TheNewsGuru

Tag: Pilots

  • Two suspended after Kwam 1 forced pilots to breach safety protocol

    Two suspended after Kwam 1 forced pilots to breach safety protocol

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has described the incident that happened at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja between ValueJet and Fuji maestro, Kwam 1 as a breackh of safety protocol by two pilots.

    FAAN reveals that the two ValueJet pilots attempted to depart without concluding the pre-departure protocols.

    According to reports, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had on Tuesday announced the suspension of two pilots working with a domestic carrier, ValueJet

    NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a statement issued late Tuesday, confirmed the development, saying the NCAA was notified of the violation by the pilots.

    A 23-second video posted on the X page (formerly Twitter) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) showed that the aircraft involved was a CRJ-900ER with registration 5N-BXS.

    The aircraft was seen taxiing from its bay with some ground staff maintaining close proximity to the plane indicating that it is not yet cleared to depart. Some of them were seen running away from the aircraft as the pilots taxied with speed from the apron.

    Also the airline had issued a statement confirming the crew’s mistake and said the two pilots had been withdrawn from its service.

    But the airport operator in a statement explaining the incident said it involved a notable Nigerian musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (also known as K1 De Ultimate), and a pilot of ValueJet Airlines.

    According to FAAN, preliminary investigations confirmed that the passenger was scheduled to board the morning flight to Lagos operated by ValueJet Airlines (Flight VK 201).

    During boarding, the passenger attempted to carry an unidentified liquid substance on board despite repeated warnings from Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and the Flight Captain, FAAN explained.

     

  • 9 pilots, 32 cabin crew suspended over alcohol test

    9 pilots, 32 cabin crew suspended over alcohol test

    India’s Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended nine pilots and 32 cabin crew members for testing positive during their pre-flight alcohol tests.

    The tests were conducted between Jan. 1 and April 30.

    According to India’s civil aviation watchdog breather analyzer data, the affected personnel include one pilot and five cabin crew members of Go Air, four pilots and 10 cabin crew members of IndiGo.

    It said one pilot and six cabin crew members of Spice Jet, one pilot of Air India Express, four crew members of Air Asia, failed the pre-flight alcohol tests.

    It listed others as one pilot and two cabin crew members of Vistara, one pilot of Alliance Air and five crew members of Air India.

    The remaining seven pilots and 30 cabin-crew members tested BA positive for the first time, and were suspended for three months, the aviation regulator said.

    Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all crew members were required to undergo pre-flight alcohol tests.

    However, when the pandemic struck, the tests were suspended for a couple of months. The tests were resumed subsequently after the withdrawal of restrictions.

    In April, the DGCA restrained 90 pilots of SpiceJet airline from operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft on finding them not properly trained.

    Reports said the aviation watchdog has asserted that airlines must ensure that 50 per cent of their cockpit and cabin crew members are subject to pre-flight alcohol tests on a daily basis.

  • Arik Air fires striking pilots

    Arik Air fires striking pilots

    Arik Air has sacked some pilots for embarking on a strike action without following due process.

    The airline’s PR and Communication Manager, Adebanji Ola, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, describing their action as a “gross act of indiscipline.”

    “The Pilots did not serve a strike notice in accordance with labour laws. They neither submitted any issue of dispute to the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), their umbrella union nor did they submit any statement of demands to the management of the company,” the statement added.

    “There were also no ongoing discussions between the management and the Pilots on any unresolved labour issues. Their actions were spontaneous and callous.”

    It said during the pilots’ action, several flights were cancelled, leaving passengers stranded.

    The company explained that the pilots’ actions, especially considering the Yuletide season which is a peak period in the aviation industry, is nothing but treachery.

    “They peddle for naught the reputation and financial health of the company,” the company noted.

    According to Arik Air, the airline recently had discussions with aviation unions on the conditions of service for staff, leading to “the signing of a robust condition of service and redundancy benefits for staff”.

  • EXCLUSIVE: 64 days after, Nigerian fighter jet, pilots still missing; relatives allege conspiracy of silence

    EXCLUSIVE: 64 days after, Nigerian fighter jet, pilots still missing; relatives allege conspiracy of silence

    Sixty four days after two fighter jet pilots who presumably landed in Maiduguri, enclave of Boko Haram insurgents, nothing has been heard about the location of the pilots and jet till date.

