The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

  • ICAO to inaugurate FAAN facility as global training centre

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is set to commission the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) Training Centre, designated as Global Training Centre by Airports Council International (ACI) for Africa region, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu.

    The facility situated at the international wing of the Lagos Airport will be inaugurated this Friday.

    According to her, the commissioning and designation of the facility as ICAO/ACI Global Training Centre would further enhance training of technical personnel for the industry.

    Yakubu explained that before the facility was approved, inspectors from ICAO had visited the facility regularly and discovered some open items, which she said were closed by FAAN’s management before the final approval was given by ICAO.

    She recalled that the facility was designated as an ICAO/ACI training facility in Mauritius in 2017 during the ACI meeting in that country.

    She said the nod given the facility by the global body  would make it easier and cheaper for technical personnel on the continent to be trained on aviation matters, adding that ICAO’s approved instructors would be engaged for training of personnel.

    Yakubu said FAAN’s Managing Director, Saleh  Dunoma;  who also doubles as the President of ACI-Africa  accelerated the upgrading the facilities to its present status.

    She said: “Sometime last year, during the ACI meeting in Mauritius, FAAN training school was designated as an ICAO training centre. By this Friday, ICAO will be coming to Nigeria for the commissioning of the facility.

    “One of the advantages of the training centre is that it will make it easier for member countries to train their personnel in Nigeria and it is also cheaper for them to come to Nigeria to be trained, rather than going to United Kingdom, United States and other countries around the world.

    “Another advantage is that there will be more opportunity for those in the region to get trained. You know when cost is not really a factor; more people will be factored in for training. There is also accessibility for trainees and the weather conditions are favourable in Nigeria, while the learning facilities are fantastic and new.
    “For ICAO to designate us as a training centre, you will know that everything that we needed to put in place have been put in place. The training facilities are up to date. The instructors will be coming from all over the world and they are ICAO trained instructors.”

    On the ongoing certification of some international airports by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Yakubu assured that some of the airports would be certified by 2019.

    She recalled that the international wings of Lagos and Abuja were certified in 2017 by the regulatory authority, stressing that officials from ICAO were also assisting FAAN in the certification exercise.

    “You know there are certain conditions that must be met before an airport is certified and before MMA and Abuja Airports were certified last year, we had to fulfill all these conditions and before any other airport would be certified, same conditions, too have to be met.

    “Recently, a team from ICAO came around during the Airport Excellence (APEX) training, which was held in Nigeria, the team went to Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu Airports. I can assure you that next year, one or more airports would also be certified after we have fulfilled all the conditions,” she assured.

     

  • Nigeria to host ICAO World Aviation Forum

    Nigeria to host ICAO World Aviation Forum

    Nigeria is set to become the first country to host the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ), World Aviation Forum ( IWAF ), scheduled to hold from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 in Abuja.

    Mr Ariyo Akinfewa, media consultant to the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Friday in Lagos, said that although this was the third edition, it was, however, the first time it was being hosted outside the ICAO’s headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

    Akinfewa in a statement said this year’s edition was a special forum because the global aviation communities would converge in Nigeria to deliberate on the theme: “Financing the Development of Aviation Infrastructure.”

    “The country is more than delighted to play host to this all-important forum as the first country in the world to do so.

    “This is a rare opportunity for Nigeria being the first time the forum is being held outside Montreal and we are more than delighted to host it,” the Minister was quoted as saying.

    Similarly, ICAO in a publication on its website said the forum would explore how development of aviation infrastructure plays a key role in the achievement of the visionary United Nation’s Agenda 2030 and African Union Agenda 2063 prosperity objectives.

    According to ICAO, there will also be a special focus on funding and financing of airport, air navigation, and other aviation infrastructure projects.

    It said the forum would also stress the importance of aligning policies and planning for air transport with the national development planning.

    “This high-level event directly supports the ICAO ‘No Country Left Behind initiative’ and will be of key interest to Ministers and other senior government officials responsible for civil aviation, transport, infrastructure, finance, and tourism, as well as key industry and financial partners.

