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Tag: Aircraft

  • Nigerian Air Force gives update on crashed aircraft

    Nigerian Air Force gives update on crashed aircraft

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Beechcraft King Air B350 aircraft crashed while returning to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure enroute Minna.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, AVM Ibikunle Daramola, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
    According to the statement, first responders are at the scene, but sadly, all the seven personnel on board died in the crash.
    He said that the Chief of Air Staff, AVM Oladayo Amao, had directed an immediate investigation into the incident.

    He urged the public to remain calm and await the outcome of investigation.
    Amao, on behalf of all NAF personnel, commiserated with the families of the deceased, the statement said.

    The aircraft departed Abuja on Sunday in the morning before it crashed, killing all the persons in it.

    According to Twitter handle of Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation, the aircraft reported engine failure at time 10.39 a.m. and crashed landed on the final approach path of Abuja Runway 22.

  • Crash: NCAA lifts ban on Boeing 737 Max Aircraft

    Crash: NCAA lifts ban on Boeing 737 Max Aircraft

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the lifting of ban on Boeing 737 Max Aircraft flying into the Nigerian airspace, following the two accidents involving the aircraft model in recent past.

    The Director-General (D-G) of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, stated this in a statement he signed on Sunday in Lagos and made available to news men.

    Nuhu noted that the approval had become effective since Feb. 12, adding that the aircraft can now fly into the country’s airspace.

    He explained that the NCAA banned the aircraft model because of the two accidents they recorded in the past.

    They involved Lion Air Flight 610, an Indonesian flight, which crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff and the Ethiopian Airlines flight 320, which crashed six minutes after takeoff some months back.

    The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, pronounced then the ban on the operations of the Boeing 737 Max Aircraft model in the Nigerian airspace.

    The D-G said that on Nov. 18, 2020, NCAA had received a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) CAN-2020-24.

    He said that it advised it of the United States Federal Aviation Administrations (FAAs) ongoing continued operational safety activities related to returning Boeing Model 737-8 and 737-9 (737 MAX) aircraft service.

    “This, however, made the FAA issue a final rule/Airworthiness Directive (AD) that mandated the following actions for Boeing 737 Max aircraft which include:

    “Install new flight control computer software and new 737 Max display system software; Incorporate certain Airplane Flight Manual flight crew operating procedures., modify horizontal stabiliser trim wire routing installations; conduct an angle of attack sensor system test; and conduct an operation readiness flight,” he said.

    Nuhu said that it recognised that a Joint Authority Technical Review (JATR) carried out a joint review of the Boeing 737 Max planes safety system alongside FAA and NASA.

    He said that the FAA had released documents on Boeing 737 Flight Standardization Board Report, revision 17, identifying special pilot training for the 737 Max planes and Safety Alert for operators.

    He said: “NCAA recognises the joint review of the Boeing 737 Max Safety System and came up with the following actions required of all foreign and domestic operators:

    “All operators are required to work with the Boeing Company and NCAA for the Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Programme to have the aircraft registered in Nigeria and issued with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness.

    “All foreign air operators that intend to operate the Boeing 737 Max aircraft into Nigeria must submit evidence of compliance with the FAA AD 2020-24-02,” he said.

    Nuhu noted that NCAA would continue to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations as violation[s] would be viewed seriously.

  • Why use of 5G phones onboard aircraft is risky

    Why use of 5G phones onboard aircraft is risky

    French Civil Aviation Authority has warned that the latest generation of smartphones with 5G can interfere with aircraft altitude instruments.

    A spokesman for the French Civil Aviation Authority gave the warning on Tuesday, stressing that the interference has to do with aircraft’s altimeters.

    This interference can cause errors “in instruments that are extremely critical during landing,” according to the agency, known by its French acronym DGAC.

    “The utilisation of 5G devices onboard aircraft could lead to risks of interference that could potentially result in errors in altitude readings,” the spokesman for the agency told AFP.

    The agency sent a bulletin on the issue to airlines last week, recommending that 5G phones should either be turned off completely or put in “airplane mode” during flights.

    The DGAC also recommended that in cases of disruption to an aircraft’s equipment that the flight crew immediately notify air traffic controllers who can then alert authorities at the airport.

    DGAC also noted that it had laid out conditions for the positioning of 5G base stations in order to limit the risks of interference during landing at French airports.

    The strength of signals from 5G base stations placed near France’s main airports has been restricted, said the DGAC, which has been conducting additional testing since November when French telecommunications operators were given the green light to begin rolling out 5G services.

    It is continuing to monitor 5G base stations around all French airports in cooperation with the agency responsible for radio frequencies.

