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Tag: Pilots

  • Pilots, engineers threaten to shut down aviation sector over mass sack

    Pilots, engineers threaten to shut down aviation sector over mass sack

    The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), on Wednesday, threatened to shut down the aviation sector following the sack of dozens of its members.

    It issued a two-week ultimatum to airlines, who have sacked or plan to sack their pilots and engineers, to rescind the decision, warning that they could no longer guarantee safety.

    TheNewsGur (TNG) had earlier reported that Air Peace, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, and Bristow Helicopters – operating in the oil and gas sector – had sacked over 100 pilots and engineers citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The pilots and engineers in the two organisations had earlier rejected pay cut, prompting the managements to take a drastic decision to sack them.

    Addressing a press conference in Lagos, President of NAAPE, Comrade Abednego Galadima, declared that the body had resolved to withdraw services of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers across all airlines.

    He called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on these airlines to stop what he called “the unilateral sacking of pilots and engineers.”

    The association demanded that Bristow and Air Peace should immediately recall all sacked pilots and aircraft engineers until all labour issues were resolved.

    Failure to do that, it asked the NCAA to ground the airline because of attendant safety concerns created by their action. Galadima said: “As a result of the known consequences of these illegal actions…, 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.”

  • Bristow Helicopters sacks 100 pilots, engineers

    Bristow Helicopters sacks 100 pilots, engineers

    Bristow Helicopters has sacked 100 pilots and engineers following negative impact of Coronavirus on its business and the nation’s economy.

    The company, in a statement on Tuesday said the spread of the COVID-19 virus had severely impacted all sectors in the aviation industry, including its market, which primarily served the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

    It said in addition, the ongoing downturn in the global oil and gas market continued to influence and determine the demand for our services and that the combined effects of these ‘arisings’ had resulted in very significant reductions to its business, particularly a reduction in the number of contracted aircraft in Nigeria.

    “As a result, the company must now restructure all aspects of its business model (both Rotary & Fixed Wing), including an extensive review of its operations and we continue to drive efficiencies, but with zero compromise to safety and our core values.

    “One of these measures includes the right sizing of the business to ensure that the company has the optimal level of personnel to continue the safe delivery of its services to its clients, whilst allowing the appropriate capacity for future growth.

    “Accordingly, and with much regret, the company has taken the very difficult decision to release over 100 pilots and engineers (both National and Expatriates) over the next couple of weeks,” it said.

    The statement added that in compliance with the relevant labour and local content laws and also best practices; the company had engaged the leadership of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to negotiate a fair and equitable redundancy compensation for the affected individuals.

  • Air Peace sacks over 70 pilots, gives reasons

    Air Peace sacks over 70 pilots, gives reasons

    Air Peace has fired over 70 pilots across its fleet types due to negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The company said the pandemic has taken a huge toll on its operations.

    According to the airline, it had to take the painful but rightful decision in the face of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health.

    The company stated that the job erasure for pilots among its over 3,000 staff became imperative because it could not afford to continue fulfill its financial obligations without carrying out restructuring of its entire operations to survive the times.

    Air Peace, in a statement on Monday said the decision was inevitable under the circumstances the company found itself.

    “In order to protect the continuity of majority of the existing jobs and the possibility of creating new ones in future, the survival of the airline is of paramount importance. When everything comes back to normal those pilots affected today will have a place to come back to in future if they so wish.

    “Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period,” it said.

    “Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect zero to 40 per cent cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff.

    “Even after the cuts, it was obvious for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go,” it added.

  • We’ll ensure timely release of Caverton helicopters pilots arrested by Wike – FG

    We’ll ensure timely release of Caverton helicopters pilots arrested by Wike – FG

    The Federal Government has assured that the two Caverton Helicopter pilots arrested by the Rivers State Government will be released soon.

    It also said the pilots were on national assignment when the arrest was made.

    The pilots were arrested by the police for flouting the state’s government directive of flying into the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt despite the lockdown order following the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

    The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, also noted that the governor does not need to know about the approval given to Caverton by the federal government.

    Speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja on Saturday, Sirika said there was a need to focus on tackling the virus ravaging the country.

    He said: “I think coronavirus is a very serious matter of life and death and should not be politicised.

    “According to Chapter 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which states the primary purpose of the government to ensure the security of lives and property, that is why the Task Force on COVID-19 was established by Mr. President. So, it involves the lives of 200 million of all of us and it takes precedence in this case.”

