The Nation Newspaper

Tag: planes

  • How weapons can get onto planes, by experts

    How weapons can get onto planes, by experts

    SOME experts have identified unauthorised persons’ access to weapons and explosives as renewed threats to aviation security.

    Speaking at the third Annual Security Lecture organised by the Aviation Security Department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos, they said weapons and explosives could be smuggled into planes through carry on baggage and check in luggage using airport workers.

    The event drew participants from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), FAAN, airlines ground handling companies and para-military organisatons in the airport.

    Its theme was, “Security awareness: Panacea for threats to civil aviation.”

    Director of Aviation Security Unit of NCAA, Ademola Oladele, General Manager, Training and Human Resources Development, FAAN, Nathaniel Mc Abraham-Inajoh, Director, Aviation Security, FAAN, John Omaghomi and Head, Airport Chief of Security, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Sadiku Mamman, urged the government to invest in the acquisition and upgrade of security equipment and training of security personnel to secure the airports from attacks.

    They said the renewed threats to aviation security made it imperative to invest more in technology, enhanced training for personnel.

    Oladele said though aviation security is everybody’s business, FAAN needs to train its personnel regularly to prevent interference at the airports.

    He said though aviation security is covered by regulatory provision under Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Nigeria has inched further to design appropriate programmes that will enhance security at the airports for operators to comply.

    Oladele said the National Civil Aviation Security Programme has enough provision for aviation security.

    He however identified threats to airport security to include access to modern weapons and explosives by unauthorised persons, which could be smuggled through carry on baggage, check-in luggage, and other activities using airport workers.

    Oladele said the government needs to zero in on insider threats in airport security by re-evaluating security measures.

    Part of such measures, he said, should include constant mitigation, profiling of airport workers including aviation security personnel, behavior detection, regular background checks and training.

    He said: “It is for this reason that security awareness trends and threats to new aviation personnel should be carried out at least once in a year.

    ‘’Other ways is to ensure the issuance of on duty cards to airport workers are subjected to security checks in addition to ensuring that there is reporting of suspicious movement of people, abandoned vehicles and luggage at the airport and any form of photographing of sensitive areas using cellphone or camera.”

    Omaghomi called on the government to provide more training facilities for aviation security personnel, insisting that such training will expose the sophisticated methods used by unauthorised persons to conceal weapons at airports.

    He said: “The government needs to assist FAAN by upgrading our operational equipment as a strategic counter measure.

    ‘’More training for aviation security personnel will improve their knowledge for efficiency. We need adequate manpower that is sufficiently motivated to guarantee adequate supervision and general guidance.”

    In a presentation, titled: “Security awareness A,B,C,D, and E”, Inajoh canvassed the support of all stakeholders because any lapse on aviation security could result in deaths of hundreds and loss of public confidence in air travel and revenue.

    According to him, there is need to build strategic alliances among stakeholders driven by cooperation and not antagonism.

    Inajoh called for the fortification of access around the airports by aeronautical authorities.

    He cautioned that access to vital security information, equipment should be controlled because, “protecting the system demands a high level of vigilance because any single lapse in aviation security could cost the industry severely”.

    Aviation security personnel, he said, should demand alertness by paying attention to details, especially against the new threats posed by cyber security to aviation.

    Inajoh said threats by cyber security have become disturbing because unauthorised persons could tamper with critical aviation infrastructure through hacking, thereby throwing the system into danger.

    He said: “Cyber security is becoming a big threat to aviation safety because people could tamper with aviation infrastructure, airlines payment system, air traffic control systems to carry out hazards to aviation. We must all observe unusual trends and focus on the job.”

    Mamman said the government’s efforts to step up training for aviation security personnel should be stepped up.

    Capacity building through awareness creation swould go a long way to boost performance for aviation security personnel at airports.

    Mamman said: “We are convinced that our professional calling as security operatives has a deep intellectual foundation that should be reinforced and continuosly strenghtened. This conviction sets the focus for our annual lecture series were experts gather to collectively look into the essential role security awareness plays in mitigating threats confronting the safety and security of our industry.”

    According to him, aviation security personnel will rise to new trends and threats in airport security by using information at their disposal to track any attempts by persons to attact the airports.

    Mamman said the government could do more by exposing aviation security personnel on how to use technology to improve security at the airports.

    He said the vigilance of FAAN aviation security personnel has exposed many unauthorised acts against civil aviation at many airports.

    Closer collaboration between FAAN security personnel and other security agencies, he said, would  improve security architecture at airports.