    Findings by TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) revealed that 64 days after the jet and its pilots got missing from Air Force radar their location still remains a mystery.

    The jet and the pilots reportedly left for Maiduguri on April 1 but got missing from the radar and this has led to many questions begging for responses from the concerned authorities particularly the Nigerian Air Force.

    According to the Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Air Force, Air Comodore Edward Gabkwet the Alpha Jet might have crashed, but the whereabouts of the two pilots remain unknown.

    “Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed.

    “The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the 2 pilots remain unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.

    “Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.

    “At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued,” Gabkwet said in a statement on April 2.

    Meanwhile, family members of the pilots are asking questions on why is it so difficult for the military to find both the pilots and the jet since over two months ago that the incident happened.

    “There seems to be a conspiracy of silence on the matter. One of the Air Force Pilot Flt Lt Chapele is my Cousin from Aladja. 60 days no information on the whereabouts of the aircraft and the Pilots. You will think the jet got missing in the Atlantic and it’s difficult to locate the wreckage and the pilots. This purportedly happened around Maiduguri, so should be easy to locate in our local forests by farmers and other locals.” One of the relatives of the missing pilots in the jet told TNG

    The jet and the pilots were declared missing from military radar on April 1 and till date there’s no clear indication of where they are and nothing is being said at least to appease members of their families.

    More disturbing is the fact that the jet in question did not vanish from the air and did not cross over the Atlantic ocean so where is the crashed jet?

    In some circles it’s strongly believed that there is a conspiracy theory somewhere along the line as no concrete answer has been given to the queries of members of the families of the jet flyers.

    But when contacted, Director of Public Relations, Nigerian Air Force, Air Comodore Edward Gabkwet had this to say:

    “The update is that the aircraft is still missing and we have not found the aircraft, we are still searching for the aircraft.

    “The aircraft has been declared missing. We will not relent we will not give up, we are still searching. We will do our best to get the pilots and jet.”

  • Identity of pilots in NAF Alpha Jet that went off radar revealed

    Identity of pilots in NAF Alpha Jet that went off radar revealed

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has revealed the identity of the two pilots inside the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off radar.

    Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information made this known in a statement on Friday.

    He revealed the identity of the two pilots as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.

    According to the statement, the Alpha Jet might have crashed, but the whereabouts of the two pilots remain unknown.

    The statement reads: “Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed.

    “The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the 2 pilots remain unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.

    “Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.

    “At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued”.

  • BREAKING: Missing NAF fighter jet crashes, fate of two pilots onboard unknown

    BREAKING: Missing NAF fighter jet crashes, fate of two pilots onboard unknown

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG on Friday morning has it that the missing Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha-Jet has crashed.

    The crash of the jet was confirmed few minutes ago by the Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodre Edward Gabkwet in a social media post.

    According to post, the fate of the two pilots aboard the jet is unknown but the NAF search team is on a mission to find them.

    Read full post below:

    UPDATE ON MISSING NAF ALPHA JET AIRCRAFT

    Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with two crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed.

    The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the two pilots remain unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele

    Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground. At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident.

    It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued.

    EDWARD GABKWET

    Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the fighter jet with two crew members lost contact with radar around 5pm on Wednesday.

    It was on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Borno State, where Boko Haram is hottest.

     

  • COVID-19: 50 percent of world’s pilots now unemployed

    COVID-19: 50 percent of world’s pilots now unemployed

    More than half of the world’s airline pilots, including those in Nigeria, are no longer flying airplanes, according to the first worldwide survey of the profession since the outbreak of the COVID – 19 pandemic.

    The pandemic, according to the survey, has pushed pilots to consider other ways and means of earning a living.

    The Pilot Survey 2021 – carried out by specialist aviation and pilot recruitment agency, GOOSE, with aviation publisher FlightGlobal, captured the devastating effect COVID-19 has had on airline pilots, with 30 per cent describing themselves as currently unemployed, and a further 17 per cent furloughed.

    Six per cent of the affected pilots said they are employed in aviation in non-flying roles.

    Another four per cent said they are working, but in different industries, leaving just 43 per cent of pilots doing the job they trained for.