  • NAF acquires three aircraft for maritime operations in Niger Delta

    NAF acquires three aircraft for maritime operations in Niger Delta

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has acquire three new aircraft for maritime operations in the Niger Delta.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this at the inauguration of a block of 30 one-bedroom living quarters and Computerized Tomography Scan facility for officers at the 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    He said the acquisition of three additional aircraft was part of the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to re-equip and professionalise the air force.

    “We are expecting three Special Mission Aircraft that will be based in Benin, Edo, but will be operating into Port Harcourt, among other areas in the maritime environment.

    “So, for this to happen, we decided to provide accommodation for those that would maintain the aircraft when they are deployed.

    “The idea is to work ahead, so that at the time the aircraft are here, personnel should be able to come in and then maintain the aircraft,” he said.

    The air force chief said the building of accommodation and welfare provision for personnel at 115 Special Operations Group was paramount due to its critical role to national security.

    He said the base significant role as NAF’s ‘home of helicopter’ prompted the need to build a reference hospital to cater for health needs of personnel.

    “The reference hospital has a dialysis machine (for kidney patients), and now, a CT scan machine, among other facilities for both our personnel and their family members.

    “This ensures that personnel fighting in our theatres of operations are not distracted, knowing that the air force base has what it takes to care for his family,” he added.

    On COVID-19 pandemic, Abubakar said the air force is currently producing about 1,000 litres of liquid oxygen daily from its oxygen plant in Yola, Adamawa.

    He said that 50 per cent of excess oxygen produced at the plant is supplied to hospitals in Abuja and in neighbouring states to support the national effort to curb COVID-19.

    “So, what we are doing is giving the excess oxygen to fill cylinders of all medical facilities that are willing to submit their cylinders.

    “We have produced ventilators through research and development as well as opened a facility here in Port Harcourt that produces face masks and other Personal Protective Equipments.

    “In addition, we have flown equipment and other medical facilities to 13 West African countries in support of the fight against the pandemic,” he pointed out.

  • Popular Nigerian airline puts two aircraft for sale to settle debt

    Popular Nigerian airline puts two aircraft for sale to settle debt

    The board of Medview Airline Plc has resolved to offload two of its aircraft so as to pay part of its debts.

    This decision was reached at the meeting of the board of directors held on Thursday, July 23, 2020, via a video-conferencing application called Zoom.

    “There will be a board of directors’ emergency meeting of Medview Airline Plc to be held virtually by Zoom on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 12:00 noon,” a notice signed by the company secretary, Abdullahi Adam Abdullahi & Co, had stated.

    The scribe had further noted that the board will, at the gathering, deliberate on the “effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of airlines in the aviation sector and the financial status of the company, amongst other matters.”

    Informing the investing public of the outcome of its deliberations yesterday, Medview Airline, which is one of the firms that has failed to file its financial statements to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said it was agreed that two of its aircraft should be sold.

    According to the disclosure issued on Friday, it was said that the board resolved to sell its B737-400 5NMAA aeroplane in Estonia and the B737-400 5NMAA aircraft in Lagos.

    Medview explained that the reason is to “enable the company to liquidate part of its indebtedness and inject part of the funds into its operations so as to jump-start it again after the COVID-19 pandemic total lockdown.”

    In addition, the board also agreed to “return the leased aircraft engine to Aeolus, the lessor, so as to obviate the payment of additional rent; Engine number CFM56-3C1 ESN 857871.”

    At the meeting too, the board approved the resignation of two directors; Mr Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi and Mr Olabode Kacheef Oyedele.

  • COVID-19: FG to decontaminate 123 aircraft, 13 airports

    COVID-19: FG to decontaminate 123 aircraft, 13 airports

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said 123 aircraft and 15 airports will be decontaminated across the country as part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) spread in the country.

    Two of the aircraft have so far been decontaminated, Environment Minister Muhammad Mahmood said in Abuja during the daily briefing by members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Control.

    Explaining the slow place of the decontamination, Mahmood said: “Aviation sector is such a specialized sector. We cannot rush things. I did say that we have mapped out 125 aircraft and 13 airports.

    “So far, we have decontaminated and disinfected two aircraft. Why we are not rushing it is because of the nature of the industry.

    “It is a place that when it comes to safety, everything must be followed carefully, and even when we want to do that, we have to follow their lead as to how and where to go while decontaminating the aircraft.

    “For the airports, we need to be led on where we need to go, how and when we need to also. The decontamination is ongoing because there are other facilities that we are decontaminating across the country. So, we will go as soon as they are ready for us.”

  • Turkish Airlines heeds FG’s Order, pledges to deploy bigger aircraft

    Turkish Airlines heeds FG’s Order, pledges to deploy bigger aircraft

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday said the Turkish Airlines would operate with the right size of aircraft to ensure passengers were transported with their baggage.