    “Our FAAN security personnel have continued to do their best within resources and equipment at their disposal.

    “ This explains why one of our officers was able to detect a passenger publishd on the wanted terrorists list at the Abuja Airport. The officer allowed the passenger to go through the boarding process, get to the boarding area before he was handed over to the military.”

    Mamman urged airlines and other operators to comply with the airport security programme designed by government to ensure compliance with Annex 17 of ICAO domesticated in Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR).

    He added: “There is need for all stakeholders to begin to see airport security as everybody’s business. All operators must ensure they adhere strictly to relevant regulations concerning aviation security, training programmes for service users and providers.’’

  • Air Force to deploy more planes in Niger Delta

    Air Force to deploy more planes in Niger Delta

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has concluded plans to deploy more personnel in the Niger Delta as part of plans to discourage militancy and other forms of internal security challenges in the region.

    Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique said this in Yenagoa while on operational visit to NAF Mobility Command.

    The planned deployment is aimed at strengthening the existing NAF manpower disposition, especially in Bayelsa State, and to enhance the NAF involvement in OPERATION DELTA SAFE.

    According to the Air chief,  new facilities were put in place to cater for accommodation and welfare needs of personnel. These include: construction of new blocks of accommodation for officers and men, office accommodation, airmen mess, and provost squadron.

    Two of the airmen’s block of accommodation were named after Corporal Omaka VI and Aircraftman Ofonih EF,  who were both killed in Bosso, Niger State during an Internal Security Operation.

    Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (retired) inaugurated the new projects .

    Speaking at the ceremony, AVM Koinyan applauded NAF personnel for its courage and success at ensuring peace and stability across the country.

    He called on Bayelsans to partner the Federal Government in providing holistic solutions to problems of the Niger Delta.

    Earlier, the CAS visited Governor Henry Seriake Disckson, who said “his administration is ready to partner the NAF and other security agencies because the government of Bayelsa understands the importance of security and the need for the state to be safe for economic prosperity”.

    The governor promised that his government would partner the NAF to build NAF primary and secondary schools to enable Bayelsans benefit from the quality education provided by NAF schools.

     

  • Reps probe NCAA, others over planes’ airworthiness

    Reps probe NCAA, others over planes’ airworthiness

    The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate the activities of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The investigation, the House said, is to ascertain whether  the regulatory agencies have lived up to their responsibilities of ensuring the airworthiness of aircraft flying in the country.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of  a motion with the title: “Need Regulatory Authorities to Conduct Routine Checks on the State of Aircrafts Operating in the Nigerian Airspace and make Public the Reports”  moved by a member, Hon. Sergius Ose Ogun.

    While moving the motion, Ogun said notwithstanding the establishment of the regulatory agencies and the range of functions they were mandated to carry out, the frequency of air crashes in the country called to question the expertise and competence of these regulatory agencies.

    He said: “If a thorough investigation of the activities of airline operators are carried out with a view to ascertaining the airworthiness of aircraft operating in the country, it will help in no small measure to minimise the frequency of air crashes and also significantly improve the ratings of the Nigerian aviation sector globally.

  • Ajakaye to Buhari: reduce planes, vehicles

    Ajakaye to Buhari: reduce planes, vehicles

    The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev Felix Ajakaye, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce the number of planes in the presidential air fleet and luxury vehicles in line with “the mood of the country”.

    The cleric said the President must lead by example and reduce waste in governance and plug loopholes.

    He added that the culture of waste is hurting Nigerians and the economy, hence the need to halt it and save the polity from collapse.

    Rev Ajakaye spoke at a service to mark the 50th World Communication Day at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Old Garage, Ado-Ekiti.

    In his homily entitled: “Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter”, the bishop reminded Buhari that his administration is in a race against time to fulfil electoral promises made in the run-up to the 2015 general elections.

    He emphasised that time has come for the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deliver the practical change promised Nigerians and refrain from sloganeering.

    Rev Ajakaye called on the President to revisit the report of the 2014 National Conference and implement same. He also called for unity and reconciliation in the country.

    He said: “Tough times don’t last but tough people do, indeed, these are tough times in Nigeria however, we cannot continue to moan over our lost opportunities.

    “As individuals and people, we need to find concrete solutions to our series of problems and march on strongly.

    “I remind President Buhari of the need to lead by example by reducing the number of presidential planes (the media reports allege they are between 10 and 12) and fleet of luxury vehicles at Aso Rock, the seat of power. Let us begin to end the culture of waste.”

