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Tag: Asaba Airport

  • Antelope runs into plane at Asaba airport

    Antelope runs into plane at Asaba airport

    An Air Peace plane ran into a large antelope on the runway of the Asaba airport, killing the animal.

    The plane was left grounded and the runway shut.

    Details of the incident that happened on Saturday were sketchy at press time last night.

    It was not clear whether the incident occurred while the plane was landing or when it was taxying to take off.

    Spokesman of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the incident with a post on his X handle.

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    He wrote: “Monitoring reports yesterday indicated that an Air Peace aircraft ran into a large antelope, decimating the animal and leaving the aircraft AOG (aircraft on ground).

    “As a result, flights meant to be operated by this aircraft would naturally be disrupted, even though engineers are on the ground to assess and fix the plane. Passengers waiting would naturally be infuriated.

    “Incidents like this are literal illustrations of the disruptions not caused by the airlines (domestic or international).

    “This explainer is for illustration purposes, not to excuse airlines when they fail to do their duties to passengers.

    “Despite such situations, the airline still owes its passengers information, refunds and other forms of care they are entitled to. The airline can face sanctions if it fails to provide these.”

    A source said the aircraft was to fly from Asaba to Lagos.

    The Airbus 320 aircraft, marked 9H-EDO, was wetleased by Air Peace.

    The source further said that the plane – Flight No: P47861, had 135 passengers on board.

    The incident occurred around 17.41 hours (5.41pm local time).

    A Fire Service Department official at the airport who spoke on the condition of anonymity told our reporter that the unit had observed and reported antelope crossing the Runway to the airport managers. It could not be ascertained whether an action had been taken before the incident.

    Asaba International Airport is managed by Asaba Airport Company (AAC), a concessionaire hired by the government for the development, operation, and management of the facility for 30 years.

    The agreement covers all airside and landside infrastructure, including the terminal and runway.

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has no role in its management.

    Efforts to get the Air Peace public relations department to speak on the incident were unsuccessful.

    Experts fault airport managers

    Experts in the aviation sector berated the managers of the airport over the incident involving an Air Peace aircraft running into and killing a large antelope.

    They said the incident raises questions on the underbelly of how some airports in the country are run; calling on the NCAA and FAAN, to close in on such entities on the requisite facilities including perimeter/security fence that should be at such facilities.

    An expert said: “Does the airport not have security/ perimeter fencing? What about its wildlife control programme?

    “Who will take responsibility for whatever damage if there is no insurance on the airport and no security fence? I feel very sorry for the additional pains Air Peace has to go through.

    “With everything else the airline is facing, another aircraft grounded and significant costs to follow. It is a pitiable situation – the loss of revenue and backlash from the public.”

  • Exposed: How dispatcher’s error caused flight diversion to Asaba Airport

    Exposed: How dispatcher’s error caused flight diversion to Asaba Airport

    Fresh facts emerged on Wednesday, November 29, on how a wrong code sent by one of the Flight Dispatchers in United Nigeria Airlines resulted in the diversion of a Lagos/Abuja -Flight NAU 0504 to Asaba Airport in Delta state.

    Though the carrier had inadvertently cited poor destination weather as the reason for the safety infraction, an investigation by The Nation has revealed that the said Flight Dispatcher, who has been suspended indefinitely by United Nigeria Airlines entered the wrong code into the Dispatch document sent to aeronautical authorities.

    Investigations revealed that the flight dispatcher entered into the dispatch document ABB, which is the code for Asaba International Airport, Delta, instead of ABV, which is the code for Abuja Airport.

    Flight Plans are prepared by airlines and forwarded to the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS), Unit of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    Sources close to United Nigeria Airlines hinted that the said official has been issued a letter mandating him to go on suspension for the avoidable, yet huge embarrassment, his indiscretion has caused the entire travel industry.

    The source said the official will remain suspended pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation into the safety infraction as mandated by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), are probing the incident.

