The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilots

  • Ethiopian Airlines Academy graduates 26 pilots

    Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy has graduated 26 pilots trained with Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL), which is a first in Africa.

    The academy, according to a statement, has been the first in Africa and among the few in the world to start the ICAO certified training in July 2011.

    The MPL training was kicked off in partnership with Flight Path International. In addition to the 26 MPL pilots, Ethiopian also graduated 68 cabin crew trainees on the same day.

    The MPL training is a response to the ever-changing and technology driven aviation industry. Ethiopian Aviation Academy is now one of the few in the world and the only one in Africa providing these training.

  • Unemployment hits pilots, engineers

    There  is high unemployment among indigenous aviation professionals, especially pilots and aircraft engineers, the Quality Assurance and Safety Manager of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, Captain Adamu Mshelia, has said.

    He said the new Civil Aviation Policy should address employment of qualified Nigerians before extending similar opportunities to foreigners, adding that figures from the pilots union showed that more than 80 Nigerian pilots were unemployed.

    Mshelia, a former Safety Inspector, and retired acting Director of Licensing, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), told The Nation that pilots are being trained by the Federal and states governments through the amnesty programme.

    “There is growing unemployment among Nigerian aviation professionals, especially pilots and aircraft engineers,’’ he said.

    He said unless the pilots are engaged, there is no way they would garner the requisite experience, adding that getting the flying licence is one thing, and getting the experience which is the prerequisite for employment is another.

    “There is no legislation, which gives opportunity for employment of Nigerians with same qualification with foreigners,” he said, adding that some airlines prefer the employment of expatriates to Nigerians because wealthy Nigerians buy aircraft with foreign registration and use pilots and engineers from the country of registry.

    “Forbes Magazine gave the figure of private jets in Nigeria as 160, but the Civil Aviation Authority put the figures at 61, out of which only 10 are registered in Nigeria. The rest are registered mostly in South Africa, USA, Europe and even some third world countries.

    “The 61 or so aircraft are mostly flown by pilots from the country of registry and maintained by engineers from that country. That translates to over 150 pilots and engineers jobs that would have been filled by Nigerians.

    “The Nigerian is denied the experience that he badly needs to be considered for airline jobs,” he said.

  • Pilots can make air returns, say experts

    Should pilots make air returns mid-flight? Yes, thay can, say experts to save passengers.

    Accrding to them, returning a plane to the airport, from where it took off, if there is any problem mid-air, is better than subjecting the passengers to the danger of a crash.

    The respondents are Dr Harold Demuren, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA); Captain Dele Ore,President, Aviation Roundtable; Mr Chris Aligbe, an aviation consultant and Mr David Babatunde, General Manager, Medview Airlines.

    They said passengers should not be disturbed over the matter, because a pilot takes charge of what happens during a flight.

    The experts spoke against the background of a recent air return by the pilot of Medview Airlines Boeing 737-400 on its Lagos-Abuja-Yola flight 15 minutes after it took off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Demuren said air return is a standard industry practice that pilots embark upon, at any point in a flight, they realise that during either due to weather, mechanical for safety reasons. Such return may be informed by weather or mechanical reasons, he said.

    Pilots, he said, should be praised for such an action, because failure to take act could have adverse effects on the aircraft.

    The NCAA boss said it was wrong for people to suggest that the rising incidence of air returns by some airlines, is evidence of lack of safety.

    Aligbe said: “Air return is a normal development in the aviation sector. Travellers should not be afraid; it should not create unnecessary panic in the sector. It should not be viewed as a sign of lowering standards of air safety.

    “In the last instance, when Medview Airlines had an air return, the industry reacted appropriately. The reaction from the Federal Ministry of Aviation was spontaneous. Even the airline involved – Medview Airlines – also responded to the issue. Rather, I think the pilot should be commended for his professionalism. It was caused by power surge in one of the engines, which resulted in a bang. The pilot shut down the affected engine and initiated an air return. That is enough evidence of a knowledgeable and professional pilot.

    Ore said: “First, we commend the professionalism and airmanship exhibited by the crew of aircraft. The capable handling of the situation makes the crew members to be an asset to the industry. When an engine aircraft has lost the only engine, then there could be cause for concern, but if one engine fails on a twin-engine aircraft, there should be no alarm if the crew members have been well- trained. An air return could be as a result of any one or combination of the following as highlighted in Part 5:5:1:4 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2006 entitled: “Reporting of failures, malfunctions and defects which may occur after the aircraft must have been airborne.”

    Ore listed some of the conditions that could lead to air return to include fires during flight and whether the related fire-warning system properly operated; fires during flight not protected by a related fire-warning system; false fire warning during flight and an engine exhaust system that causes damage during flight to the engine, structure, equipment, or components.”

    The General Manager, Medview Airlines, Mr David Babatunde, said: “The professional decision, which is in consonance with global practice, is a demonstration of our commitment to safety of flights and passengers. We give kudos to the passengers on board the flight, who remained undaunted and waited for the airline to provide an alternative aircraft to fly them to their various destinations – Abuja and Yola.”

    The Chief Pilot of Aero Airlines, Captain Russell Leefoon, described air return as a challenge that calls to test the competence of the pilot in command of the flight.

    Leefoon said: “My word of assurance is that air return does not really matter. Passengers should not panic. It does not mean that the aircraft is bad. It is for the competency of the pilot. Is not that the engine has failed.?The engine has not failed, but we return for maintenance, to make sure that everything is put in place. Air return is not necessarily something that should cause panic, but something that should be corrected and get thing right.”

  • BA pilots switch to ipads

    British Airways is equipping its 3,600 pilots with iPads to further improve customer service and operational efficiency levels.

    The move, which follows the airline’s rollout of iPads across its cabin crew and ground operations teams, is part of the company’s £5billion investment in new products and technology to provide the best possible flying experience for British Airways’ customers.

    By having access to additional real-time operational data, shared with ground colleagues, pilots will be able to plan the flight more efficiently using the most accurate information available pre-departure.

    This means flight crew can provide customers with faster and more accurate flight information than ever before. With the latest operational updates customers will be better informed and able to make plans if their flight time has changed for any reason.

    Pilots will also be able to use historic and current data, supplied by the customer, to provide an even more personalised service during the flight.

    British Airways’ Director of Flight Operations, Captain Stephen Riley, said: “As pilots we want to deliver a safe and memorable experience for each and every British Airways customer, on every single flight.

    “The iPads will help us to achieve this goal by giving us the means to provide a more personalised service and share more timely flight information with our customers and colleagues.”