    Advising the President and his party to turn around the nation’s fortunes, the bishop said: “What we really need now is practical change, though it is an ongoing process, it involves all.  Practical change is a definitive departure from slogan to action.

    “Although corruption is endemic in the country, indiscipline is the root of nearly all the problems and crises in the country.

    “Once there is discipline in every sphere of life, there will be genuine patriotism and national consciousness.”

  • ‘Govt needs $2.1b to acquire planes for national carrier ‘

    ‘Govt needs $2.1b to acquire planes for national carrier ‘

    If the Federal Government is determined to float  a national carrier, it should provide $2.1 billion to acquire some aircraft for take-off, an  expert has advised.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Luz International Limited, Mr John Oguadinma, said this in an interview.

    He said about $1.42 million of the sum should be sent to aircraft manufacturer Boeing for eight aircraft for the proposed airline.

    He said some Boeing 747-800 series , two Boeing 777 long range and five Boeing 737- 800 series should be acquired for local and regional operations.

    Oguadinma assured that his firm, aviation consultants, would fast-track the process of setting up the airline.

    He said another $158 million should be paid to another aircraft manufacturerBombardier  for 13 aircraft to serve local and regional routes.

    He said the airline would hit the ground running with a fleet of 33 aircraft and change the aviation landscape.

    The expert said: “I am  bold to say that if $2.1 billion is provided today and paid to the manufacturers for the acquisition of the aircraft, the carrier would take off .

    That amount would enable us facilitate the purchase of some aircraft for start up.

    ‘’After the first cash injection, we would require another $800 million to facilitate administration and other processes to float a successful carrier.

    ‘’Of that amount about $700 million will be used for administration and  $100 million will be used to kick-start the operation of the airline.”

    He said if the right processes are put in place, the proposed airline could generate over N7 billion annually.

    The ex-cabin professional said it is not mandatory to set up an aircraft maintenance facility to fix the planes. The aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Bombardier would provide the expertise to handle such tasks.

    Oguadinma said: “The main maintenance goes to Boeing and Bombardier but the little maintenance will be done by our engineers. We have a lot of engineers who are capable to do the job.”

  • Photo: First Nation plane accident

    Photo: First Nation plane accident

    First Nation planes
    First Nation planes

  • NAMA to protect low-flying planes in Niger Delta

    Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) plans to deploy automated data surveillance broadcast (ADSB), a state-of-the-art technology in airspace navigation, to boost safety of aircraft flying at lower altitude in the Niger Delta region.

    Its Managing Director Nnamdi Udoh said such a deployment became necessary because of the increase in the number of aircraft flying into and out of the Nigeria.

    The agency, according to the NAMA boss, “is striving to sustain an environment that promotes air safety, particularly in surveillance for pilots to fly with less communication – where pilots can fly more directly to their airports of destination. This, in the aviation parlance is called direct air navigation.”

    He said the agency was doing a lot in manpower development, because the “sophisticated equipment deployed by the agency would be manned by Nigerians.

    The NAMA boss said contrary to the notion that there is no surveillance in the Niger Delta, the agency’s radar captures flights in that region and would soon deploy (ADS-B) to capture low flying aircraft, such as helicopters to enhance safety and revenue.

    NAMA, he said, handles at least 500 aircraft and 300 helicopters that fly around the country’s airspace daily.

    The 500 aircraft, Udoh explained, is aside the numerous foreign aircraft that flies in the nation’s airspace en route other countries.

    He said the increasing number of aircraft that use the nation’s airspace will continue to challenge the infrastructure, including radio communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers.

    The NAMA boss explained that because of the increasing traffic in the airspace, the agency has taken steps to improve air navigation infrastructure and the total radio coverage of the country.

    He said the agency has been approached by many private airstrip and aerodrome operators to provide air traffic services, which is evidence of improved infrastructure and recurrent training of its personnel.

    This year alone, NAMA, he explained, has trained about 300 air traffic controllers both in United States, South Africa and Egypt in many areas of air traffic management.

    Udoh said the agency would continue to invest in the training of its personnel, which is key to ensuring that Nigeria meets the minimum acceptable standards in air traffic services.

    He explained that it is wrong for anybody to insinuate that the airspace is unsafe, stressing that it will be unprofessional for any air traffic controller to suggest so. He affirmed that no pilot will embark on any flight without receiving air traffic instructions from the control tower.

    He wondered why more foreign airlines will like to fly into the Nigerian airspace if it is not safe, explaining that without radio communication, which could have problems of congestion, pilots can still land their aircraft.