    Giving an update on the pilots, he said: “The pilots were carrying out a national assignment because the speech and address by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who is the chairman of the Task Force and the presidential address exempted oil and gas from the lockdown in national interest, and the Caverton Helicopters were flying into a military base for national assignment.

    “I may not be learned but I am lettered, and I understand in this case that there is no conflict between a federal and state law. But I will not go into law on this platform because it is unnecessary.

    “So, whether His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State ought to know if the exempted Caverton flight will be landing in a military base in Port Harcourt, he does not need to know.”

    On the fate of the pilots, the minister said: “The pilots will soon be released and secured and there will be no conviction hanging on their necks.

    “Arising from Constitutional provisions and the powers of Mr. President and the seriousness of this Taskforce and the danger of COVID-19 and the way we operate in civil and military aviation, it is why I said the Air Force officer acted ignorantly once the helicopter landed on its property to have called the governor.

    “Also, the federal police who made the arrest within the premises of the military and prosecuted also acted ignorantly, and I said they exhibited incompetently.

    “This matter should not be over-flogged because the federal government is very serious and it is here for the 200 million people of Nigeria, whether you are from Rivers, Cross River, Kano, Kaduna regardless.”

    Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for dialogue between the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government over the arrest and detention of the pilots of helicopters by Rivers.

    In a statement issued by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, the party asked the Federal Government to avoid acts that would portray it as politicising the fight against COVID-19, just like the face-off has shown.

    The party said it was deeply concerned that issues of protocols, which could have been managed through dialogue, was being escalated by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to assume a political dimension.

    The statement said: “Our party holds that the issue of public health safety should be of major concern to all actors in government irrespective of the offices they occupy.

    “We find it strange that the Federal Government would be supporting a private business to disobey the extant order of a state.

    “We hold that all decisions and actions of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wilke, so far, rests on ensuring public safety and protecting the people of Rivers State from the scary wrath of COVID-19.

    “We therefore call on the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Aviation, to pursue the path of dialogue and stop politicising COVID-19.

    “The PDP considers it imperative to ask the Federal Government to direct Carveton and her passengers to subject themselves to health checks by Rivers State Health Surveillance Officials.

    “We also demand that President Muhammadu Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, provide incentives for Rivers State to enable the state perform its responsibility as the oil and gas hub of our nation, particularly at this critical time of COVID-19”.

  • JUST IN: FG reacts to Wike’s arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ pilots

    JUST IN: FG reacts to Wike’s arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ pilots

    The Federal Government has bashed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for arresting two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots and the passengers for flying into the State during Coronavirus lockdown.

    Wike had led the police and other military chiefs to arrest two pilots of Caverton Helicopters on Tuesday after the conveyed passengers into the State.

    The two pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari, were remanded at the Port Harcourt Custodial Centre on Tuesday.

    Management of Caverton Helicopters had written to the Federal Government to rescue its pilots from Wike who arrested and prosecuted them in court for doing a legal duty.

    However, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government duly granted Caverton Helicopters the right to fly into Rivers.

    He said the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt would have to answer for alleged incompetence and for going with Wike to arrest the pilots.

    According to him, Civil Aviation is on exclusive list and that it was only the Federal Government that had the power to legislate on aviation matters.

    He said the police and air force chiefs who went with Wike to effect the arrest were ignorant.

    “The Federal Government allowed the flight, we have the authority to approve such flight, we will do everything lawful to get the pilots back,” he said.

  • Caverton seeks FG’s intervention, says Gov Wike unduly punished its pilots

    Caverton seeks FG’s intervention, says Gov Wike unduly punished its pilots

    Caverton Helicopters has appealed to the federal government to prevail on the Governor of River State, Mr Nyesom Wike to release its pilots who have been remanded at the Port Harcourt prison.

    The governor accused the pilots of flying expatriates into River State without involving the state government in the testing and approval of the coronavirus status of the expatriates.

    In a statement yesterday night by Caverton management, the company said: “ At the start of the COVID -19 lockdown, we received a letter from our client stating that they have been given approval/ exemption to fly and continue operations. We (Caverton along with three other companies) also received approval from the Minister of Aviation to fly only essential services, mainly in the Oil and Gas industry”. “ Lastly, we got another approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fly for this same oil and gas sector.

    We have been flying along with these guidelines for the past seven days”. “Today, we were informed that the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike was coming to address the operators in Port Harcourt and our people waited. But on arriving, the governor directed two of our pilots to be taken to CID where they were told to write statements”.