    “During the event, a day will be dedicated fully to Africa aviation development financing.

    “The second day of the forum will focus specifically on financing challenges facing aviation infrastructure and capacity development in Africa,” it said. NAN

  • AIB boss urge pilots, others to be professional in their duties

    AIB boss urge pilots, others to be professional in their duties

    Mr Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ), has  emphasised the need  for members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ) to discharge their duties professionally.

    The commissioner’s call is in a statement by Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the Head, Public Affairs, AIB, on Sunday in Lagos.

    Oketunbi stated that the commissioner made the call when a delegation of NAAPE, led by its President, Mr Abednego Galadima, paid a courtesy visit to Olateru at the AIB headquarters.

    Olateru said the Nigerian aviation industry would experience more growth and safe flight operations if aircraft engineers and pilots in various organisations displayed professionalism in carrying out  their responsibilities.

    He lauded NAAPE for the pragmatic approach  in dealing with managements of various organisations in the industry, noting that the attitude had brought stability to the sector and enjoined them to continue  in the same manner.

    The commissioner 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. For some unions, it is for the highest bidders, 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. If there is no aircraft, there is no aviation.

    “NAAPE comes first in the industry. So, I will want you to urge your members 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 times.

    He attributed this to the new approach by the current management, which removed accident reports from the apron string of individuals to collective contributions.

    He explained that because of the quality of work 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 not to rush reports that could be faulted by anyone.

    “So, I took time to go through the process to show him that our reports can’t be faulted. Our reports are not done individually again.

    “We now have groups comprising 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 comments and observations.

    “On getting feed backs, we now do a general review, which involves virtually all the investigators, before it goes out for proof reading,”he said.

    Olateru noted that aviation industry anywhere in the world was technical and volatile, stressing that whatever developments that took place in other sectors also affect aviation industry.

    He pointed out  that the minister  was working with Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) to ensure that interest rate on loans obtained by investors in the sector was not more than nine per cent, which would go a long way in improving standards in the sector.

    Olateru 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 the businesses.

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

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

    He added that “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.

    “We recognise that AIB has paucity of funds, but despite this, the bureau has been paying the licence 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.”

  • FAAN, NiMet get international certification – Minister

    FAAN, NiMet get international certification – Minister

    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has received international certification for Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA ).

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika while receiving the certification of FAAN and Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet ) in
Abuja on Tuesday, said both certificates were huge achievements toward security and safety in the aviation sector.

    He said that Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was the first international Airport in Nigeria to meet the requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and NCAA regulations.

    “This is indeed a huge achievement as far as we are concerned, Mr President had told us to secure this country and manage it, therefore, inline with his vision we align in building institutions and getting them to work well.
    “Because once that is achieved it means that we are managing the country well, strong institutions will definitely begets strong nation.

    The country had tried time and again to certify our airports in the past.

    “It is a global requirements by International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) convention and Aerodrome requires that airports must be standardised.
    “Under different ownership, under different cultures and climates, under different conditions all over the world and they must be standardise and they must reflect certain minimum standard of safety and security.

    “This made it very paramount to ensure that our airports are certified.

    “We promised the nation that we will get these airports certified, today by the grace of God we have achieved that milestone,” he said.

    According to him, they are beginning to certify the airports with the Murtala Muhammed International Airport been the first to be certified by NCAA through ICAO standards.

    He said this certification borders on safety which is a huge achievement in making sure that the nation institutions are strong, dynamic, focused and sensitive.

    Sirika, however, commended the Ministry of Transportation for making the certification achievable and possible, stating that they hope to get certification for Nnamdi Nzikiwe airport before the end of the year.

    He said they would ensure that both international and domestic airports get certified which would increase the value, the insurance would be low, charges and ticket would be lower as a result of the certification.

    The Minister of State noted that the world will be at peace to know that Nigeria aviation is secured with flight operation being safe and secured within and outside the country.

