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Tag: Flying

  • Ademilola Odujinrin: Flying around the world my biggest ambition

    Ademilola Odujinrin: Flying around the world my biggest ambition

    Ademilola Oyewale Odujinrin is an Airline captain and the first African pilot to fly solo around the world in a single light aircraft. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he opens up on his ambition, what spurred his interest, how he qualified as a private pilot at the age of 16, and more.

    Let’s talk about life as an airline captain and the first African Pilot to fly solo around the world in a single-engine light aircraft. What has been the experience?

    Most people have dreams and aspirations in life, and flying around the world has always been my biggest ambition. I remember a few friends and family finding it difficult to understand my urge to still fly around the world despite being a commercial pilot. They saw being a commercial pilot as the pinnacle of a pilot’s career. However, being a commercial pilot and flying solo around the world in a tiny aircraft are two very distinct achievements. There is a sense of connection and bond you have for an aircraft that weighs half the size of the average family car which you are trusting to take you across all the oceans and continents of the world. I have always maintained that being the first African pilot to do so is the icing on the cake. Flying as a commercial airline captain as my day-to-day job is liberating. I often enjoy the feeling of being up there with just another colleague in the cockpit and not having to sit in front of any boss in an office whilst doing what I love best. I must admit that I feel extremely humbled to be trusted with the lives of so many whilst performing my job and this feels to me with great humility. 

     What spurred your interest in the sector?

    I loved toys as a kid and objects moving through the air were always both fascinating and marvelled my imagination. This led me to start making kites and I mean lots of kites as a child. This naturally transitioned into aircraft, as most kids growing up looked to airline pilots as one of the coolest jobs to do as adults. I was then fortunate to have the unique opportunity of sitting in the cockpit of a BAC One-Eleven aircraft at the age of 14 with my uncle, which left with me absolutely no ambiguity when it came to what profession I was gunning for when I grew older.

    Read Also: FG secures $500m for local funding of digital innovation, entrepreneurship – Minister

    What does qualifying for your private pilot license at 20 means to you?

    The youngest age one can qualify for a private pilot license is 16. However, the back story to mine is that I was not encouraged to become a pilot, and hence no funds were provided to me to train. I had to do things the hard way by taking on several jobs as a teenager to make my dream a reality. Paying for my training alone at such a young age meant I sacrificed doing what your average 18 to 20-year-olds did to achieve my dream and that made the accomplishment really sweet. It was my first experience of feeling elated after achieving something through sheer tenacity and determination.

    What are some of the memorable moments in the sector?

    Nothing will ever trump the feeling I felt in April 2017 after several years of trying and finally achieving my dream of flying around the world. The next best thing to that was qualifying for my private pilot license in just 19 days from start to finish. I guess becoming an airline captain comes into the mix as most airline pilots strive to become captains during the course of their careers. However, lately, I find giving back to the younger pilots life tips on how I fly the Boeing 737 somewhat fulfilling, as I still remember some of the captains that passed on knowledge to me as a young pilot.  I find that people don’t usually forget those that pass on to them life-long skills.

     You also embarked on a solo bicycle ride in 2010 for 17 days. Tell us about the experience.

    I had a promise of sponsorship from a company for my round-the-world flight, which fell through in 2010. I had originally wanted to fly around the world in September 2010 and I was determined not to let the disappointment bring me down. So, I decided to discover who I really was and spend some time in solitude. I knew from riding bicycles that you get a sense of freedom and riding for such a long distance will provide me with plenty of time to think about my next plan. I also knew that riding for days can only test one’s physical and mental strength, so I chose to do just that. It was a brilliant experience because I gave up just after day two and my wife then said it was fine to come back home but she wanted to remind me that everybody would remember I was that guy who set out and failed in my mission. It was a powerful statement I needed to hear at the time and I knew I had to finish what I started. Getting back on the bicycle on day three to finish on day 17 taught me all I needed to know about ambition and grit. The bicycle ride from Morocco to London in September 2010 taught me most importantly that failure at times is part of success story and one needs to remain resolute.

    How has doing this influenced your personality?

