The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Helicopter

  • Caverton acquires helicopter

    CAVERTON  Helicopters Limited has announce the acquisition of another AW139 helicopter.

    According to  statement by the company, this delivery brings the total number of AW139 helicopters to nine in its  fleet.

    The equipment will further establish Caverton as the leading operator of this most modern helicopter in Africa.

    The statement reads: “The aircraft with registration number 5N-BSG, is in line with our fleet expansion plans and it enables us to adequately support our existing contracts as a leading provider of aviation logistics services to oil and gas multinationals within and outside the country.”

    With a shift in strategy from partnerships with foreign helicopter firms to sole participation, Caverton has come of age over the last ten years. Bringing our own aircraft gives us more control, increases efficiency and ultimately improves our bottom-line. We are primed to continue to use the AW139 to service the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.”

    In 2010, Caverton Helicopters edged out foreign operators to win a multi-million dollars, multi-year contract from Shell Petroleum Development Company for the supply and operation of six helicopters.

    A seventh helicopter was added last May. Won after a rigorous competitive bidding, it is on record as the biggest contract ever awarded by the oil multi-national to an indigenous company.

    Last year, the firm started its first international operation after it won the contract to provide passenger transfer and pipeline surveillance services to the Cameroon Oil Transport Company (COTCO), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil.

    In June this year, the company signed an agreement with CAE, a Canadian firm, for the construction and operation of the first commercial flight simulation centre in Africa.

    This centre will also double as maintenance repair and overhaul facility and is in line with our vision is to be a one-stop-shop for training and logistics services in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Three die as another helicopter crashes

    Three die as another helicopter crashes

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday confirmed the death of three crew members in another air crash involving one of the nation’s military helicopters in Adamawa State..

    It was the second time in one week that a military helicopter would crash in Yola, the state capital.

    But in spite of losing another helicopter to air crash, the Nigerian Air Force has flown at least 6,000 missions to the troubled North-East in an offensive against the Boko Haram sect.

    The latest incident occurred at about 9 pm on Thursday around the Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, located at Batare, a hamlet under Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    Two eyewitnessesand residents of the area, Mr David Omole and Comrade Jonathan Philibus, who saw the low flying chopper when it crashed, said:the chopper crashed closed to their houmes with about five people on board wearing army uniforms.

    A one-paragraph statement issued by the Defence Headquarters said: “At about 2200hours yesterday 13 November 2014, a ground attack helicopter on an armed patrol crashed around the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State.

    “ The crew of 3 was lost in the ill-fated accident.  Rescue party worked throughout the night to preserve the wreckage of the aircraft and scene of the accident for proper investigation to be carried out.

    “Further details would be made known later.”

    Another source added: “Military aviation experts have been deployed in Yola to investigate the crash. This is the second or third time it will happen in Yola airport and its environs.

    “One of the areas of investigation is the visibility or navigational situation of the airport in the evening and night.

    “The investigators will also ascertain if the requisite technological manpower and facilities are in place at the airport.”

    Investigation into the incident was still on as at press time.

    A military source, who gave an update on the operations against Boko Haram insurgents said the troops had started “ full-scale campaign” in the North-East.

    The source said: “Since the Boko Haram campaign of terror commenced in full-scale in the North-East states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, the Nigerian Air Force has flown at least 6,000 missions in efforts to rid the zone of insurgency.

    “The missions, aiming to decimate, degrade, destabilise and demoralise the Boko Haram terrorists with a view to completely curtailing their freedom of actions, comprised ground attacks platforms, mission on ATR-42, Beechcraft air surveillance platform, airlift missions using the G-222 and the C-130H.

    “The Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, said at a recent forum at the University of Ibadan that the scope of the operations included airlift of troops and equipment, rotation of forces, battlefield interdiction, casualty evacuation, air surveillance  Operations and armed reconnaissance Missions among other operations.”

  • Bristow Helicopter to spend N50 million on 20 cadet engineers

    As part of its contributions to the development of human resources  in the aviation sector, Bristow Helicopter said it will spend over N50 million for the training of 20 cadet engineers at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The 20 cadet engineers, according to the human resources manager of the helicopter company, Mr Femi Collins, will spend 90 weeks at the college .

    He said the training is part of the company’s initiative to empower Nigerians and strengthen capacity for the aviation sector .

    Speaking at the “Meet the Parents” ceremony held at the company’s head office in Lagos, Collins congratulated the eventual 20 cadets that emerged  from the over 4000 applications received from all over Nigeria.

    He stated that the selection process was thorough and strictly based on merit so both parents and prospective cadets should be very proud of their achievements.

    Collins noted that the cadets training was one of Bristows commitment to building capacity in both the aviation and offshore helicopter support industries as these cadets would go on to work on aircraft servicing these two important aspects of the Nigerian economy.

    Collins revealed that an average of N2.5 million will be spent on each cadet trainee for the duration of the 90 weeks training. This cost, he stated, will include the tuition fees, accommodation and feeding. Asides this, a monthly allowance will also be made available to each of the cadets throughout the period of the training.