    NAMA is also planning to migrate from ground-based air navigation to satellite-based navigation among critical air safety personnel, investigations reveal.

    Migration to satellite based navigation, according to experts, is expected to reduce the work load of some air navigation personnel, including air traffic controllers. This is because an aircraft fit with the latest technology is supposed to fly without any guidance by air traffic controllers until it gets near the aerodrome of arrival.

    When the new air navigation system comes on stream, NAMA would require fewer air traffic controllers en route to carrying out advisory air traffic services to aircraft in flight.

  • Aviation College to acquire 10 planes

    The Kwara International Aviation College is to acquire 10 aircraft to facilitate the training of pilots, aircraft engineers and other aviation professionals, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

    He said in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, that the aircraft would be bought with a loan secured by the Federal Government from the Export Import Bank. It has a moratorium of 10 years.

    He said: “This is part of the reasons we have set up an International Aviation College and, luckily, under the new EXIM loan that the Federal Government has signed with the Chinese and Indian governments and others across the world, the International Aviation College will be benefiting from the loan. It will be able to acquire at least 10 new aircraft under a 25-year loan agreement with a 10-year moratorium. It couldn’t be better than that.”

    The governor said the school would acquire the aircraft, develop economy of scale, train students, earn money and pay back the loan on its own. He said: “The 10-year- facility means that the college’s cash flow will not be under pressure. It is when you borrow money and you have to pay within a very short time that you have pressure on your cash flow. The loan was so attractive that we couldn’t resist it and it is one of the best things that ever happened to us.

    “That will enable the school to get to the much-desired full scale aviation college that we have always prayed for and will allow them to attain economy of scale where they can earn a lot of money to service the school and pay back. For now, the school is fully owned by the state but don’t forget that the state government is not in the business of running aviation.

    “So, ultimately, we will sell off 70 per cent of that business to those who know how to do it and then the school will run on its own internationally.”

    The governor explained that the aviation college was established in response to the demand for pilots globally. He said the college is positioned to serve as a training hub for Africa.

    He said: “For keen observers and those who want to truly see themselves growing among comity of nations, they must begin to learn how to do a clear analysis of opportunities. One big opportunity that exists in the aviation industry is the fact that there is dire need of pilots globally.Check any international airline, they will tell you.

    “Training pilots requires that you understand the dynamics of the business.

    “Apart from Zaria and South Africa, I don’t know where else pilots are trained in Africa.”

    He said by the time this school gets to its potential, everybody in Africa who intends to train as a pilot would know the existence of an Aviation College in Ilorin.

    “For now, we are training pilots but there are other services. There is engineering training. There are other services that are going to go into it. This would become itself a hub for driving aviation business,” he said.

  • Naija 7 Wonders proposes museum for disused planes

    The Project Director of the Seven Wonders of Nigeria(Naija 7 Wonders) and travel expert, Mr. Ikechi Uko, is proposing to build an aviation musuem for Nigeria using the abandoned aircraft as exhibits.

    In a proposal he developed for the aviation managers, he suggests that Naija 7 Wonders be allowed to develop an aviation musuem in Nigeria that will warehouse some of the disused aircraft.

    “Nigeria needs an aviation musuem with a hall of fame that will inform, preserve and promote aviation history of Nigeria, the players and the incidents that have shaped the industry over the years. This musuem will fit properly with the transformation agenda of the government of leaving lasting legacies on the ground. It is part of the ideals set out by the Seven Wonders of Nigeria project which is to present Nigeria in a new light to grow national pride and generate tourism income.

    “An aviation museum, the first of its kind in this region, will attract tourism traffic and will educate and empower a new generation of aviators. Instead of destroying the aircraft, they can be put to beneficial use in educating the youths and drawing tourism income. Some of the aircraft are out of production and can be treated as vintage crafts if well packaged.

    “Naija7wonders is proposing to work with the authorities to make this project a success in the shortest possible time using time-tested methods.

    “As a travel promoter, I do know that with the co-operation of stakeholders, the musuem will be up and running within a calendar year,”the proposal said.

    Naija7wonders is the search for the unique wonders of Nigeria, a project started with over 50 judges, including journalists, tour operators and other professionals.

    After 24 months, seven unique sites were chosen as the seven wonders of Nigeria. These sites are Obudu Mountain Resort, Sukur Landscape in Adamawa, Oke Idanre in Ondo State, Benin Moat, Kano Walls, Osun Groove and National War Musuem, Umuahia.