    I think people are wired differently and most people have more in them than they can ever imagine. It reminds me of the famous saying “Necessity is the mother of invention”. I have been through a few life challenges similar to the bicycle ride which ultimately shapes my personality in becoming scared of failing. Most achievers are scared deep down of losing, which in turn makes them work harder. My slogan from my experience during the bicycle ride was “IMAGINE, EXPLORE & INSPIRE”.

     In 2017 you achieved the feat of flying solo stopping over in more than 15 countries on 5 continents. Let’s talk about this.

    My flying around the world in 2017 and experience will be coming out soon in my book. The one thing I would like to say is that it was the most unconventional flight around the world. I am glad I was able to accomplish this dream, as it opens more doors for the younger generation to do more amazing feats. I still remember speaking to people who said to me that what I was doing was not considered “black”! Well, I am glad I was able to convince him there isn’t any such thing as “black”. People should be allowed to have dreams and chase their dreams. The dreams of so few have brought about so much for so many over the generations and I am glad I was able to inspire people. Mobile phones and satellite technology will not be around if not for the very brave amongst us going into space for exploration.

     What were your dreams coming out of Queen Mary University of London where you studied Aerospace Engineering?

    I chose to study Aerospace Engineering to further my understanding of the principles of flight. My dreams remained unchanged, as the ultimate goal was always to fly aircraft. In fact, I feel like I have never worked a day in my life and I always look forward to my next flight.

     Let’s talk about the memorable moments of receiving the ODAA award known for honouring extraordinary performances.

    It feels humbling to be recognised for my achievements by such a meritocratic organisation like ODAA.

     What lessons has life taught you?

    To be persistent, resolute, tenacious, and run your own race.

    Tell us about the things that drive and inspire you.

    I believe giving back truly inspires me and sharing my story so people can draw similarities, which in turn drives motivation. The most inspirational story I heard was from a kid considering something so bad I chose not to repeat it until he heard my story. This kid had failed his WAEC a few times and upon drawing similarities from my failures before I finally succeeded, got the impetus to try harder, which he then later passed. Nothing beats hearing how your story has positively impacted others.

    How would you assess the aviation sector in Nigeria?

    The Nigerian aviation sector is in a sorry state. I would need ten full pages to analyse and give my assessment of the industry. It is somewhat pitiful to see the industry from what it was in the late 80s and early 90s to what it is now. It is also sad to see that a nation referred to as the giant of Africa does not have a national carrier, and the main reason for this amongst other things has been past governments using this sector’s main accountable minister role as a payback to their political friends or families who are not adequately qualified in the sector. The analogy of this is going to a hospital for an operation and being operated upon by the receptionist. Those that fly regularly between Lagos and London would attest to the serious hype in price on direct flights, simply because Nigeria does not have its own national carrier and lacks any competition. Simply put, the aviation industry must be run by aviation experts with proven track records and not used for political favours, as this has proven to have serious consequences on the general populace. There is a direct correlation between a healthy aviation sector and the GDP of any prosperous nation. I do hope Nigeria will try to emulate what the Kenyans and Ethiopians have done in this sector to future increase productivity. For example, the current state of reduced FOREX and the exchange rate will only worsen, as only foreign airlines and not Nigerian airlines continue to take the limited FOREX, thereby leading to scarcities and inflating the exchange rates.

     What are some of the groundbreaking feats that you are looking at for the future?

    I am currently in the process of conducting the smallest ever non-stop flight in an aircraft that weighs just 450kgs between England and Nigeria. My all-up weight at departure will be around 1000kgs with fuel included.

    The British took six days stopping and stopped in multiple destinations when flying into Maiduguri, Nigeria on November 1, 1925, involving three De Havilland DH 9A aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force. An average non-stop private jet flight weighs around 25,000kg, whilst a commercial aircraft can weigh up to 300,000kg from London to Lagos. Performing a non-stop flight for 20 hours in an aircraft weighing less than 1000 kg will demonstrate what can be achieved today.

    What advice do you have for young people who want to come into the sector?

    The ultimate advice is always to work hard and don’t expect an easy journey. For those that persevere, they will never work a day in their life, as being paid to fly an aircraft is like being paid to do what you love most.

     How do you unwind?

    I have always found the gym relaxing, and also spending time alone. I find having “me time” extremely productive.

