircraft, both scheduled, charter and privately owned ferried overseas for major repairs which result in capital flight

    Speaking in an interview, former  spokesman for Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Mohammed Tukur said a partnership between  government and private investors  would bring about the establishment of more maintenance facilities that woud save airlines over 50 per cent cost on aircraft maintenance.

    Earlier in the year, Chief Executive Officer of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) Captain Jari Williams called on the government to accelerate the establishment of a functional Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility.

    Such facility, he said, will serve domestic and regional maintenance requirements of the sector.

    Nigerian airlines, he said, are expected to spend over N560 billion for the maintenance of over 350 aircraft  expected to go for ‘C and D checks by the end of the year.

    The huge sum covers, maintenance costs; aircraft ferry; labour, spares and crew allowance and accommodation during the period of the checks.

    Former Chief Executive Officer, Aerocontractors of Nigeria, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, said the high cost of C-check usually force some domestic carriers to abandon their airplanes in countries of repairs.

    Akinkuotu said airlines could make significant savings if maintenance facilities were available in-country.

  • NAMA begins competency test of AIS personnel

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a comprehensive competency appraisal of Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) officers in airports across the country.

    The exercise, targeted at testing AIS officers in areas, such as Aeronautical Charts, AIS Publication and Operations, started from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and is to proceed to other airports in the next few weeks.

    NAMA Managing Director Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said: “Considering the pivotal role aeronautical information plays in safety of air navigation, and in the light of ongoing migration to AIS Automation, due consideration must be given to the integrity of data being disseminated to airspace users, hence this exercise.”

    He said NAMA placed premium on building workers’ capacity, noting that sustained training and retraining of personnel was being carried out by the agency, to ensure they possessed the competencies to perform critical functions that impact on safety, as well as  for them to keep pace with modern trends.

    Also, the AIS General Manager, Mr. Kabir Gusau, noted that the competency check, which would be periodic, was in line with Annex 15 of International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and was necessary to ensure that the workers demonstrate the required competencies to handle specific critical operations.

    He said assessment would enable the agency to detect and correct shortfalls as they occur.

    In a related development,  Akinkuotu has charged Air Traffic Controllers, who recently returned from a three-week Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Course in Kenya, to ensure that the training impacted on the overall safety procedures of the agency.

    While receiving the participants in his office at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, the NAMA chief, who promised to approve the training of another batch of Air Traffic Controllers on the same course in November, charged them to improve on the agency’s preparedness to handle emergencies.

    The Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Course, held at the East African School of Aviation, Nairobi, Kenya, is designed to equip participants with the skills to initiate search and rescue and man Rescue Coordination Centres in a Flight Information Region (FIR).