Nigeria’s Aviation News Headlines for Tuesday September 20, 2016

 

It’s a Crime to Allow Aero Die –FG

 

The Federal Government has indicated plans to rescue Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero Contractors from collapse as the Minister of state for Aviation, State; Hadi Sirika, said he would write to the President, Muhammed Buhari to grant him permission to constitute
an inter-ministerial and interagency Committee to resolve the lingering crisis in the airline.
The inter ministerial and agency committee, according to Sirika will comprise : the Ministry of Aviation, which is the host, Ministry of Justice, Finance, Labour and Productivity.
Others are: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Unions and workers of the embattled airlines.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/crime-allow-aero-die-fg

How Airlines can Survive, by Operators

For domestic airlines to survive, the government must put in place the right policies, operators have said.
Carriers will continue to have problem if the policies are wrong, they added.
Dana Air Chief Operating Officer Obi Mbanuzuo, FMC Aviation Managing Director Hubert Odika and former Afrijet director Mohammed Tukur spoke in separate interviews in Lagos.
Such policies, Mbanuzuo said, should include reduction in airport and air navigation charges, local refining of aviation fuel as well incentives for indigenous airlines to set up an aircraft maintenance facility.
He described the airline business as “capital intensive”, saying everything is priced in dollars.
He said aviation fuel, for instance, takes over 40 per cent of an airline’s revenue.
“There is the need to refine jet fuel locally. Currently, a lot of the supplies are imported. There are import problems, which are causing scarcity.
“If we can refine locally, there will be excess supply to satisfy growing demand.
“So, we need the government support in the sense of making the right policies. Recently, Ghana reduced the price of aviation fuel by 20 per cent but government here says it is deregulated, but the currency is dropping every day.
 We should be looking at the Nigerian economy,” he said.
http://thenationonlineng.net/airlines-can-survive-operators

 

Alarm Bells in the Aviation Sector 

Alarm bells have been ringing in the aviation sector since Aero Contractors, the country’s oldest airline, suspended operations at the end of August and dispatched its personnel on an indefinite leave of absence.

It cited the current economic headwinds buffeting the country as reason. And, less than 24 hours later, another airline, First Nation, caught the same cold; that of Arik lasted for some hours on September 13, as it waited for the “approval of aircraft

documentation related to insurance renewal.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Aero, Fola Akinkuotu, in a statement, bared it all, “the airline has faced grave challenges in the past six months.” The suspension, he stressed, will remain in force until a robust plan that will return it to profitability is put in place.

Aero and First Nation are not the only airlines in dire straits. Those still in business are as much troubled, forcing them to plead with the Federal Government to intervene recently.

Since February, airlines are reported to have lost 40 per cent of their passenger traffic due to the economic downturn. The cost of aircraft maintenance is denominated in United States dollars. 

With the scarcity of dollars and high exchange rate, put at N300 to $1, some airlines are unable to easily pay for the mandatory routine maintenance checks of their aircraft abroad. 

99% Nigerians Cautious About Air Safety Standard – Study

Institute for Social Research and Statistics Analysis in its 2015 Aviation Trends has reported that 99 per cent of Nigerian air travelers are cautious about the safety standard of airlines when booking a mid or long haul flight.

The study was commissioned for the German company by one of the foreign airlines operating into Nigeria, Turkish Airlines. A statement by the media consultant of the airline in Nigeria also indicated that first-class support- before, during and after the flight is essential for the success of any airline.

The statement hinted that out of people surveyed for travel behaviour in Nigeria, 42 per cent had not travelled by plane at all in the last two years while 21 per cent others had taken one or two flights within the same period.

The study findings showed that 19 per cent of those surveyed had travelled by plane three to four times in recent time, adding that 17 per cent had taken flights more frequently.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/99-nigerians-cautious-about-air-safety-standard-study

African Countries Sign Pact to Improve Safety

 Members of Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) have signed a declaration to address critical safety issues in air traffic management (ATM).

Companies that provide air navigation services across Africa have also expressed their commitment to a joint initiative to improve aviation safety across the continent. The Declaration on the Africa ATM Safety Peer Review Initiative commits air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to form teams to conduct peer reviews of each other’s safety management systems, with CANSO coordinating the initiative and providing expert
guidance.
Speaking at the CANSO Africa Conference in Accra, Ghana, its Director-General, Jeff Poole said: “Safety is our number one priority and the Africa ATM Safety Peer Review Initiative will further enhance safety in air traffic management in the region. This initiative
is a significant milestone and a great example of partnership in action as ANSPs work with each other, as well as aviation industry partners, to implement effective safety management systems.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/african-countries-sign-pact-improve-safety

Air Djibouti, Cardiff Aviation back Nigerian’s Global Solo Flight

 

Despite all the disappointment and challenges surrounding the first African Solo Flight Round the world, the pilot Ademilola “Lola” Odujinrin seems determined to get to his final destination having already completed a transatlantic crossing from Washington, D.C. Lola has faced quite some challenges to secure funds from his countrymen to execute the historic flight slated to put Africa, and Nigeria in particular on the map of global aviation with this incredible feat.
However, help has come in form of some sponsorship from Cardiff Aviation in the United Kingdom and Air Djibouti CEO Mario Fulgoni. Lola, who also is a pilot for Cardiff Aviation, the aviation services provider, aims to complete his mission to become the first African pilot in history to fly around the world solo.
Ademilola “Lola” Odujinrin embarked on the second leg of his historic journey in a Cirrus aircraft from North Weald airfield on 16 September and has completed a transatlantic crossing from Washington, D.C. in the light single-propeller aircraft; the Nigerian aviator is now heading to Malta.
He will then head on to Djibouti, where he flies as a commercial pilot for Air Djibouti, which is managed by Cardiff Aviation. From there, Odujinrin will continue around the rest of the world through India and Australia, and intends to set a further aviation milestone with the fastest US coast-tocoast flight in a single-prop aircraft.
The flight is part of Project Transcend, a foundation, which aims to inspire young people to achieve their goals regardless of their personal circumstances, and to never take ‘no’ for an answer. Odujinrin said: “Less than 115 people have completed a solo circumnavigation of the globe by air, and it’s been my dream since my youth to join them.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/air-djibouti-cardiff-aviation-back-nigerians-global-solo-flight/