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    But, the umbrella body of flight dispatchers in the country: the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN), has challenged United Nigeria Airlines on its action, saying both United Nigeria Airlines and Air Traffic Controllers attached to NAMA disregarded “Operational Control”, by not following what was filed by the dispatcher.

    In a statement by FLIDAN’s Secretary General, Mrs Victoria Adegbe, said the airline’s operational control allows a pilot to generate his own operational flight plan, thereby taking full responsibility for the Dispatch Release is an outright breach of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR) Part 8.

    Adegbe said: “The Flight Dispatcher followed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 8-Operations; by filing a flight plan with Aeronautical Information Service, AIS which was transmitted to the Control Tower.

    “Departure-Lagos. Destination- Abuja, First Alternate- Enugu, Second Alternate- Port Harcourt. Time of flight: 13:00   Flight Duration: 55mins Endurance: 6 hours. The weather folder given showed Abuja weather was ok.

    “The Pilot called the Air Traffic Control (Tower) for clearance to depart to Asaba. The Tower granted the request against the legal flight plan submitted by the Flight Dispatcher.

    “Both the Pilot and The ATC seem not to follow what was filed which by implication, meant that they disregarded “Operational Control ” of the Flight Dispatcher which empowers a 50 per cent  Joint and Equal Responsibility of the Safety of the flight to the Flight Dispatcher.

     “The Airlines’ Operational control which allowed a pilot to generate his own Operational Flight Plan, OFP, thereby taking full responsibility for the Dispatch Release is an outright breach of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR Part 8

    “The Airlines’ Operations Control further contravened the NCAR which states that an airline pilot shall take to the destination airport a copy of the Flight Plan, Dispatch Release and Load Manifest. By implication, if the pilot had the flight plan on him, he would have gotten his destination right, the Dispatch Release if it was with him summarises the departure and destination which was clearly disregarded.

    “The ATC should not have granted a scheduled flight clearance to depart to a destination that was not as filed by the Flight Dispatcher

    “The Airline in a show of absolute disregard for Aviation Law went ahead to suspend the Flight Dispatcher who upheld the Licence issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and carried out his job as required by law.

    “We call on the NCAA to beam a searchlight on the Operations Control of the Airline which has seized Operational Control from the Flight Dispatcher.

    “The ATC might want to look into the regulations that govern granting clearance contrary to filed flight plan.”

  • FAAN threatens to shutdown Asaba Airport, others over huge debt

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has threatened to shut down operations in two airports in Delta State along with seven other airports over rising debts,The Nation has learnt.

    The  nation’s civil aviation regulators  vowed that except payments are made for services rendered on or before April 30th, 2019, operations will be shutdown in Asaba and Osubi airports.

    According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, airports that lack security,aerodrome rescue and firefighting personnel services will be shutdown.

    The was contained in a document issued by FAAN‘s Credit Control Department  and obtained by The Nation which gave the latest ultimatum after an earlier one was not heeded by the erring airports.

    It was gathered that privately airports to be affected include the Osubi Airport near Warri, Delta State, and the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2).

    State owned airports are Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Delta State Airport, Asaba, Bayelsa International Cargo Airport, in Ammassona, Gombe State Airport, in Gombe, Jigawa State Airport, Dutse, Kebbi State Airport, Birnin Kebbi and Taraba State Airport, Jalingo.

    It was gathered that FAAN has been battling private/state airports over huge debts.

    Part of the circular reads: “Following the notice of intention to sanction issued to owners/operators of private airports indebted to FAAN which lapses on Wednesday, 24th April 2019, FAAN hereby serves another seven days notice of grace till Tuesday, April 30, 2019, for them to settle the debts.”

  • Okowa: Asaba Airport to begin operation in July

    Okowa: Asaba Airport to begin operation in July

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday said full commercial activities would commence at the Asaba International Airport in July.

    The governor spoke during an inspection visit to the airport.