    He said that Mr President and the National Council had approved the concessioning of four major airports in the country which are Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt.

    Sirika further said that Nigeria will host the International Civil Aviation Organisation World Aviation Forum taking place on the Nov. 20 to Nov. 22 in Abuja, which is the first time the forum will be held outside Canada.

    Speaking earlier, Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma said FAAN has successfully completed the Aerodrome certification process of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    He said that the Aerodrome certification is an international requirement with the primary objective to ensure that all international Airports meets international safety standards.

    “Aerodrome certification means ensuring the standardisation and harmonisation of airport service, facilities and procedures, as well as ensuring uniformity in safety.”

    He said that the drive toward certification of Nigeria airports was yielding positive result as Nigeria was implementing one of the critical safety targets.

    He said that Nigeria started the process of certification 11 years ago but due to several reasons they were unable to certify the airports until now.

    According to him, with the certification of the Murtala Muhammad Airport, they will concentrate on the Nmandi Nzikiwe international Airport in Abuja, then to other airport.

    He said FAAN was committed in the drive to get the aerodrome certification for all the airports in Nigeria.

    Dunoma said that the certification would be renewed after three years, which will be year 2020.

    Director for Western and Central Africa, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

    Mr Sani Marshi, the Director-General of NiMet presented the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 2015 certification to the minister.

    He said that NiMet was the first in the continent to have been given the international certification in compliance with international best practices.

    He said that this is a huge achievement in the Nigerian aviation sector as Nigeria would become an example to other African countries.

    Mr Mam Sait Jallow, ICAO Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said that both certifications are two key standards related to safety as most of the aircraft accidents are due to issued related to runway safety and also weather conditions.

    “These are really key achievements which we wanted to witness and we won’t stop here because we are still in house and we have to climb on the roofs to publish what we have done.

    “Technically, we have just concluded phase four and as far as certification is concerned, we now need to publish aeronautical information to the world for them to know that the Murtala Mohammed Airport is now certified likewise NiMet,” Jallow said.

  • FG to deploy drones in aviation industry 

    FG to deploy drones in aviation industry 

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika on Monday said that the Federal Government will explore the good uses of drones in the Nigeria aviation industry.

    He made the remark at the end of closed door meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    President of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Olumuyiwa Benard Aliyu, was part of the delegation that met the Acting President on Nigeria’s hosting of symposium on remotely piloted aircraft system.

    Sirika said “Nigeria is going to benefit immensely through this symposium. They have created awareness and we will use the outcome of the symposium to regulate more efficiently the use of unmanned air vehicles.

    “We are not going to over regulate but for sure we will regulate so that we will remain safe and secure and then make the industry much more efficient.

    “We will tap from the good uses of drones. We have seen during the symposium on how we can use drones to send blood samples, to rescue someone with heart attack or to deliver pizza or to take aerial photograph and so on.These are some of the benefits of unmanned vehicles

    “We hope that by regulating we will eliminate the dangers. For example if one unmanned vehicle is capable of carrying loads, you could think of them carrying a kilogram or two of bomb, with GPS and remotely piloted from a bedroom it can go and be dropped somewhere.

    “At this symposium we will share ideas and come up with solutions on the good uses of the drones and of course over the bad uses,” he said.

    On the Acting President’s response, he said “He has one himself and has flying drones himself, he is very much conscious and aware and he gave us the support and guidance that we need. He even warned that we should not over regulate so that we will not send people away.”

    Aliyu thanked the Acting President at Nigeria is hosting the symposium.

    He said that he was also in the Villa to express appreciation tothe government for the investment and support that is givento aviation development in Nigeria, which is supporting development of aviation in Africa and globally.

    He said “For Nigeria being a very responsible member of ICAO, I am also here to express the support that I still intend to continue to provide in this aviation development and to urge government to put aviation as the corner stone of the national development.”

     

  • Nigeria set to host ICAO on RPAS

    Nigeria set to host ICAO on RPAS

    The Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) is set to host the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) symposium on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Abuja from July 17 to July 18.