    Capt. Abdullah Sidi, the Acting Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said this after a meeting with the management of Turkish Airlines in Abuja.

    Sidi said in a statement issued by Mr Sam Adurogboye, NCAA’s General Manager, Public Relations, that the airline would upgrade from Boeing 737-800 to Airbus A 330 and Boeing 737-900.

    “Consequent upon the suspension of Turkish airline’s operations into Nigeria and the meeting between its Management and NCAA Acting Director-General, the airline’s executives have agreed to start immediate freight of all left over passengers’ baggage in Turkey.

    “This will be achieved by instantly upgrading from Boeing 737-800 being used and found inadequate to a larger Airbus A 330 and Boeing 737-900.

    ”The programme of clearance will be carried out from Dec. 13 to Dec. 17.

    ”NCAA expects strict compliance with the remedial programme,” he said.

    Sidi warned all operators to ensure Nigerians were not taken for granted, adding that they should always provide safe, secure and efficient service.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that NCAA in a letter dated Dec.11, with reference number, NCAA/DG/12/16/60, had threatened to suspend Turkish Airline’s operations into Nigeria with effect from Dec 16.

    It stated that the suspension would come if the airline failed to deploy the right size of aircraft to the service of Nigerians at all airports in the country.

    The threat letter was issued by the regulatory authority to show displeasure over cases of not bringing passengers into Nigeria along with their checked-in-baggage by Turkish airline.

  • 2020 Budget: Buhari to upgrade aircraft with N1.5bn

    President Muhammadu Buhari is proposing to spend N1.492bn on the upgrading of some of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet in 2020.

    The sum is apart of the N200.994m the President will be spending on the overhaul of engines of some of the aircraft in the fleet next year.

    The figures are contained in the details of the 2020 Appropriation Bill that Buhari presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Details of PAF’s budget are captured under the budget of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    Meanwhile, Federal Government plans to spend N9.05bn on the purchase, maintenance and fuelling of generators across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies nationwide.

    The government also earmarked a separate N75.4m for maintenance and fuelling of generators in some of its foreign missions abroad.

    The details are contained in the 2020 budget proposal which was submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

    The government has budgeted the sum despite claims that power had improved drastically.

    The N9bn earmarked for generators by the Federal Government is more than the Internally Generated Revenue of Bauchi, Abia, Zamfara, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe states in the first and second quarters of 2019.

    The agency of the government with the largest single budget for generators is the Nigerian Army which set aside N518.3m for fuelling of generators alone while no amount was earmarked for maintenance.

    In the second position is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which is asking for N64.5m for maintenance, N166.6m for fuelling of the generators and N82.2m to purchase a new generator, a combined N313.4m.

    The EFCC’s generator budget is 10 times higher than that of its sister agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, which budgeted N10m for generator maintenance and N24.2m as generator fuel cost (N34.2m)

    Holding the third position is the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation which is asking for N255m to fuel its generators and another N27m to maintain the generators, a combined N283.7m.

    The Nigeria Defence Academy comes fourth with a budget of N273.7m for maintenance of generators (N133.5m) and fuelling of the generators (N140.1m).

    In fifth position is the Nigeria Police Force with a budget of N222.9m for maintenance and fuelling of its generators across its formations and commands in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory while the Nigeria Police Force Academy, Wudil, seeks a separate N31.7m for the same purpose.

    The Nigeria Correctional Service (formerly known as Nigeria Prisons Service) budgeted N214m for the fuelling and maintenance of its generators while its sister agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, seeks N95m for the purchase of a new generator and a separate N109.1m for fuelling and maintenance of its existing generators- a total of N204m.

    The Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies comprising 88 federal teaching hospitals, medical centres and agencies have the highest budget for generators at N1.5bn.

    The ministry and its agencies budgeted N173.7m for generator maintenance and N1.1bn to fuel them while a separate N220.8m was earmarked for the purchase of new generators.

    The University of Benin Teaching Hospital and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital planned separate procurements of one 500KVA generator each at N25m; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi budgeted N20m for two 500KVA soundproof generators.

    Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, allocated N20,844,821 for a 250KVA diesel generator; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua budgeted for a N30m generator; and Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar pencilled N14.5m for “purchase and installation of generators.

    The Federal Medical Centre, Kebbi State indicated the need for the procurement of two 500KVA generators and other items at N32m; Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria also budgeted N3.5m for the purchase a generator for its laboratory; and the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe allocated N50m for “generators and inverters.”

    The Ministry of Education which oversees 197 federal secondary and tertiary institutions, departments and agencies has the second highest budget for generators.