    “Despite all pleas by our lawyers who showed all the relevant documents, they were taken to the magistrate court and charged. At the court, our lawyers also presented all the documentations approving us to fly by the federal government but the case was closed and the pilots have been remanded in Port Harcourt prison till the 19th May.”

    “We appeal to the federal government to urge the Rivers State government to release our pilots who violated no law and are being unduly punished for reasons we still do not understand,” the statement said.

  • COVID-19: Police arrest two pilots for flying unknown expatriates into Rivers

    COVID-19: Police arrest two pilots for flying unknown expatriates into Rivers

    The police have arrested two pilots of Carveton Helicopter for flying expatriates into Rivers State in violation of the ongoing lockdown in state borders to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The pilots accused of illegally bringing the expatriates were reportedly arrested by the Rivers Taskforce on enforcement of directives against Coronavirus.

    They were said to have been taken to the Rivers Police Command where Governor, Nyesom Wike visited them to assess the development.

    The Governor was said to be worried that the identities of the expatriates were unknown and had demanded the company to fish them out to verify their medical status.

    Wike had signed an executive order closing all land, air and sea borders as part of his numerous measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.

    Rivers Police Commissioner, Mustapha Dandaura, who confirmed the development said that the command arrested the pilot and co-pilot of Carveton Helicopters who ferried unknown passengers to the State. He said that the pilots violated the regulations regarding the safety of the state.

    He said: “Recall that when this coronavirus issues started, there was ban of local flight from coming into the State. Since that time we have been monitoring the activities of these private airlines.

    “To our surprise, we received an intelligence report that an aircraft has landed at the Airforce base and that it was carrying some passengers. We have apprehended the Pilot and the Co-pilot by the NAF commander that’s why they alerted the chief executive Governor of the state who had given an order that on no account should any aircraft land on Rivers State without clearance.

    “We don’t know the people they brought. Whether they are positive or negative of Coronavirus. Where are the heading to and where they came from

    He commended Wike for his commitment to the protection of Rivers people.

    He said: “To our surprise this morning this aircraft landed without any signal or permission from the authorities. We don’t know their mission here. Maybe they are coming here to sabotage the activities of the state and the security agencies that are putting efforts on ground to ensure that Rivers State enjoy peaceful atmosphere throughout this pandemic period”.

    Wike declared his willingness to set aside his immunity to testify against persons violating the state’s border closure aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.

    Speaking at the office of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Wike said the two pilots of Carveton Helicopters operated illegally.

    He said that the protection of Rivers people remained an important assignment that must be executed with the seriousness it deserved.

    He said: “I am willing to drop my immunity as a governor as far as this case is concerned . I am ready to be a prosecution witness. ”

    He charged the police to prosecute the matter to its logical conclusion to serve as deterrent to those interested in violating the regulations of the state regarding the fight against coronavirus.

    He said: “I want to say this is a serious matter to us and police should handle it seriously. That’s why I am here at the state command to show the seriousness of this issue.

    “No body says that you can’t go to any state but now we are in a war situation. This Covid-19 is even worse than a conventional war. We want to know who are those people you brought in, so that we have to trace them to know their identity and status. Luckily we have seen the pilot and the Co-pilot. They will assist the police to assist in identifying them”.

    Wike reiterated that though the state government had no power to close airports, it had the right to check those coming into the state in order to ascertain their status.

    He wondered why Carveton Helicopters decided to cut corners when the state government outlined the procedure for flying expatriates from Lagos into the state.

    He said: “I have always said that we need the support of everybody. Nobody knows the status of those coming into Port Harcourt. Nobody knows whether they are positive or negative. I have said before that I don’t have right to close the airport. But I have the right of saying don’t enter my state because we want to know your status.

    “The company wrote to us about bringing people which I forwarded to Commissioner of Police to perform security checks and the health officials to perform their duties before allowing them to come in. That is for those performing essential duties. But they decided to violate the regulations.”

    Wike insisted that his administration was duty-bound to protect Rivers people from coronavirus.

    He confirmed the second case of coronavirus in the state saying the person is a 62-year-old and recently returned from United Kingdom and entered the state through Lagos.

    Wike also confirmed that the index case of the state had been discharged from the treatment/isolation centre in Eleme.

    He said: “The positive index case of the virus we had by the grace of God has been discharged. What we have now is another case of a 62 years old person who came in from UK and landed in Lagos and then moved to Port Harcourt.”