    A brochure of the symposium obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday showed that the event had the theme “Remotely Piloted Aviation in Africa: sharing experiences and challenges”.

    The brochure also showed that the event would provide a unique opportunity for states, international organisations and stakeholders to share experiences in addressing RPAS operations across Africa and Indian Ocean.

    It added that the event would focus on challenges to be overcome and benefits to be obtained, identifying how existing rules needed to evolve to facilitate the entrance of RPAS community into the civil aviation system.

    The symposium, according to the brochure, will also examine alignment between ongoing RPAS development and support regulatory provisions.

    “The symposium will also showcase the opportunities that will be created by the integration of RPAS into the global civil aviation system.

    “It will increase awareness of states, regulators and airspace users of the importance of adapting the existing regulatory framework to the needs of a fast growing new member of the aviation community.

    “It will also increase awareness on the capabilities of RPAS technologies and the impact of those new capabilities on civil aviation activities showcased through panel discussions and exhibitions.

    “International aviation as a whole will be incentivised to make the best possible use of the new tools created to support the integration of RPAS.”

    Mr James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, said the event was a measure of confidence in the current administration in the management of the nation’s aviation industry.

    Odaudu added that the decision of ICAO to hold its symposium in Nigeria was also an endorsement of the policies and programmes of the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika in the sector.

    He expressed confidence that the programme would bring additional value to the nation’s aviation sector.

    He said “this is a very important aviation event that ICAO is holding in Nigeria in recent years and it is a measure of confidence in the current administration in aviation sector.”

    ICAO is a UN specialised agency established by states in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and Nigeria is one of the 191 member states.

  • NCAA: July target for Abuja, Lagos airports certification

    NCAA: July target for Abuja, Lagos airports certification

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday said it was optimistic that the certification of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, would be achieved by July.

    Mr. Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the certification process of both airports was going on simultaneously.

    He said the regulatory authority was working with representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Western and Central Africa (WACAF), to ensure the completion of the project.

    Adurogboye explained that there were still some open items that needed to be closed before the airports could be certified.

    He said:“What happens is that the process is in phases and you move from one phase to the other and it is only when the people involved are through that you can move to the next phase.

    “We are actually in the third phase and when we are through, we will move to the fourth phase, which means we are almost getting there.

    “The certification of both airports is being done simultaneously and we are hoping to complete it by July.’’

    NAN reports that the certification of the airports is being done by the ICAO WACAF, under its implementation of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Plan Aerodrome Certification Project.

    The AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly to address the safety status of aircraft operations in the AFI Region.

    It is meant to address focal areas which are: to establish and maintain a sustainable oversight system (infrastructure/capacity building) and assist states to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time.

    The plan also aims to enhance the aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.

  • Shortage of pilots could hinder airlines’ growth

    Shortage of pilots could hinder airlines’ growth

    The worldwide commercial aviation industry would need an extra 255,000 pilots by 2027 to sustain its rapid growth according to a 10-year forecast published by training company CAE Inc.

    More than half of the required pilots have not yet begun training, the report adds, storing up potential problems as the industry braces for an increase in passenger air traffic that is expected to double the size of the commercial air transport industry in the next 20 years.

    “Rapid fleet expansion and high pilot retirement rates create a further need to develop 180,000 first officers into new airline captains, more than in any previous decade,’’ said the report by CAE, which trains pilots for airlines around the world.

    “The shortage of pilots is a problem today, there’s demand today, so people need to start building a strategy with us or other professional academies to be able to build that pipeline,’’ Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group President for civil aviation training solutions told journalists at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday.

    To meet demand, Leontidis said CAE would seek to grow its own training academy business, rather than make acquisitions.

    Pilot unions in the United States have said low wages and limited benefits for entry-level positions are deterring a new generation of potential aviators from pursuing the career.

    In the United States, training requirements also are a hurdle for many would-be pilots.