  • Flying and perching around

    Dotun attended the school’s alumni meeting a few weeks ago. Here, he met a number of his old school mates and they had become a shadow of themselves. Guys who used to be the toast and envy of all had deteriorated so badly and they all wondered why he looked so clean and radiant.

    “The only thing that keeps me going is my dear Amaka, the woman who has made me to fly in emotional colours. She is a wonderful heart to be with and every moment spent in her company makes me feel better and younger. She helps you plan your day in a unique way and when you are down, she is ever ready to proffer solutions that would make you go to bed with a heart filled with joy.”

    That, for him, is the emotional tonic required to fly around like a butterfly.

    A strong, healthy relationship can be one of the best supports in your life and business. As you look around for success stories, you find that good relationships improve all aspects of life as well as strengthening your health, your mind, and your connections with others.

    However, if the relationship isn’t working, it can also be a tremendous drain. Relationships are an investment. The more you put in, the more you can get back.

    For some, no matter what they put in the other party would just not make them fly because the relationship was not based on trust but on lust and material gains. Once you find yourself on the edge like this, it is better to device ways to repair the trust and love in a relationship on the rocks.

    At such moments, it may be better to withdraw from the hustle and bustle to nature. That was exactly what Adunni did recently and it took away the emotional confusion without stress. Here, she saw a beautiful butterfly flying and perching around. The brightly-coloured insect stole the show. It was beautiful watching the overlapping rows of tiny scales jumping around in excitement.

    However, she discovered that as beautiful and exciting as it was, the experience did not last forever.

    To understand this, you need to understand that as beautiful as the butterfly is, it has a short lifespan. The average lifespan for an adult butterfly is 20 to 40 days. Some species live no longer than three or four days; others may live up to six months.

    From egg to adult, butterflies undergo a series of physical transformations known as metamorphosis. After mating, the female butterfly lays her eggs on a caterpillar food or “host” plant. The eggs can hatch within a few days, or within months or even years, depending on whether the conditions are right or not.

    In addition, a caterpillar’s first meal is its own eggshell. It then spends most of its time eating the leaves of the plant on which it hatched. An adult butterfly uncoils its long, straw-like proboscis to sip nectar from flowers, juice from rotting fruit and water from puddles.

    Many butterflies have developed interesting ways of defending themselves from predators. One method is disguise, or “cryptic colouration”, where the butterfly has the ability to look like a leaf or blend into the bark of a tree to hide from predators.  Another method is chemical defence, where the butterfly has evolved to have toxic chemicals in its body. These species of butterfly are often brightly coloured, and predators have learned over time to associate their bright colour with the bad taste of the chemicals.

    Interestingly, it also reminds you about the lyrics of the song by Westlife titled ‘Flying without wings’.

    It talks about everybody looking for that special thing, that thing that makes them complete, the thing that brings excitement to their emotions and life in general. The song writer hints that such pleasures and excitement occur in the strangest places, places where you never knew or imagined that you could find cupids arrow.

    The big question then would be where can you find the kind of love that you truly desire?

    Well, some actually find it sharing every morning while others have to stay away from the maddening crowd to find it in their solitary lives. If you do not get it here, then you may just rediscover lost affection in the words of others or in the deepest friendship. Friends whose hearts are as beautiful as the butterfly can be a great asset. These are the kinds of hearts that you would cherish all your life.

  • NIGERIA 3-1 ALGERIA: Why Eagles are flying

    NIGERIA 3-1 ALGERIA: Why Eagles are flying

    • We’re playing younger players, says NFF chief
    • A blend of youth and experience

    The Super Eagles are flying again thanks to the young blood coach Gernot Rohr has injected into the team, according to top NFF chief Seyi Akinwunmi.

    Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Dele Alampasu, Musa Mohammed and Kingsley Madu are all under 20. The average age of the starting Eagles XI in Zambia last month was 25.

    “The key is that we have lowered the average age of the Super Eagles. This is a game for young people and you could even see at 90 minutes, when they were genuinely tired, they kept going,” said Akinwunmi.

    “There are many young players who were not here with the team – the youngster Tammy Abraham at Chelsea, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Victor Osimhen, many of them who in a few months will be challenging for places in this team,” he said.

