FEATURES

A furious sack and demotion of top officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) jolted many. It also shows the high turnover of personnel in the aviation sector, as people are primed to lose their jobs whenever there is a change of government or whenever there is a new minister appointed to oversee any ministry. In less than eight years, over 400 people have either been sacked or frustrated out of the system…

All Over The World, Use Of Mobile Phone On Board Airplane Is Prohibited, Making Users Liable To Prosecution. Nigeria, Like Many Other Nations Of The World, Do Not Take Kindly To This And The Rule Is Strictly Enforced To Ensure Safety In The Sky. WOLE SHADARE Writes   The big question Why do airlines advise passengers to turn off all mobile phones and all electronic appliances prior to aircraft taking off and landing, and sometimes…

As the calls for the concession of Nigerian airports grow, experts have called on government to put it on a sound footing to avoid the mistakes of the past. They agreed that FAAN’s inefficiency makes the call more vociferous. WOLE SHADARE writes   Airports in terrible shape That Nigerian airports are in decrepit state is not in doubt. The decay stares you in the face. This also brings to the fore over N500 billion allegedly…

The Federal Government has again indicated plans to rescue Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero Contractors from collapse as the Minister of state for Aviation, State; Hadi Sirika, said he would write to the President, Muhammed Buhari to grant him permission to constitute an interministerial and interagency Committee to resolve the lingering crisis in the airline. The inter ministerial and agency committee, according to Sirika will comprise : the Ministry of Aviation, which is the host, Ministry of…

Nigerian airlines are faced with so many barriers that have stunted their growth. To get out of these problems, the carriers need to be given a breather. WOLE SHADARE writes   Barriers   One of the biggest impediments to sustainable airline operations in Nigeria is the humongous debt profile of the carriers. Nobody knows the exact debts the carriers owe different aviation agencies. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency…

  Nigerian carriers are on life support and one hopes that they would continue to weather the storm. This, however, raises some posers about the N120 billion intervention funds that was given to them. WOLE SHADARE writes   Intervention funds   Aero Contractors, IRS, Chanchangi, Virgin Nigeria/Air Nigeria are some of the airlines that benefited from the N120 billion aviation intervention funds from government. While others that partook in the largesse are wobbling and grappling…

Unfamiliarity and lack of good communication between the cockpit and cabin crew complicates air safety. Keeping the same cockpit and cabin crews together as often as possible would engender air safety.WOLE SHADARE writes The factor Many factors have influenced the quality of communication between the cockpit and cabin crews over the years. But one factor that should be of utmost concern is the growth of the industry. Within small airlines, communication between the crew is…

Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik Air as part of its corporate social responsibility has offered to sponsor the return tickets to New York for conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni in order for the twins to have immediate access to medical care and surgery that they require. The carrier said it is offering this support in partnership with Linking Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which has secured free medical treatment for the twins at Le…

  By Yakubu Dati The deluge of doubts that trailed the remodeling of airports across Nigeria, is giving way to rays of hope as great expectations have replaced the eager anticipation within the country’s aviation circles following the arrival of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) team to conduct an audit. According to Jean Claude Waffo, who is leading the team, the audit will access the state’s capabilities to oversee regulations as well as ensure…

Despite scaling through the stiffest international aviation tests, stakeholders have urged government not to gloss over serious security challenges at Nigerian airports. WOLE SHADARE writes   With the ease at which Nigeria passes some of the stiffest tests by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the one conducted by the United States of America’s apex aviation regulatory body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), one would think that all is well with the country’s aviation…