    The poll of almost 2,600 flight crew painted a picture of a community devastated economically and psychologically by the pandemic

    Of those who identify as unemployed, two thirds said they are actively looking for new positions as pilots. In normal times, a high number of job-seekers might indicate a buoyant jobs market. However, the opposite is the case.

    Only three per cent are currently in an interview process, and more than eight in 10 said they would happily take a pay cut for a new cockpit opportunity.

    The online report comes 12 months after a previous survey by GOOSE and FlightGlobal revealed that pilots, though admitting occasional challenges of stress and achieving a better work-life balance, were enjoying a strong global demand for their services.

    The latest survey, carried out during October 2020, polled pilots flying in every region of the world.

  • FG intervenes as Air Peace considers recalling sacked pilots

    FG intervenes as Air Peace considers recalling sacked pilots

    The Federal Government on Tuesday intervened in the brewing controversy following the sack of over 70 pilots by the Air Peace Management last week.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had also earlier urged the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    According to reports, the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had earlier called an intervention meeting between the airline’s management and the leadership of the National Association of Airline Pilots and Engineers. Both parties were said to have settled their grievances with Air Peace pledging to recall some of the sacked pilots.

    The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said a verbal agreement was reached as the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, acceded to the minister’s appeal for the recall of the maximum number of pilots that the airline could accommodate without going under.

    The statement, titled ‘Air Peace to recall some sacked pilots as Sirika intervenes’ said the pilot’s association, led by its Chairman, Galadima Abednego, agreed that some missteps could have been made in the course of the standoff between the airline and the union.

    It said the association appealed to the minister to intervene in order to resolve the impasse.

    Abednego stated that as a union, it was a painful thing to see a large number of their members thrown into the labour market as he appealed to employers of labour to see the union members as partners and not adversaries.

    On his part, Onyema expressed his sadness and disappointment over what he called the ingratitude of some of the airline’s pilots despite everything done to make them comfortable on their jobs.

    He recalled how Air Peace had trained over 80 pilots and an equal number of aircraft engineers, giving its staff the best remuneration package within the sector only for them to disappoint at a time their understanding was needed.

    The Air Peace boss, however, commended Sirika for providing the required leadership to the industry and promised his full cooperation in ensuring the growth of the aviation sector in Nigeria.

    Sirika, in his remark, called for the understanding of everyone, especially the labour unions as regards the prevailing situation in the aviation industry.

    He said it was not time for unnecessary upheavals.

    He commended Onyema for his contributions in developing the industry.

    “The minister appealed to him to recall the maximum number of the sacked pilots that the airline can comfortably accommodate in the prevailing circumstances to which the airline operator agreed,” the statement added.

    Sirika called on all stakeholders in the aviation industry to put all hands on deck in ensuring a rapid recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Mass sack: NLC wades in, gives Air Peace, Bristow two-week ultimatum to recall pilots

    Mass sack: NLC wades in, gives Air Peace, Bristow two-week ultimatum to recall pilots

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, while condemning the recent sack of 100 Pilots by Air Peace, 69 Pilots by Bristow Helicopters.

    Wabba said that the Congress also rejected sack of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) executives working with the Turkish Air.

    “We call on the management of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters to reinstate all the sacked workers within two weeks.

    “As agreed between labour and Employers’ Association, social dialogue should be used to resolve industrial concerns instead of the current resort to unilateralism.

    “We will not hesitate to mobilise the weight of the entire Nigerian workforce to the premises of Turkish Air, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters if our demands are not met,” he said.

    The NLC President said that the sack was traumatic for workers who were still reeling from psychological and socio-economic difficulties imposed by the recent lockdown measures.

    He said that the sack of Air Turkish, Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters workers was “highly insensitive, callous, and unjust’’.

    Waba said that the unilateral sack of executive members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) working with Turkish Airline was particularly distressing.

    “These workers were sacked for fighting for the rights of Nigerian workers in Turkish Air. This is very reprehensible.

    “We wish to remind Turkish Air that unionised workers cannot be punished or sacked for participating in trade union activities.

    “This action is aimed at frustrating unionisation in Turkish Air and to enslave Nigerians working with Turkish Air,” he said.

    According to him, the anti-labour practices in Turkish Air constitute fundamental infractions on the Constitution and labour laws and also a gross disrespect to Nigeria.