    The Eagles outscored one Algeria on Saturday, but the top official maintained they remain a work in progress.

    “It was a deserved victory. I predicted that and now I am happy the boys held out. Even when they pushed us in the second half, I was confident that if they scored, we will also score,” he said.

    “We are in the ‘Group of Life’, but we cannot take our foot off the pedal. We have to arrange games for the team so that there is continued competition among the players. The World Cup is still very far away so that we have to keep that tempo going. This team will surely get better.”

  • Flying without wings

    Flying without wings

    •Government, stakeholders must rethink Nigeria’s troubled aviation sector

    There is indeed cause for worry. When three major domestic airlines get grounded in weeks, you are bound to begin to imagine the country itself is shutting down.

    This was the feeling recently as three airlines: Aero Contractors; First Nation and Arik announced in quick succession, their inability to continue to fly their domestic and foreign routes.

    Although Arik Airlines, the biggest of them all, has announced its return to business, not so for the other two. Aero on its part insists it is undergoing “strategic realignment” for improved profitability, it may take a while to return as it is enmeshed in deep debt issues with the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), which has already taken over management of the firm.

    First Nation attributes its suspension of flying to operational hitches, noting that it was temporary, but Arik cites non-renewal of insurance cover for the aircraft on its fleet.

    Whatever the reasons for the flight hiccups, it is a signal to the troubled state of Nigeria’s aviation industry. But even more worrisome is that the problems are plenteous and deep, requiring an urgent meeting of minds between the government, investors and stakeholders. As a strategic sector of the economy; the very gateway for foreign investors and the symbol of the economic health of any nation, solution must be holistic.

    Airlines must re-imagine their business models. It is common knowledge that many airlines have been established largely on sentiments and  sometimes as status symbols. For instance, over the years, many operators have acquired huge and bogus aircraft for short local shuttle flights of less than one hour. These types of aircraft are of course not fuel efficient for shuttle services.

    Many do not carry out proper due diligence considering that the business is capital intensive and foreign exchange sensitive. Operating an airline in Nigeria, one earns in local currency but spends mainly in hard currency as nearly every input; including servicing, checks, spare parts and even aircraft insurance are procured abroad.

    But beyond business strategy, there is no doubt that the ills afflicting the economy have also left the aviation sector prostrate. Just the way they impact on every facet of life in the country. Most notable is the foreign exchange crisis. With the scarcity of forex and the sharp drop in the value of the naira against foreign currencies, most airlines are having a hard time paying their bills.

    Responding to the currency hiccups, price of aviation fuel has naturally shut up, almost doubling over a short period of time, among numerous other essential needs.

    Short of government shovelling money to the airlines, what is to be done? The last time government bailed out troubled domestic airlines, it turned out a debacle as the airlines neither survived nor did the grant return to the government.

    So, deploying taxpayers’ funds to help private businesses survive no matter how strategic they may be to the economy is out of the question.

    We suggest that government could ameliorate the operation of airlines’ businesses by reducing the numerous regulatory levies, especially those dubiously and punitively imposed by the numerous federal agencies in the industry. Government can also intervene in the insurance costs by influencing the insurance sector to behave better. The so-called Local Content Act which has drastically inflated the premium paid by airlines could be reviewed, among other measures.

    We urge government to intervene quickly by convening a stakeholders’ forum to review all the issues and generate immediate and long term solutions. We must remember that in this age, for a country not to have a viable aviation industry is akin to flying without wings.

     

  • Flying without wings

    • Nigeria’s economy must be deemed wingless if first quarter capital votes are just being released

    While 2015 will go down in the annals of Nigeria’s history as the turning point of her democracy; the year a powerful ruling party lost an election, her political success may well be at the expense of her economic wellbeing.

    There are so many reasons for this supposition but the most glaring, and indeed the most significant, is the status of her 2015 Appropriation Bill. A report last week stated that the Federal Government has just ordered the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to release the first quarter capital allocation of the 2015 budget.

    There is no doubt that withholding capital votes meant for infrastructure development up till the last quarter of the year is bound to have serious deleterious effects on an already flailing economy.  But reasons such as late passage of the budget (in second quarter, April 2015) and political transition programme early in the year have been adduced for the current dire situation.

