The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilot

  • Family, others hold 10th year for slain pilot Agbeyegbe

    Family, others hold 10th year for slain pilot Agbeyegbe

    Ten years after he was killed by suspected assassins, the family of Captain Jerry Agbeyegbe, Aviation industry players and associates yesterday held a 10th year remembrance anniversary.

    The event was held at the family’s home in Ifako Ijaiye, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The late pilot was the General secretary of Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), the aviation safety watchdog.

    He was killed on October 12, 2004 on the Oworonshoki axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Agbeyegbe was critical of issues affecting air safety in the country.

    He was also a former president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). Agbeyegbe led a safety campaign in the industry in the late 1990s and 2004.

    The late pilot also led many protests against the liquidation of the former national carrier, the Nigeria Airways Limited and the take-off of Virgin Nigeria Airways.

    He was consistent in his clamour for safer airspace and the need to ensure that navigational aids at the airports were calibrated.

    Agbeyegbe was Nigeria’s foremost airspace system inspection specialist with over 25 years experience spanning corporate and charter, training school, commuter airline, regulatory authority and special application-aerial inspections operations.

  • ‘Why indigenous pilots are not employable’

    ‘Why indigenous pilots are not employable’

    Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Captain Akin Oni has attributed inadequate flying hours, inability to pass competence tests, and low quality training from overseas training institutions as part of the reasons  many indigenous pilots are unable to secure employment in the aviation sector.

    He said the rising unemployment rate among young  indigenous pilots may be difficult to check because many of the young pilots do not have the mandatory 150 hours required to show their competence on any aircraft.

    He made this known yesterday while unveiling the 20 cadet  helicopter pilots to be sent to the United States by the firm for a one-year training programme at the academy run by the Bristow Group in America.

    Oni said the 20 cadet helicopter pilot trainees would cost the airline over $500 million.

    He said it costs about $250,000 each  to train  cadet pilot for the one -year training in the US.

    Oni said the firm has trained over 300 pilots in the past 30 years to boost capacity building.

    Oni said the firm will continue to invest in the training of indigenous pilots as part of its contributions to improve indigenous competence and competitiveness.

    He said the airline will continue to train more helicopter pilots to reduce the number of expatriate pilots in its employ, adding that the airline is carrying out the manpower development programme in compliance with the local content  policy of government to create opportunities for Nigerians to run critical sectors of the economy.

    He said it cost the airline more money to engage expatriate pilots, who are not necessarily more competent.

    Oni said airlines incur more costs to engage foreign pilots, for which they pay more to  guarantee  their security in view of kidnapping, huge costs of accommodations, travel expenses, salaries and other incidentals associated with foreign employees.

  • Bellview crash: Pilot’s family demands full compensation

    The family of the late Captain Lambert Imasuen, who flew the Bellview Airline aircraft, which crashed on October 22, 2005, has gone to the National Industrial Court (NIC) Lagos, over alleged non-payment of his compensation.

    The Boeing 737-200 aircraft was on its way to Abuja from Lagos when it crashed at Lisa Town in Ogun State, killing all 117 persons on board.

    The suit was filed on the family’s behalf by Imuwahen Lenita Imasuen, who is the eldest child and administratrix of the late Captain Imaseun’s estate.

    Other defendants are directors of the airline – Kayode Odukoya, Tunde Yusuf, Gabriel Olowo, Emmanuel Ombu, Abisoye Mohammed, Kola Sobande, Chimara Imediegwu and Alex Iheuwa.

    The family, through their lawyer Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, said despite several demands, the airline and its directors have failed to pay them their entitlements eight years after their father died in active service.

    In a supporting affidavit, the claimant (Imuwahen) averred that immediately after the death of her father, she and other family members went to Bellview’s office and was told that they were entitled to $100, 000 as compensation for Captain Imasuen’s death.

    She said the airline made an advance payment of $10, 000, with the assurance that the balance would be paid upon production of letter of administration of the Estate of the late pilot.

    However, when the letter was presented, defendants allegedly refused to pay the outstanding balance of $90, 000, despite repeated demands, the family claimed

    The family, is therefore, urging the court to compel the airline to pay the said $90, 000 and N82 million damages, as well as the cost of the action and other benefits and entitlement accruing to the estate of the late Captain Imasuen both as air crash victim and staff of Bellview Airlines.

    But the defendants, in their statement of defence, denied admitting to pay the claimant $100, 000 compensation, adding that there was no time they gave any assurances of paying $90, 000 balance.

    The defendants added that on December 22, 2005, Bellview Airlines benevolently offered to pay the family of the late Captain Imaseun $10, 000 to alleviate any hardship occasioned to the family as a result of the crash.

    They further contended that the suit was brought in obvious bad faith, and that it should be dismissed with substantial cost.

    When the matter came up before Justice Lawal Mani, the family opened its case with claimant’s testimony.

    While being led in evidence by Kadiri, Imuwahen lamented that despite the expressed assurances given to her by Bellview Airlines through its Company Secretary, one Andrew Orji, the company refused to pay the compensation, thereby neglecting the family.

