Aviation

***NCAA lists danger of effects to airplanes   The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has asked all operators of B737 aircraft types to subject their airplanes which have been in storage for a long time to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emergency corrosion checks. This is contained in a letter dated July 24th, 2020 and addressed to all Boeing 737 aircraft operators and signed by General Manager, AOC & S, Engr. G.G. Balang for the…

  Emirates airline is offering its pilots and crew up to four months of unpaid leave in a bid to keep its workforce primed for when the industry and air travel demand begins to normalise. Dubai’s state-owned carrier has laid off thousands of crew and pilots in recent weeks because of the impact the pandemic has had on the demand for air travel. An internal email sent to pilots and crew said that employees, who…

  Piqued by the refusal of airlines to pay their workers, particularly flight crew, the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu has threatened to ground airlines that are in the habit of not paying their pilots and staff. The threat was handed down to the airlines in a meeting held with airline chiefs and their representatives in Abuja last week Thursday by the aviation regulatory body. An airline chief who was…

  The COVID-19 pandemic may have found expression in the tough situation Nigerian airlines are currently faced with as the board of Medview Airline has agreed to sell two aircraft to pay offset its debt. In a notice published on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company said the decision was reached at a Zoom board meeting that held on Thursday. In an earlier notice, the board said it would meet to…

    Nigerians living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) whose visa had expired have been given till August 17, 2020 to leave or face the consequences of the law. The Nigerian Embassy in capital Abu Dhabi has therefore urged Nigerians still in the country with expired visas to use the emergency evacuation flights organized by the Nigerian government to depart the country before the August 17 ultimatum. In a statement titled, ‘Public Notice’ and…

The deadly COVID-19 pandemic and its destruction to businesses particularly the aviation industry globally has continued to take a toll on Nigeria’s aviation sector as Air Peace pilots have embarked on strike over what they termed irrational pay cut. The airline however denied reports alleging that its pilots have gone on strike as at July 21st 2020. Spokesperson of the airline, Stanley Olisa who spoke with our correspondent said the report was untrue and an…

***Goes For Fuel Efficient Aircraft   The last Qantas Boeing 747-400 service has departed Sydney after five decades of operations with Australia’s national carrier. The aircraft is carrying cargo across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles before its final destination in the Mojave Desert. Like British Airways, Qantas is retiring its B747 fleet in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, which has ruined travel demand and made the jumbo jet too expensive to fly commercially….

Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika said the country would most likely re-open the country’s airspace to international flights earlier than October. The Minister on his verified Twitter handle @hadisirika said what was earlier announced to be re-opening of airspace to international flights for October 15, 2020 was the routine 90 days Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Sirika however stated that in liason with Health, Foreign Affairs Ministries and Presidential Task…

The Federal Government has extended the closure of international flight operations from August 19, 2020 to October 15, 2020. Consequently, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) stating that it is extending closure of international airspace until October 15 instead of August 19 as previously stated. The NOTAM which is information to all aviation personnel especially to flight operators and others that have roles to play in flight operations…

The aviation sector is set for a major gain with plans by a reputable firm, Binani Group of Companies, to float a domestic airline. The new carrier, Binani Air, according to aviation sources, has applied to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for an Operational Licence. Binani Group of Companies was founded by a foremost politician, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani (Adamawa Central). She has relinquished her stake in the firm as required by the…