    However, both the out-gone government of President Goodluck Jonathan and that of his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, would be deemed culpable for treating matters concerning the economy so lightly.

    That this year’s budget was passed only last April says something about the last government, including the National Assembly (NASS). And that nothing was done till now, not to mention the 2016 budget, is also a pointer to the mindset of this government as concerns the country’s economy.

    Further, with capital votes just about being released, the implication is that all had been cold and quiet in terms of building requisite structures for economic development through the year. It may also explain why the economy has been slow; almost lapsing into recession.

    But more troubling is the suggestion that the economy may have been on auto-pilot throughout second and third quarters after the general elections. No key agency of government has deigned to raise an eyebrow or call attention to it. It was as if the economy did not matter.

    Also significant is the fact that 2015 capital expenditure figure is quite paltry: only about one-fifths of the recurrent expenditure. While N2.6 trillion was approved as recurrent vote; only about N567 billion was voted for capital expenditure. What this suggests is that the bulk of the N4.5 trillion 2015 federal government fiscal projections would go for salaries, wages and overhead.

    With a fiscal deficit of about N1 trillion and debt service vote of approximately N1 trillion as well, the unspoken sad spectre is that there may not have been any cash backing for capital expenditure until now. Even as paltry as the capital vote is, no cash backing could be made as the federal government had to borrow cash to pay even workers’ salaries just before the election.

    All of these suggest that Nigeria’s economy is in dire straits. We can only urge the Buhari administration to pay more attention to the economy and give it the urgency it requires. For instance, the 2016 draft budget ought to have been submitted to NASS now for deliberation.

    According to the practice and tradition in most countries, the president presents the national budget on the first day of the year. Previous administrations never achieved this in the last 16 years. The current government must endeavour to change that. A lot of difference is made when each year kicks off with the economic and fiscal plans of a country well laid out.

    Another point to note is that the budget is perhaps the most important document of any government. It must never be treated with levity. The performance of an annual budget in measurable terms, is a mark of the quality of government in place and a measure of the level of economic development a country achieves.

    We ask that the debacle which the 2015 budget has turned out to be should never happen again. You can only fly so high without wings.

  • Flying with ease

    Flying with ease

    Airports  are deploying cutting edge technology to ease passenger travel. There are common users self check in kiosks, electronic boarding gates and baggage reconciliation system. Terminal operators and airlines are considering ways of reducing processing  costs  and time for passengers. When will Nigerian airports follow suit? KELVIN OSA- OKUNBOR asks.

    WHETHER  for local or international trips, check -in of passengers is not always pleasant.

    Over 15 million passengers who use the airports yearly have stories to tell. Some of the challenges they face are unduly long queues and duplication of efforts by agencies checking passengers’ documents and baggage, among others.

    But travel experience can be enhanced if cutting edge technology is deployed to save time, reduce stress and eliminate bottlenecks .

    The International Air Transport Association ( IATA), the Airports Council International (ACI ) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) have,  over the years mandated airport and terminal operators in Africa to install state-of-the-art equipment to ease passengers’ travel.

    According to  studies carried out by  IATA, the aviation industry could save as much as $ 1 billion annually and enjoy over 40 per cent market penetration if airport terminal managers and airlines  install self-service check-in facilities .

    Despite the accruing benefits of installing such facilities at airports,  Nigeria and other  African  countries, have failed to comply with the mandate of the global bodies.

    Unfortunately, the multi-billion naira airport remodelling projects still ongoing at 22 airports nationwide did not factor in the installation of common user check – in kiosks , electronic boarding gates as well as baggage reconciliation  system.

    According to experts, about 30 minutes spent on processing individual passengers at Nigerian airports could be reduced if the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) deploys common user self check-in kiosks, electronic boarding gates and baggage reconciliation  systems at terminals to facilitate domestic, regional and international travels.

    The slow march towards the use of technology at airports has raised questions about the competence of government agencies to run airport terminals, which have been effectively managed by the private sector in other parts of the world .

    This has fuelled agitations for the privatisation of airports by some experts, who argue that if  airports are left in private sector hands, they would function effectively with the deployment of modern facilities as obtainable in other parts of the world .

    Worried over this trend, Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, last week said government has approved contract for the installation of modern check-in facilities at the nation’s major international airports.