    Defendant’s lawyer, Toyin Salice, however, objected to the tendering of newspaper publications and email correspondences which Imuwahen exchanged with the airline on the payment of the compensation.

    The objection was based on the ground that the emails were computer-generated documents which offended Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act.

    Responding, Kadiri urged the court to discountenance the objection and admit the documents as exhibits in the matter.

    Kadiri also told the court that he had filed an application to compel the Ministry of Aviation, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Directorate of Air Worthiness to produce the documents at their disposal pertaining to the crash.

    Justice Mani has fixed February 12 and 13 next year for ruling and continuation of trial.

     

  • NIMET advises pilots on thunderstorms

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has advised airline pilots to always visit its briefing rooms and forecast centres across the country to obtain weather reports, to aid their flight operations.

    Dr Anthony Anuforom, Director General (DG) of the agency, gave the advice on Wednesday while speaking with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Anuforom said that checking the centres would assist the pilots, especially during the rainy season when thunderstorm was expected.

    The DG added that pilots would normally witness thunderstorm while airborne, especially at this season of the year.

    He said that when pilots have such information at their disposal, it would enhance their safety and that of their passengers.

    “Pilots must take the necessary precautions by getting weather situation reports on regular basis.

    “This will not make them compromise the safety of their passengers during flight operations, “ he said.

    He advised the pilots not to be disturbed as the thunderstorm they would experience during the season would not be intense.

    “The challenge pilots contend with around this time of the year are thunderstorm that accompany rainfall, but you can see that the thunderstorm are not intense, “ he said.

    The NIMET boss further advised pilots to also watch out for low and poor visibility, especially during early morning flights.

    Anuforom said that such visibility– usually caused by fog– might be accompanied by heavy rainfall.

    He, however, assured the pilots that the agency would continue to provide accurate weather reports to improve flight operations.

    “For us in NIMET, we are equal to the task because our weather forecasts are getting more accurate, “ he said.

  • Thank God, pilot tells Obi, others after scary flight

    Thank God, pilot tells Obi, others after scary flight

    •Bad weather keeps plane in air for hours

    Anxiety. Relief. Smiles and thanksgiving. That was the situation yesterday at the Lagos Airport where an Arik Air flight with over 100 Lagos to Asaba passengers aboard were scared.

    Flight W3788, which was supposed to take off at 8:30am, was delayed in Lagos on account of bad weather.

    About two hours on board the plane, passengers were asked to return to the departure lounge as the plane could not leave because of what the pilot called “terribly bad weather in Asaba.”

    After about three hours, the passengers, including Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, boarded the plane again because weather reports showed improvement within the internationally accepted landing standards.

    By this time, many passengers had cancelled their reservations.

    On getting to Asaba, the weather became bad again. Attempts at landing were difficult. The pilot promptly returned to Lagos.

    On reaching Lagos, the weather was also bad –by aviation standard. The plane had to go round for hours amidst dwindling aviation fuel.

    The plane finally landed at 4:45 pm with signs of relief from the traumatised passengers, who clapped in jubilation.

    The pilot, Captain Sandy Miller, told the passengers to thank God for His mercies.

    Speaking to aviation correspondents at the domestic wing , Obi, who travelled to South Africa on Sunday and returned yesterday to Lagos, said he was determined to make the flight to Asaba en route to Awka because he did not like staying outside Awka more than necessary.

    He said he had planned so many things he would have done yesterday.

    Obi said he had projects to inspect such as work at Upper-Iweka, the drainage challenge at Ogidi as well as the site for the construction of Agulu Lake Hotel Resort, which, according to him, would take off in a matter of days.

  • 20-year-old Nigerian graduates as youngest pilot

    A 20-year-old Nigerian, Favour Odozor, has emerged as the youngest with the commercial pilot licence (CPL) in both Nigeria and South Africa.

    Odozor who graduated alongside 15 other trained pilots at the Afrika Union Aviation Academy (AUAA), Mafikeng, South Africa on Saturday was described as the new hope of the African aviation industry.

    Capt. Allan Roebuck, Director of AUAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg that Odozor completed all the 37 flying procedures in record time.

    “The academy is proud of this young Nigerian, with the award of licence and certificate to him. Today, I can say he is the youngest commercial licence pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa.

    “I cannot say now if he is the youngest African to attain that record, but I’m sure he is is the youngest in South Africa and Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The AUAA director noted that it requires a lot of hard work, focus, punctuality and discipline to be trained as a commercial pilot.

    “It is not enough to be academically sound to be a good pilot. It requires focus, punctuality, and  discipline to get the commercial licence and certificate.

    “It has been a long road for the group of qualified pilots to obtain their licences. With the award of certificate, they can fly commercial planes,’’ Roebuck said.

    He said pilots underwent two years of rigorous training and 37 flying procedures.

    On his part, Odozor said he had always dreamt of becoming a pilot.

    “Flying a plane has been my childhood dream, and I am happy today that I’m a licensed commercial pilot at the age of 20.