    He commended the contractor, “Setraco” for the reconstruction work on the runway.

    “It took two years for ULO (the former contractor) to construct 900 metres of the runway, but it gladdens my heart that in just three weeks, Setraco has done 1.1km of the runway.

    “From the work programme, it may be possible for Setraco to complete the project in three and half months.

    “The speed with which they mobilise to site is wonderful,” he said, expressing optimism that in another four months, bigger planes would land at the airport.

    Mr Jihad Yahgi, area manager, Setraco, who explained the level of work, said that the company would soon complete water channels at the airport.

    He promised that the work will be completed on schedule and in line with specifications.

  • Asaba Airport to be inaugurated in March

    The Asaba International Airport in Delta State will be inaugurated in March, The Nation has learnt.

    Besides rehabilitation of the runway and taxi way, which had reached advanced stages, it was gathered the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Air Field Lighting (AFL) system had begun.

    ILS and AFL are visibility guides that direct landing of aircraft on runway.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the contracting firm, ULO Consultants, Mr. Uche Okpuno, said: “In March we will hand over the airport and probably inaugurate it. We are not only working on the runway and taxi way, if you go to the airport, you will notice the building of the watch tower is nearing completion.”

  • Downgrading Asaba Airport

    Downgrading Asaba Airport

    • Delta State govt should fix the place for normalcy to return soonest

    Given the reasons adduced by the Federal Government for downgrading the Asaba Airport in Delta State, on May 5, it would appear the government did the needful if only to ensure the safety and security of passengers. Air passengers’ lives, like the other passengers’, should not be endangered for any reason. We do not know what to make of an airport with undulating runways, or one without good perimeter fencing as well as other measures that could guarantee the safety and security of passengers.

    What is particularly sad about the matter, apart from the fact that the absence of some critical facilities at the airport created a huge security risk for the travellers, was that the Federal Government had also drawn the attention of the state government to these laxities, stating that  its inability to address them “violated the Compliance with safety standards as stipulated in the Nig CARS part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3”, without positive response from the state government.

    The violations are also about associated facilities and adequately trained personnel. According to the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, the downgrading of  Asaba Airport was carried out in the public interest, as the FG “places very high premium on the safety and security of air passengers”. For this reason, the FG would “never compromise set standards for whatever reason”.

    What the downgrading implies is that the airport cannot operate commercial flights, except with small aircraft. According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the regulators of the industry, the aircraft it can take include the Dash 8 or Q series aircraft with twin engine, medium range and turboprop airliners which can carry up to 80 passengers and are often used for commercial operations. We would even have thought that the NCAA would stop all flight operations at the airport until the issues are addressed. However, since the authority, in its wisdom, only chose to downgrade the airport, Delta State government, its owner, should heed the admonitions of the authority and fix all the facilities requiring fixing.

    Without doubt, it is good that the airport was built, as it opened Delta State as a better and faster link between the South west and Northern states than the notorious Benin-Ore Expressway. The airway has transformed Asaba, the capital, significantly, making it a business outlet to the entire south of Nigeria.

    Under the circumstances, it is good and proper for the Federal Government to have identified the problems with the airport and went ahead to ban it from taking big aircraft as a precautionary measure to possible air disasters. We can only hope that the ban or downgrading would be sustained until Delta State Government realised the import of the ban and quickly attends to all the shortcomings. The earlier this is done, the better for the state and other states in the South south and South east.

    We commend the NCAA for being proactive on the airport. As they say, ‘prevention is better than cure’. It is better to prevent avoidable air crashes and the attendant loss of lives than to take actions after the harm has been done. We have had enough of air disasters.

    But Asaba Airport is not alone in terms of inadequate facilities in the country. The authority would do well to beam its searchlight on other airports, including the international ones, with a view to ensuring that they provide the basic tools for passengers’ safety, security and comfort.