    He said that Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of association including the right to join and participate in the activities of trade unions.

    “Furthermore Section 12 sub section 14 of Nigeria’s Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for voluntary membership of trade unions.

    “It also stipulates that no worker should be victimised for joining a trade union or participating in the activities of a trade union.

    “We posit that the sack of NUATE executives working with Turkish Air violates their human and trade union rights,” he said.

    Wabba however, said that it was unfortunate that the management of Air Peace had exploited the atmosphere of industrial tyranny in the company.

    “This had forbidden workers from joining trade unions to strike the fatal blow on the livelihood and career of the sacked workers,” NLC leader said.

    He warned that the absence of unions in Air Peace would not stop NLC from fighting for the rights of the sacked workers.

    Wabba said that the congress would fight for the reinstatement of the sacked workers and for workers’ unionisation in Air Peace.

    “We deplore the offering of poor workers as the sacrificial lambs by unscrupulous business owners.

    “During the good times, workers were the hands that created the profit and wealth. During bad times, we expect businesses to repay the faith and commitment of the workforce.

    “As was done to the financial sector, we urge government to immediately release palliative support to the aviation industry.

    “Clearly, we have a bumpy road ahead of us as the nation and the world recovers from the fallout of COVID-19,’’ he said.

    The NLC president said that workers were ready to play their part towards the restoration of full productivity and industrial normalcy.

    He said that this would only be achieved in an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.

    “We also call on all workers to understand that these are dreary times. Workers must take the issue of the defense of their rights seriously.

    “Workers should insist on their rights to join unions. This is a safety valve. No employer is allowed by our laws to intimidate workers out of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to join trade unions,’’ Wabba said.

  • Mass sack: Pilots, engineers threaten to withdraw services across all airlines

    Mass sack: Pilots, engineers threaten to withdraw services across all airlines

    The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has issued a two-week ultimatum to airlines, who have sacked or plan to sack their pilots and engineers under the guise of COVID-19, to reverse the decision.

    Its President, Mr Abednego Galadinma, at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos, said pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers had resolved to withdraw their services to all airlines, if colleagues were sacked.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that there had been a spate of terminations of contract of pilots and engineers across various airlines, all linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    About 170 pilots have been sacked from Bristow Helicopters and Air Peace airlines, so far.

    Galadinma criticised Bristow helicopters for sacking 100 pilots and engineers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the company was not saying the truth, since it operated throughout the lockdown period, servicing the oil and gas sector as essential service provider.

    He urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on the airlines to stop the unilateral dismissal of pilots and engineers.

    “We demand that Bristow and Air Peace should immediately recall all sacked pilots and aircraft engineers until all labour issues are resolved or be grounded by NCAA because of attendant safety concerns created by their action.

    “As a result of the known consequences of these illegal actions and our commitment to patriotic fervour, we shall be forced to withdraw our guarantee of industrial peace within the industry if this call is not heeded within two weeks.

    ”Our union will be left with no other option but to withdraw the services of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers across all the airlines,” he said.

    Responding to questions, the NAAPE president rejected the Bristow statement which indicated that the sack of 100 pilots and engineers would affect both Nigerians and expatriates, stating that it was just a ploy to get rid of Nigerians.

    Galadinma said: “To say the 100 pilots and engineers are not only our members is unsubstantiated and we do not know this because the management did not engage us.

    “Operators, especially Bristow Helicopters, have rendered our members redundant despite assurances by government of support for their businesses in return for operators not laying off staff.

    “These operators are already running on lean manpower with disproportionate number being expatriates, yet, without regards to our expatriates and local content laws and executive order 5, they have gone ahead to lay off staff under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic.

    “They cannot be using COVID-19 as an excuse because the cessation of flight operations did not affect essential services like oil and gas supply. Besides, Bristow and Caverton were operating during the lockdown.

    “In fact, you would recall that our members were held by the Rivers State Government during the lockdown, so how can they be using COVID-19 as an excuse?

    “It is on record that Bristow Helicopters operated throughout the lockdown, supporting oil and gas operations with government’s approval and guarantees service contracts in the same national interest, but they are now using COVID-19 to force redundancy on our members,” he fumed.