    The United States is the only country to require co-pilots to have at least 1,500 flight hours unless they have experience flying planes in the military or are graduates of certain specialised programs.

    According to the U.N.’s aviation agency, which sets global standards typically adopted by regulators from its 191-member countries, it takes a minimum of about 250 hours to obtain a commercial pilot license for work as a co-pilot.

    By contrast, 1,500 hours is the minimum required to become a captain under norms set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the U.N. agency that supports the development of global aviation.

    While the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration previously had followed ICAO norms, the 1,500-hour requirement for co-pilots was imposed following the crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407, a regional jet, in 2009 that killed 50 people.

    The 1,500-hour mandate is supported by pilots’ unions as a way to improve air safety.

    However, regional airlines and some aviation experts said that the tougher standard does not make flying any safer and has exacerbated the pilot shortage by making the training process longer and costly.

  • NiMet boosts revenue through mobile phone weather services

    NiMet boosts revenue through mobile phone weather services

    Prof. Sani Mashi, Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), says the agency intends to boost its revenue generation by providing weather information services to mobile phone users.

    Mashi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the move was part of NiMet’s commercialisation drive.

    He said that with over 50 million mobile phone subscribers in the country, the agency would embark on aggressive marketing of its products to a minimum of 25 million users.

    According to him, if NiMet can make at least one naira from 25 million users per day then it can generate a minimum of N25 million per day.

    “The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) always emphasised that cost recovery is achieved in producing meteorological data for the public.

    “It said that whatever money you spent in producing meteorological data to the public should be recovered not to make profit.

    “So what we are doing is that we charge recovery cost from whoever is coming to collect our data in order to generate revenue.

    “What we are trying to do is to extend meteorological services to mobile phone user so that you can query our data request for the weather information from wherever you are.

    “Meaning, you don’t have to wait for the news to hear what is going to happen, which means that at all times you can have access to weather information.

    “So through this, if we capture 50 per cent of the 50 million mobile phone subscribers that number will be 25 million users,’’ he said.

    The NiMet boss said the mobile phone application was still awaiting clearance from the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

    He explained that any project that had ICT component must be approved by NITDA and NCC, since it involved telecommunication users.

    He also disclosed that the agency would also expand its services to the oil and gas sector, adding that it was hitherto concentrating on aviation because of capacity gap.

    Mashi who explained that effort was being made to expand the agency’s services to the marine sector, stated that the market in oil and gas as well as marine sectors was huger than the aviation.

    “If we develop our capacity to move into those sectors, we will be able to overcome the challenges of revenue generation and NiMet may be able to stand on its own.

  • FG to procure 20 aircraft for aviation college

    FG to procure 20 aircraft for aviation college

    The Federal Government is to procure 20 aircraft to make Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria a centre of excellence, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation, has said.

    NCAT took delivery of a brand new Dimond DA24NG.

    The minister, who disclosed this at the launch of the new aircraft in  Zaria on said that the new aircraft would improve the training capacity of the college.

    He observed that the current aircraft in use were highly expensive to maintain, adding that the college would now be more competitive and dynamic in the global aviation industry.

    Sirika lauded the efforts of the management of the college especially for introducing courses in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    “I am aware of efforts by NCAT to run National Diploma and Higher National Diploma, be rest assured, you will have our full support and that of the president.”

    The minister charged staff of the college to seek for more knowledge in view of the fact that the world had changed from resource based economy to knowledge-based.

    Earlier, the Rector of the college, Capt. Abdussalami Mohammed said currently there were 29 trainer aircraft in the college.

    “These aircraft used for ab-initio training TB9, Trinidad TB20GT and Beech Baron 58 are old, the earliest being purchased 15 years ago and quite expensive to fuel and maintain,’’ he said.

    The rector said the new trainer aircraft would significantly improve the flight training experience and reduce operating cost.

    He added that the newly acquired aircraft was equipped with glass cockpit and garmin 1000, which would make it easier for graduating pilots to transit to new generation commercial aircraft.