Bristow crash victims get $30, 000 initial pay
*Appoint’s firm for fresh audit
In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) directive on compensation for crash victims, Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited said it has paid the initial $30, 000 to those involved in its August 2015 helicopter crash inside the Lagos Lagoon.
Senior Legal Director (African Region) Bristow Group, Tolu Olubajo stated this at a press media briefing with the media confirming the return of Sikorsky S-76S to revenue service at the weekend by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The aviation regulatory body had lifted the temporary suspension on the operation of the Bristow Helicopter Sirkorsky S-76 aircrafts in the country.
The NCAA had on February 4, 2016 suspended Bristow Helicopter’s Sikorsky S-76C from further operations in Nigeria after two air accidents.
The return of the Sikorsky S-76 aircraft to flight operations followed completion of the NCAA’s comprehensive operational audit.
It said the company, in addition, carried out an extensive return to service safety activities.
Although Olubajo did not disclose the amount the carrier paid to the victim’s families, he stated that they have paid initial amount to them which is in line with ICAO recommendation of payment of 30 per cent in first few months out of the $100, 000 total compensation money for each of the dead victims.
The Montreal Convention (formally, the convention for the unification of certain rules for international carriage by air is a multilateral treaty adopted by a diplomatic meeting of ICAO member states in 1999.
The Convention also amended the jurisdictional provisions of Warsaw and now allows the victim or their families to sue foreign carriers where they maintain their principal residence, and requires all air carriers to carry liability insurance.
The aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76C+, which was returning from a drilling rig offshore belonging to SEDCO in Ondo State en route the Lagos airport, crashed at Oworonsoki near the Third Main Land Bridge as it approached the MMIA.
The Six victims were Chukwuma Erise, Chidi Ukwunta, Ita Ekpeyong, Chis Abua, Joseph Wyatt (Captain) and Peter Kayode Bello ( Co-pilot).
Speaking on the recent ditching of another Sikorsky S 76 aircraft on February 3, 2016 in the Atlantic Ocean, Olubajo disclosed that the firm has engaged the services of Avatech to help it carry out a comprehensive audit aside the oversight functions of the NCAA.
The carrier is proposing that the review be extended to other similar air operators across the Nigerian oil and gas industry so that the best practices can be shared by all operators to enhance safety across the industry.
He however said the idea was not an indictment on the aviation regulatory body but to complement the function of the authority.
“We do exactly the same checks on all our aircraft, not only on the Sikorsky. As we do this, we await the final report from the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). On training, we have sent all our pilots on refresher training to improve on their skill level. On personnel, we have done counselling for pilots”.
The airline however thanked the NCAA for conducting a thorough review of their operations, stressing that they have completed a detailed safety inspection of their S-76 fleet in accordance with NCAA and test flights for all 15 airplanes.
“Our Group President and CEO, Jonathan Baliff flew in one of the approved non-revenue test flights to demonstrate his confidence in the safety of the aircraft type fleet.