    “I never expected myself to be the youngest Nigerian to get the commercial pilot licence, not to talk about in an advanced country like South Africa. I was just pursuing my childhood dream of being a pilot.

    “But I thank God that I have now made history, as a record licensed commercial pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa,’’ Odozor said.

    He said his immediate plan was to go for his instrument type and rating courses.

    “Aviation training is very wide. This is just the beginning. My immediate plan is to enrol for my instrument type rating and Boeing 737 training courses,’’ Odozor said.

    NAN reports that Odozor has equalled the record set by Ed Gardner, a Briton, who obtained  his commercial pilot licence at the age of 20 in 2008

  • Pilot to airlines: initiate safety programmes

    Pilot, Captain Sina Akinfenwa, has called for the establishment of a safety programme by airlines’ management.

    Such a safety programme, according to him, should be all-inclusive with a reporting system that is non-punitive .

    He spoke at a safety summit organised by the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    He observed that the attitude of managers of airlines to safety is key to organisation, adding that it could also be a pointer to how personnel will react to safety issues and the attendant effects on their operations.

    Akinfenwa called for a comprehensive corporate approach to safety, which will be incorporated into the operations manual of airlines.

    He affirmed that standard operating procedures compatibility with safety measures is a very crucial indicator in improving the safety system in the airline sector.

    Akinfenwa noted that management of safety in an airline lies in the hands of the chief executive, adding that for threat to safety to be promptly reported, the management must create non-punitive measures of reporting incidents and accidents.

    The convener and AFARN President, Mr Kingsley Nwokoma, said the event was in line with the objectives of the group. He said the sector is on the path to recovery if safety is on the front burner.

    He lauded the ongoing remodelling exercise across the nation’s airports but called for cargo apron expansion and Aerotropolis concept, which he said will add value to aviation business.

    Headvocated stakeholders’inclusion in driving the process of safety in the sector.

    He called on the participants to take safety as everybody’s business .

    Speaking on aviation safety; Airworthiness perspective, director of airworthiness standards, Mr Emmanuel Usifo, said the sector is guided by rules and regulations as contained in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations domesticated in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).Consequently, he said the industry does not operate airworthiness in isolation.

    He said: “We cannot talk about air worthiness of an airplane without looking at International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) critical elements.”

    He listed factors that could impact positively on the airworthiness of an aircraft to include appropriate maintenance schedule and standards, ramp inspections, aircraft maintenance record by approved personnel and facility as well as adherence to manufacturers’ specifications and guidelines .

    In his presentation entitled: Quality dispensation of fuel Using safety management system, Mr Allistair Morrison, impored organisations to ensure safety and eliminate factors that could impact safety of air operation.

    He explained that with total quality assurance as the goal, any serious organisations would adhere to the best global industry standards as established by ICAO, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and others.

    He called for adherence to industry process and procedures, stressing that proper maintenance of operational equipment is key to safe operations and compliance with industry standards.

     

  • Content board begins pilot scheme on fund deployment

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said it has started a pilot scheme with two Nigerian companies on how the Nigerian Content Fund (NCF) should be deployed.

    The Fund which is built through the payment of one per cent of every contract awarded in the oil and gas industry, is meant to be used in assisting the development of indigenous content and capacity in the petroleum industry.

    The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, said the fund is growing and that it has secured the services of fund managers to operate it and ensure transparency.
    He said by the way the management of the fund is structured, 30 per cent would be used to stimulate growth of capacity, while the remaining 70 per cent would used to guarantee local oil firms’ loans from banks.

    He said: “To ensure transparency, the Board brought in fund managers to manage the fund. Currently 30 per cent of the fund will be used for stimulating capacity building, while 70 per cent will be used as guarantee for oil firms’ borrowing s from bank.

    “For example, if an indigenous oil company goes to a bank to borrow $20 million, besides guaranteeing the loan with the fund, the interest that accrues on the loan will be shared 50-50. While the company bears 50 per cent of the interest, the fund will bear the remaining 50 per cent,” assuring that the 70 per cent part of the fund would not be depleted. “The 70 per cent of the fund will not be depleted. It will be made to continue to grow.

    Nwapa, said currently, the Board is running a pilot on the fund usage and deployment with two members of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN). The association is made up of Nigerian oil companies, particularly those in the services sector of the upstream segment of petroleum industry.

    He said between 2010 and June this year, the country has recorded investment inflow of $2.8 billion as a result of the Nigerian Content Act, adding that before the Act, Nigerian firms were increasingly buying equities in new rigs because it was pretty difficult for them to buy new ones alone, as one new rig can cost as much as $200 million. None of the companies currently has new rigs, but they are making headway in marine vessel acquisition.

    Nwapa, said once a vessel is owned by a Nigerian company, it is given priority for jobs, adding that the board is uploading evidence to confirm that these vessels truly belong to Nigerians. Part of what the board wants to use to confirm evidence that the vessels belong to Nigerians, he said, is try to see the banks that are financing the vessels.

    To buttress the increasing involvement of Nigerians in marine vessel business and management, Nwapa said four of Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) carriers are completely manned by Nigerians.