    Chidoka said it is disturbing that Nigerian airports are not measuring up with global airport terminals in terms of the use of technology to make air travel easy.

    He said  airports in the country ought to have world class facilities, which private sector managed terminals should emulate.

    He spoke in Lagos at the commissioning of the Common User Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) at the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 (MMA2),  Lagos.

    Common use self-service (CUSS) is a shared kiosk, offering airport check-in to passengers without any need for ground staff.

    The CUPPS is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it is the latest automated technology in fast-tracking passenger facilitation at the airport.

    He praised the owners and operators of the airport, saying: “MMA2 has offered a template on how government should go about handling of Nigerian airports.

    “We have decided to change the system and MMA2 has beaten us to it. We need to improve passengers’ experience. I want other terminal operators to emulate the continuous improvements we are seeing in MMA2.  What MMA2 has done is good for the system,” he said.

    The minister took a swipe at the  infrastructural and equipment decay in the country’s aviation industry, adding that urgent steps are needed to correct the anomalies.

    According to aviation experts, the  CUSS can be used by several participating airlines in a single terminal.

    The first major installation of CUSS for multiple airlines was launched in 2003. By the end of  2008, CUSS had been implemented at more than 100 airports globally. But operators of Bi- Courtney Aviation Services Limited last week blazed the trail in the country when it commissioned the facility  at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two ( MMA 2 ), Ikeja, Lagos .

    Speaking at the event, its chief operating officer , Mr Christophe Pennick,  said the firm installed the facility to upgrade the terminal to a global standard.

    He said it took 18 months of planning to ensure that passengers, airlines and ground handling companies enjoy the standard of services obtainable in other countries.

    Pennick said: “We can proudly say that MMA2 will be the only airport terminal in Nigeria to have solely installed the latest version of a computer system that enables the passengers and terminal users as a whole, experience a fast, secured, safe and customer friendly way to board a flight.

    “We have introduced  self-checking, automatic e-gates and a full Baggage Reconciliation System.

    “The system we have put in place is the same as installed in major international airports like Charles De Gaulle, Bangkok International, the brand new airport terminal in Mauritius and over 200 airports worldwide.

    “We changed all the check-in counters and scales and increased their number from 31 to 45. The design and manufacturing was done by the same company providing Amsterdam Schiphol and various other major international airports. We chose them for their quality of workmanship and product.”

    He said the computers at the check-in desks were all changed and each computer is connected to a brand new boarding pass printer and a new baggage tag printer, adding that each airline has a ticket barcode scanner to call up the ticket immediately and without any keyboard input to accelerate the check-in process.

    For passengers travelling without bags, he said the firm has purchased and installed four self-check-in kiosks.

    “We have increased the security features at MMA2 by installing e-gates before the security screening point. As explained, this makes it virtually impossible for an unauthorised person to enter the sterile boarding zone.

    “Each gate is now equipped with a boarding pass scanner and a brand new manifest printers. The installation of PAXTRACK makes it possible to restrict access to certain zone based on the boarding pass; analyse the peaks and makes it easier for us to plan resources; locate a passenger within the terminal and enables the boarding agent to have a better on-time performance.

    “The installation of a full baggage recovery system makes us the only terminal in Nigeria to offer an automated baggage reconciliation system as prescribed by ICAO.

    “We’re the only airport terminal in Nigeria that is providing baggage tags and boarding passes and the equipment was installed by our team and the system is owned by the airport.

    “Our focus is the customer. Our drive is customer satisfaction and eventually the result is being the preferred airport terminal in Nigeria,”he said.

    He explained that in its drive to being and remaining the best, it has chosen to ensure that the industry benefits from it, adding that the technology will process passengers faster, more secure and certainly make passengers enjoy their journey more.

    He said: “We, therefore, would appeal to the authorities that such investments in improvements in passengers’ facilitation, increased safety and security and industry efficiency should be motivated through various ways.”

    By Nigerian standards, domestic airport terminals have either airlines and ground handlers operate with manual boarding passes or expect the airlines to install their own equipment.

    “The philosophy we wanted to adopt at MMA2 was totally different. We want our customers and our customers’ customers to experience the same level of service and similar technology as airports abroad.