    On his part, the Managing Director, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni, enjoined the cadet engineers to exhibit good behaviour during the period of their training as character and good conduct constitutes one of the assessment elements. Oni noted that though these young Nigerians were being trained in Nigeria, they would later form part of a global pool of engineering talent that could be required and deployed anywhere in the world.

    Parents at the signing ceremony expressed their gratitude to Bristow Helicopters for the initiative. Enjoining their children and wards to do them proud, the parents who took turns to speak, noted that the gesture from Bristow was a rare opportunity and a privilege.

  • Helicopter sighted in crisis area

    The National President of Tombo Development Association, Isaac Gbaa, has described the crisis in Benue State as a genocide.

    He said in Makurdi that a helicopter was alleged to be supplying the gunmen with food and ammunition daily.

    Gbaa alleged that about two to three hours after the helicopter lands at Anyebe, the gunmen begin their onslaught against the villages.

    The TODA national president also alleged the gunmen may be using poisonous chemicals, as it was discovered that some victims had no gunshot injuries on their bodies.

    He said with the sophisticated weapons used by the attackers, they might have infuential sponsor(s).

    Gbaa called on Governor Suswam and security agencies to ensure that the sponsors were discovered and punished with the mercenaries.

    Ikyungwa and Tse Avule villages were razed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The gunmen stormed the village during the day and set houses in the settlement ablaze.

    It was not clear how many people were killed.

  • Police Commands to get surveillance helicopter – Jonathan

    Towards reforming the Nigeria Police, the Federal Government has proposed to equip every State Police Command with helicopter in order to boost their air surveillance operations.

    President Goodluck Jonathan made the promise while speaking at the 2013 Police week and commissioning of some police equipment at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
    Stressing that the equipment will go a long way in checking criminal activities like armed robbery, kidnapping and facilitate prompt responses during emergencies, he charged the Police to ensure maintenance of the equipment and regular staff training in order to meet up with the current security challenges.

    He also urged the policemen to respect the citizens while discharging their functions of protecting lives and property and fighting crimes.

    Jonathan said: “I expect that these facilities will enhance police capability in prevention of crimes, and improving response time in emergency situation. It shall be instruments of justice and protection of all men of goodwill given as it will be deployed and utilised strategically to achieve and accelerate utmost result.”

    “For us to continue to use these equipment, one thing I urge the police to do is the issue of maintenance. As a nation, we are not too good in maintaining what we have. Presently, that aspect is improving because my reaction to the arm forces, the navy, and the air force, we have gotten a very formidable team that are now maintaining their equipment.”

    “The police should do the same so that these equipment will last the time they expected to last. Also, we must emphasise the need to train. For you to remain gallant, for you to remain functional in whatever you do, and especially in security tactics, training is vital.”

    He went on: “You must train on the job, you must train with the equipment so that our men and women in police force will have confidence in themselves so that they will continue to operate as gallant men and women.”

    “The police must be well equipped and kitted to protect us while on land, while in water and also in the air. Of course you see the helicopter we commission and I believe my commitment is that every state command must have a helicopter.”

    “You have seen the commitment of government that is why we set up the special fund. A situation where armed robbers could takeover a place and operating for hours and no challenge must be a thing of the past. And that is why we want to invest in air power for the Nigerian police.” He added

    The equipment commissioned yesterday include seven helicopters, 13  Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC), 275 patrol vehicles and  20 Toyota helux armoured pickup vans and other gadgets.

    Extending condolences to the families of police men and women who lost their lives while on duty of securing the nation, President Jonathan, at the occasion, also presented Presidential awards to those who distinguished themselves in terms of courage, merit and post houmous awards.

  • ‘ Rivers Assembly approved helicopter purchase’

    The Rivers State Government has said the House of Assembly approved its purchase of a helicopter.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said besides getting the approval of the lawmakers, the Federal Government was also in the know as the helicopter was jointly bought by the two governments.

    Mrs. Semenitari, who showed documents of the purchase agreement between the state and Bell Helicopter which was drawn on August 16, 2011, also used the document to support her claim that the amount paid for the helicopter, a Bell 412EP, was $28,414,640.

    The helicopter, the commissioner said, is an armoured type, fitted with camera and other security gadgets.

    Mrs. Semenitari said the main reason for buying the helicopter is to secure life and property as promised by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    She also said the government went for this type because it wanted to avoid a situation where bunkerers could shoot the helicopter down.

     

  • Helicopter crash: Acting Governor condoles with Jonathan, others

    The Acting Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham, has commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan and the people and governments of Kaduna and Bayelsa states on the deaths of Governor Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Owoye Azazi, in a helicopter crash at the weekend.

    He described their deaths as horrific and saddening.

    In a statement issued in Calabar, Cobham said he was shocked when he received the sad news, adding that the two men would be missed.

    According to him, “the death of the two gentlemen and others in the helicopter crash is distressing. It is a tragedy not only to their families and states of origin, but also to the nation.”

    While conveying the deepest condolences of the Government and people of Cross River State to the families of the victims, he prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The Acting Governor supported President Jonathan’s directive that a probe be conducted on the crash to find out its cause.