    The ministry and its agencies have earmarked a total of N366m for generator maintenance; about N806m to fuel the generators and another N104m to buy new generators, a combined N1.27bn.

    The National Commission for College Education Secretariat budgeted N9.5m for the rehabilitation of a “generator plant”; International Centre for Biotechnology, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu allocated N7.3m for a new 250KVA generator; and FGC Azare earmarked N20m for the procurement of a 200KVA generator.

    Also, FGC Kwali is to spend N18.1m on the “purchase and installation” of a 250KVA generator; FGC Ido-Ani pencilled N22m for the purchase and installation of a 250KVA generator and 300KV transformer; FGGC Gboko budgeted N7.5m for the “supply and installation” of a 50KVA generator; and FGGC Shagamu allocated N20m for the procurement of a 250KVA generator.

     

  • Two trainee pilots died as aircraft crashes

    Two trainee pilots died as aircraft crashes

    In a sordid incident, two trainee pilots were killed after a trainer aircraft crashed into an agricultural field at Sultanpur village of Bantawaram of Vikarabad district.

    The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.

    The trainee pilot identified as Prakash Vishal and another died on the spot.

    It was reported that the aircraft, belonging to a private aviation training institute in the city, crashed due to bad weather.

  • NAF to acquire 18 new aircraft in 2020

    NAF to acquire 18 new aircraft in 2020

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is to acquire additional 18 aircraft by 2020 to boost its air assets.

    Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, the Chairman, Organising Committee for the 2019 NAF Day Celebration, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The brands of the aircraft, according to him, are 4 X A-109 Power and 1 X Mi-35M, 1 X AW139 helicopter and 12 Super Tucano.

    Ananaba said: “On acquisition of platforms, the NAF within the last three years has taken delivery of 16 brand new aircraft (10 X Super Mushshak, 4 X Mi-35M and 2 X Bell 412 helicopters).

    “Another 18 (4 X A-109 Power and 1 X Mi-35M, 1 X AW139 helicopter and 12 Super Tucano) are either expected soon or have been paid for and are expected to be inducted into service in 2020.’’

    He also said 14 grounded aircraft such as the Falcon 900, ATR-42, Beechcraft, Super Puma, EC-135 Do-228, Mi-35P, F-7 and L-39 had been reactivated.

    He said that with hindsight NAF had realised that it had a lot to celebrate and showcase.

    Ananaba said NAF had metamorphosed from being a service which, during the civil war, rolled bombs out of aircraft by hand, to one that is highly professional and equipped.

    He said that the air force was now equiped with advanced aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of precision strikes from as far away as 250 kilometres.

    “There has obviously been a remarkably change, much of which was achieved within the last three and half years.

    “The NAF has winged 90 pilots in the last three years, while 68 others are in training both at home and abroad.

    ‘’ Over 7,000 personnel have been trained in different specialties and these include over 4,000 regiment personnel and 1,000 Special Forces personnel who have been actively involved in combat operations with the army.

    ‘’ Through all these, there have been operational gains in several internal security operations in the country,” he stated.
    Ananaba said government was committed to achieving lasting peace, security and national unity.

    He said the priority of the NAF lay in the consolidation of the gains of employment of its assets in support of internal security, especially at present, a crucial stage in the history of the nation.

    The NAF Day celebration 2019, tagged ‘’NAF@55, is scheduled to take place in Abuja from April 27 to April 29.

    Ananaba said the anniversary would also enable the air force to show the Nigerian taxpayers what it was capable of doing.

    The chairman said the theme of 2019 NAF day was “Building Capability for Defence of Nigeria’s Air Space while Responding to National Security Imperatives.”

    He said the highpoint of the celebration would be the ceremonial parade and Order of Battle (ORBAT) flying past at the Eagle Square.

    “This promises to be a thrilling event. It will involve a march past and silent drill by personnel of the 6 NAF Commands as well as a capability display by NAF Special Forces and NAF K-9 Unit,’’ he said.

    The chairman further said the various aircraft in the NAF inventory would fly past to salute President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians.

    ‘’Thereafter, the latest aircraft to be acquired by this administration will be unveiled by the president,’’ he added.

    Ananaba said other activities earmarked for the celebrations included: Juma’at prayers and interdenominational church service which would hold on April 26 and April 28, respectively, across all NAF units.

    “Medical outreach will also be conducted across all NAF Units and formations for people living within host communities.

    “This will afford the NAF the unique opportunity of giving back to the society as part of Nigerian Air Force social responsibility.

    ‘’It will also be a viable medium to appreciate Nigerians for their support and goodwill over the years,’’ he added.