    “Passengers can enjoy easier and faster passage through the airport, due to less queues. Furthermore, CUSS kiosks can be located throughout the airport, ranging from car parks to transit areas, thus cutting down airport crowds.

    “Economically, CUSS reduces the labour cost of ground staff required by manual check-in. With the introduction of CUSS, the check-in area at the airport can be reduced to enable more retail outlets, or entertainment facilities.”

    A passenger,  who identified himself as Mr Foster Umen said in  the last few years, airlines operating in busy airports around the world have been educating clients on the benefits and the use of self-service kiosks and online check-in services.

    He said: “And while the queue remains, either for luggage check-in or for the use of kiosks themselves, the pure cost savings have encouraged the number of kiosks in use to grow.

    “Airport self check-in technology has brought about massive cost savings. For the airlines, such technology has brought about massive cost savings.”

    Unlike in Nigeria, the use of kiosks have started to grow, and become an everyday part of airline travel.

    New  CUSS kiosks are being used by some airports to help ease security risks when processing customers travelling between different terminals for connecting flights or passengers travelling on numerous airlines.

     

  • Awoniyi inspires Flying Eagles to 5-0 win

    Awoniyi inspires Flying Eagles to 5-0 win

    Nigeria’s Under 20 team, the Flying Eagles, on Thursday stepped up their build-up for next month’s final Africa Youth Championship (AFCON) qualifier against Lesotho when they trounced Nigeria National League (NNL) side Prisons FC of Abuja 5-0.

    The Flying Eagles will host Lesotho on August 16 with the return leg a fortnight later in Maseru and the overall winners will advance to the 2015 AYC to be staged by Senegal in March.

    Taiwo Awoniyi, fresh from a training stint in Sweden,  opened scoring with Ifeanyi Matthew, Sulaiman Abdullahi, Chisom Eze and Segun Alebiosu also getting on the scoreboard.

    The Nigeria U-20s opened scoring after 12 minutes from the penalty spot when Awoniyi was fouled inside the box and Ifeanyi Matthew sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

    Awoniyi then fired the first goal on 26 minutes, when he crashed his effort from inside the box into the roof of the net.

    The languid striker would have scored again in first half stoppage time, but he missed an easy chance.

    Prisons’ best chance came in the 53rd minute, when Flying Eagles goalie Joshua Enaholo parried a goal-bound effort for a corner kick.

    In the 69th minute, substitute Sulaiman Abdullahi scored the Flying Eagles’ third goal when he lobbed over the Prisons goalie before he coolly finished off. Prisons midfielder Ochule Paul was sent off in the 71st minute for dissent.

    Substitutes Chisom Eze and Alebiosu crowned the victory with well-taken goals in the 73rd and 89th minutes respectively.

     

  • Flying Eagles crush Jay 1 Academy 11-0

    Flying Eagles crush Jay 1 Academy 11-0

    Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, beat Jay 1 Academy of Abuja 11-0 in a test game played at the Abuja National Stadium, Abuja on Friday.

    Bernard Bulbwa and Abubakar Lawal each grabbed a brace with skipper Musa Muhammed, Ifeanyi Matthew, Ahmed Umar and Sulaiman Abubakar also getting on the scoreboard in a one-sided match.

    The Flying Eagles are preparing for next month’s final African Youth Championship qualifier against Lesotho.

    The first leg will be played on August 16 in Nigeria, while the return match will be in Maseru a fortnight later.

    The overall winners will advance to the AYC to be hosted by Senegal in March next year.

  • Flying blind

    Flying blind

    • Government bailouts for the airline industry are not the answer

    For a Federal Government that has ceaselessly preached the gospel of deregulation, it is surprising that the policy of providing bailouts for the ailing real sector of the economy is an unquestionable article of faith. The latest manifestation of this contradictory thinking can be seen in the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend soft loans to the country’s troubled airlines.

    The CBN measure is apparently aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s airspace is operated by indigenous airlines which can offer efficient and cost-effective services on a par with global best standards. While those intentions may be honourable, recent experience has shown that it is not an effective strategy.

