CAPT DELE ORE: I once overshot the runway, flew with one engine

This early training set up Ore, described as one of the best pilots Nigeria ever had and who flew many past Nigerian presidents, on his way to flying immortality.

He participated actively in the Nigerian Civil War, as one of the few pilots deployed to the front to provide support to the Federal ground troops and ferrying top government officials.

Ore who is a notable aircraft training captain and Type Rating Examiner – G II is also a consultant on ATSEP and AIS Personnel Licensing Process. He is a former chief pilot and director of flight operations of Nigeria Airways Ltd.

He also served as member, Advisory Council of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. He is an associate lecturer in air law at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria. Capt. Ore holds a Master’s degree in business administration and is a barrister-at-law.

Not only that, Ore was actively involved in ferrying many African heads of state during a turbulent period of power struggle on the continent and got commendations for his heroic deeds at the expense of his life. No wonder he has the highest national honours of many countries in Africa.

Interestingly, his country has failed to honour him for the many things he has achieved for the country. That sums up his frustration with the system and one that aptly captures the Biblical saying that, “Prophets have no honour at home.”

That has however not diminished the respect commanded by the Septuagenarian who has authored many books and lectures on aviation matters.

Ore’s passion for aviation is infectious as he takes WoleshadareNews round his life as a pilot and aviation lawyer. Speaking with our correspondent in his Adeniyi Jones Ikeja office, Capt Oladele Ore, said his graduation from a Scottish pilots’ flying school earned him a job the next day when he reported to 32, New Bond Street, London, which he said marked his professional career with Nigeria Airways.

“I went through the ranks to become a flight commander at age 26 going to 27 and by a dint of hard work, got into management as a fleet captain, flight examiner, chief pilot and ultimately director of flight operations.”

Aircraft under his command included but not limited to DC-3, F-27, F28, Gulfstream 2, B707, DC-10 and eventually the jumbo jet B747.

To him, whether small, medium or long range, aircraft preparation for flight follows the same basic activities and provisions, adding that the totality of a successful flight operation is based on discipline, dedication, airmanship and professionalism.

Giving a clear view of what it takes to prepare for a flight, Ore said preparation to a day’s flight begins long before the flight to ensure adequate rest and clean bill of health, especially in relation to alcohol free lifestyle.

He said: “The question I always bear in mind and the appropriate answer in my mind are encapsulated in the idiom, “I’m safe or ask myself, Am I safe”, with the ‘I’ standing for Illness, the ‘M’ stands for medication, the ‘S’ stands forsSleep, ‘A’ stands for alcohol, ‘F’ for fatigue and the ‘E’ stands for eating (nutritious meals).

And I satisfy myself that these questions are answered adequately.” “I considered myself very lucky that in our flying base, we were picked up from our homes with dignity, arriving at the airport long enough to prepare for the flight.

There is a presumption that before arrival at the airport, the flight dispatchers would have gone through the routine to obtain flight plan information, pay-load instructions, meteorological information and relevant notices to airmen (NOTAM), fuel requirements, aircraft status and aircraft location.

With available information, there was the usual pre-flight crew briefing. The flight crew in consultation with the maintenance crew ensure that the work round inspection of the aircraft is carried out.

Further pre-flight briefing including the cabin crew is usually carried out. The aircraft is properly dispatched and made ready for service and depending on air traffic and weather situation, passengers are made to board the flight.”

He stated that it had been pre-planned that a journey from point A to B had alternate airport, stressing that all operations were governed by company standard operating procedure with available reference materials, flight manual checklist.

Information about the flight, he, said was usually passed on to the air traffic controllers for monitoring of operations. He also stated that by training, pilots are made to be ready and made to be prepared for any emergency situations, adding that with about 15, 000 hours flight experience, he could recount many pleasurable flights to various parts of the world.

He looks back at occasions he had had to cope with some challenges such as malfunctions of engines or aircraft systems, engine failure, engine fire, very adverse weather condition and unruly passengers He recalled the most serious challenge which could qualify as incident or serious incident happened once when he was flying between Lagos and Calabar. “The Calabar airport was shut and early morning rain had flooded the runway.

There was no information about it given to us. Apart from clearing the cloud, it was impossible to stop the plane resulting in aquaplaning.

The F-28 aircraft had no reverse thrust and the aircraft glided like a sea plane culminating in the aircraft over running the runway by a few meters,” he said.