  • UPDATE: Pilot, Co-Pilot injured, 250 killed in police, bandits forest battle

    UPDATE: Pilot, Co-Pilot injured, 250 killed in police, bandits forest battle

    The police on Wednesday took the battle to the bandits who have been terrorizing the people by killing, maiming and kidnapping.

    The Special Operatives of Operation Puff Adder of the police led the onslaught on the bandits in the Kaduna forest. They were supported by the special forces of the police Air Wing.

    The bandits retaliated by firing shots using sophisticated anti-aircraft riffles and General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) at the police helicopter which was providing aerial and intelligence cover to the special forces.

    The police said no fewer than 250 bandits and terrorists were killed. The pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter sustained injuries.

    But there was no independent confirmation of the casualty figure.

    Recounting the battle on Wednesday, Police spokesman Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner, said the daring offensive operation successfully neutralised over 250 high-profile members of the Ansaru Terror Group.

    He added: “The operation which commenced in the early hours of today, 5th February, 2020, was carried out by a combined team of operatives of Operation Puff Adder made up of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The operation was necessitated by actionable intelligence linking terror and criminal elements in the super camp to series of terror-related violence, kidnappings, gun-running, cattle rustling and other heinous crimes across the country.

    ”Unfortunately, during the operation, a Police Bell helicopter, which provided aerial and intelligence cover for the ground troops, came under attack from the bandits, using sophisticated anti-aircraft rifles and GPMG. Commendably, the pilot and the co-pilot, who demonstrated uncommon courage and expertise, successfully landed the aircraft at the Air Force Base, Kaduna without further incident.

    “They were thereafter evacuated for medical treatment. Both officers who sustained non-life threatening injuries are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition.

    The Police helicopter has since been flown out of the Kaduna Air Force Base by Police Pilots en-route to Abuja.

    ”The Inspector General of Police assures citizens of safety and sustained intelligence-led operations against bandits across the length and breadth of the nation. He has equally applauded the unparalleled bravery, commitment and dedication of the Police operatives currently conducting the special mission,” the statement read.

    Also on Wednesday, on another front, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole, launched Operation Rattle Snake Iii against terrorists’ elements in the Northeast, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said yesterday.

    The spokesman said the Air Interdiction Operation, which commenced on Tuesday, would target selected locations within the Northeast to further degrade the remnants of the terrorists as well as deny them freedom of action.

    He explained: “On Day One of the Operation, air strikes by NAF attack aircraft resulted in the destruction of an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) hideout as well as the neutralisation of some of their fighters at Tongule in the Lake Chad area of Northern Borno.

    “ The air strikes were executed following series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, indicating that ISWAP fighters were harboured in some buildings at the southern edge of the settlement.

    “Accordingly, the ATF dispatched its fighter jets to engage the location, scoring accurate hits on the designated target leading to the destruction of the structures and the neutralisation of some of the terrorists,” he said.

    He said the Air Force, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its air campaign to shape the battle space in the North East for the effective conduct of further ground and air operations.

  • Helicopter crash: NAF to bury two NAF pilots, crew on Tuesday

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has fixed Tuesday, January 8, for the burial of five crew members who died in the NAF Mi-35M Helicopter that crashed in combat on January 2 in Borno.

    The helicopter crashed while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion in Damasak, Borno.

    NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, announced this on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the burial, which would be with full military honours, is scheduled to take place at the National Military Cemetery, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road, Abuja by 9.00 a.m.

  • JUST IN: Two pilots, three crew members die in NAF helicopter crash

    Five crew members, including two pilots and three personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, have been confirmed dead in the helicopter crash which occurred in Damasak, Borno State, late on Wednesday.

    The deceased are identified as; Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob, pilot in command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Kilyofas, co-pilot; Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, flight technician; Lance corporal Adamu Nura, gunner, and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael, gunner.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed their deaths in a release on Thursday, noting that their remains had been deposited in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    An attack helicopter of the NAF deployed in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents had been reported to have been lost in combat.

    The NAF had said the aircraft was lost around 10.30pm on Wednesday, noting that the helicopter was providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State.
    Northern Borno is a vulnerable area where the Islamic State of West African Province fighters were attempting to overrun military bases, with attacks on Metele, Buni Gari and Baga in the latest attempted invasion on December 26 and 27, 2018.

    The NAF’s spokesman, Daramola, had said, “A Nigerian Air Force helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State. The mission was part of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

    “The incident occurred about 7:45pm on January 2. Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty. As soon as the details of the crash are known, they will be made available to the public.”

    More details later…