    The soft loans being contemplated by the bank are just the latest in a host of interventions aimed at the beleaguered aviation sector. In 2010, Nigerian airlines were beneficiaries of the N500billion bailout fund approved for the manufacturing sector in response to the cash crunch emanating from the global financial crisis of 2008. In 2012, N300billion was given to airlines to refinance their debts to banks. Late last year, the Federal Government announced that it would purchase 30 aircraft to be distributed to local airlines to be paid for in instalments.

    Such sustained interest in the well-being of the aviation sector is not misplaced. The tragic air disasters of the recent past are a sobering reminder of the unacceptable consequences of mismanagement, corner-cutting and infrastructural inadequacies. However, the desire to reposition the airline industry does not mean that money should simply be thrown at perceived problems. It is strange that no attempt has been made to find out why previous bailouts failed so spectacularly to achieve the intended effects. Some airlines took bailout money and promptly went under; others used the money for purposes other than what it was meant for. Nor has there been any efforts to apprehend and sanction those who misused bailout funds meant for their companies.

    To make matters worse, the underlying problems facing the airline industry are as formidable as ever. Vital inputs like aviation fuel, spare parts for aircraft, landing, parking and maintenance charges remain very high. Regulatory oversight is bedevilled with unanswered accusations of corruption, nepotism and inefficiency. A series of strikes has shown that labour relations in many airline companies are not conducive to operational efficiency.

    If the Federal Government is sincere about its desire to help the aviation sector to overcome its problems, it must focus less on dubiously distributing money and more on tackling the roots of the crisis. Greater effort must be made to reduce the operating costs of indigenous airlines which rank among the highest in Africa. Instead of continual bailouts, the strategy should be to create an enabling environment in which the airlines can thrive. For example, reducing tariffs on imported spare parts, lowering airport fees and charges, and establishing special long-term, low-interest loan facilities in banks would help to make the airline business more profitable and more sustainable in the long run.

    The bailout policy has not succeeded in the other sectors of the Nigerian economy where it has been tried. It has not done much to resuscitate the comatose textile industry. The trillions poured into the banking crisis have achieved negligible results; an additional N500 billion bailout for banks was stopped by the House of Representatives in 2011. Indeed, far from representing a viable direction in economic policy, bailouts have apparently become the new system for funnelling huge amounts from government to private pockets, especially given the fact that there appears to be no desire to investigate how such funds were spent.

    It is time for the Federal Government to realise that the bailout strategy can only function effectively as part of a comprehensive programme of reform which must be implemented with honesty, diligence and efficiency.

  • Flying Eagles battle Esperance U-20, Club Africain

    Flying Eagles battle Esperance U-20, Club Africain

    The Flying Eagles will step up preparations for the African Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria with two more test games against Esperance U-20 and Club Africain in Tunisia.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and signed by Samm Audu, the Media Officer of the team. The statement said that the Nigeria U-20 would take on Esperance today, and also battle top Club Africain on Monday, March 11.

    Club Africain were beaten in the final of the 2011 Confederation Cup. In the statement, the Team Secretary, Aliyu Lawal, said both matches would kick-off at 7 p.m. as the Flying Eagles are due to play a late game in the group stage of the AYC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Eagles lost their first two warm-up matches in Tunisia, 2-0 to the Tunisia U-20 team and 2-1 to Esperance main team. They defeated their Egyptian counterparts 3-1 in Cairo and drew the second game 0-0 also in Egypt.

    The statement said former Esperance goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie has tipped the Flying Eagles to successfully defend the AYC crown they won two years ago in South Africa.

    “This is a very mature team. They gave Esperance a very good fight and I see them going on to keep their title in Algeria.”

    The statement said 40-year-old Tizie featured for ‘The Blood and Gold’ between 2000 and 2006 and won 83 caps for Cote d’Ivoire.

    “He was top choice for the Elephants at the 2006 World Cup in Germany,”’ it said.

    Emeka Emerum, Nigerian-born winger, who played against the Flying Eagles on Saturday, also said both the Esperance coach and players saluted the quality of the Nigeria U-20.

    “They were really surprised by how the Flying Eagles controlled the game, especially in the first half,” said Emerum, who only recently signed a four-year contract with the perennial Tunisian champions.

    “The coach said the team could pass for the Super Eagles, and at half time, he told us we had to take the game very seriously.”