Covid-19 hinders access to aircraft spare parts, technical support-Balami

  • FOREX scarcity, bane of airlines

The aviation industry may take longer period than expected to recover from the effect of the current COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world as the aviation continues to suffer set backs

This was the view of Chairman, 7Star Global Hangar, Isaac Balami, an aircraft engineer, who equally lamented that access to spare parts and technical supports were fast becoming a mirage.

He further stated that airline operators find it increasingly difficult to acquire spares no thanks to COVID-19 pandemic.

Balami who spoke in Lagos disclosed that aviation would never be the same again as most aviation technical support firms across the globe are working from home for now unlike in Nigeria

READ ALSO:  ‘Why African states frustrate Open Skies pact’

“Nigeria Aviation industry is one of the most luckiest in the world. This because most engineers are still working compare to other countries none of them is working”

Balami noted that the shut down has slowed down a lot of things especially in getting spare parts for immediate attention for aircraft on ground while some foreign business partners have also bowed out as a result of the pandemic.

7Star Global Hangar

“COVID-19 posed a lot of challenges. Securing parts has been great problems as it has been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic”

He said with the slow pace of getting spares, 7star hangar had already evolved means of getting the basic things needed on daily basis and would not wait until aircraft were totally grounded, hence it has started work on its wire house

READ ALSO:  NCAA begins probe of United Nigeria’s 'mistaken' flight to Asaba

Balami noted that with the waivers granted on aircraft spare parts, it would encourage airline operators to invest, adding that it was long over due

He blamed the current situation of lack of funds to run airlines on the Forex, stressing that the Central Bank of Nigeria hardly give out dollars to airlines, adding that the rate of N470 to the dollars given out by CBN has greatly affected cost of aircraft maintenance.

He said only black markets now serve as alternative provider of dollars for their day to day running of their business as the CBN was not forthcoming.

READ ALSO:  NAMA, Ekiti ink air traffic services pact for new airport

Balami, who is also the president of Hangar owners association of Nigeria advised airline owners to do their checks in the country to save money adding that the cost of C-Checks outside the shores of the country would about  $500, 000 without procurement of spares while it will cost far less the amount locally.

Wole Shadare