    ‘We commend the NCAA for being proactive on the airport. As they say, ‘prevention is better than cure’. It is better to prevent avoidable air crashes and the attendant loss of lives than to take actions after the harm has been done. We have had enough of air disasters’

     

  • Govt downgrades Asaba airport over safety

    Govt downgrades Asaba airport over safety

    The Federal  Government has downgraded Asaba airport following the failure of the owners to comply with safety measures.

    With the downgrade, flight operations will be limited to certain categories of aircraft.

    The Ministry of Aviation noted that the government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had raised several safety concerns over the ditches on the airport’s runway, lack of the required strip, perimeter fencing, drainage, as well as lack of adequately trained technical personnel.

    The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka said the downgrading is in the interest of the public.

    Chidoka said: “The downgrading has been carried out in the public interest because the Federal Government places very high premium on the safety and security of aviation passengers and would never compromise set standards for whatever reason.”

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Assistant Director, Press & Public Affairs, James Odaudu of the Aviation Ministry raed in part: “With the downgrading which takes immediate effect, the airport would now be allowed to accommodate the operation  of only Dash 8-Q 400 aircraft or its equivalent until all the safety issues are addressed.

    “It has therefore become a matter of serious concern that despite a series of meetings with, and assurances given by the operators of the airport, the Delta State government, no concrete steps have been taken to address the issues which are capable of compromising the safety of flight operations and, of course, the passengers.

    “The Federal Government has also drawn the attention of the owners of the airport to the fact that it has, through its inability to address the issues, violated the Compliance with Safety Standards as stipulated in the Nig. CARs Part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3 in respect of the airport runway and its associated facilities as well as adequately trained personnel.”

    Chidoka however assured that the airport would return to its previous status as soon as all the safety concerns are adequately and satisfactorily addressed.

  • FG downgrades Asaba airport over safety concerns

    FG downgrades Asaba airport over safety concerns

    The Federal Government has downgraded Asaba airport following the failure of the owners to comply with safety measures.

    With the downgrade, flight operations will be limited to certain categories of aircraft.

    The government through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had raised several safety concerns over the ditches on the airport’s runway, lack of the required strip, perimeter fencing, drainage, and lack of adequately trained technical personnel.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Affairs in the Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, announced the airport downgrade.

    The statement said: “With the downgrading which takes immediate effect, the airport would now be allowed to accommodate the operation  of only Dash 8-Q 400 aircraft or its equivalent until all the safety issues are addressed.

    “It has therefore become a matter of serious concern that despite a series of meetings with, and assurances given by the operators of the airport, the Delta State government, no concrete steps have been taken to address the issues which are capable of compromising the safety of flight operations and, of course, the passengers.

    “The federal government has also drawn the attention of the owners of the airport to the fact that it has, through its inability to address the issues, violated safety standards as stipulated in the Nigeria CARs Part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3 in respect of the airport runway and its associated facilities as well as adequately trained personnel.”

    The Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, however explained that the downgrading is in the interest of the public.

    Chidoka said, “The downgrading has been carried out in the public interest because the federal government places very high premium on the safety and security of aviation passengers and would never compromise set standards for whatever reason.”

    He assured that the airport would return to its previous status as soon as all the safety concerns are adequately and satisfactorily addressed.

  • Cargo terminal for Asaba Airport

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has laid the foundation of the 6, 000 metric tonnes International Cargo Terminal at the Asaba International Airport.

    At the ceremony witnessed by the former Minister for Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, aviation experts and government officials, Uduaghan said President Goodluck Jonathan deserves commendation for working towards growing the rural economy.

    According to him, President Jonathan has shown commitment towards diversifying the nation’s economy from an economy dependent on oil.

    He said the cargo terminal would move goods, especially agricultural produce, to different parts of the world.

    Uduaghan said: “Thank you for selecting Asaba International Airport as one of the cargo international terminals.

    “We are glad that our initiative fits into President Jonathan’s programme of empowering farmers.”