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NCAA saves over $20 million investments, okays Abuja helicopter operations

*Operators relieved, lament N1.8 b loss
Affluent and wealthy Nigerian who can afford helicopter services may now heave a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cleared all helicopter operators duly certified by the regulatory authority to commence operations in and out of Abuja forthwith.
The NCAA, in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Sam Adurogboye said a letter has since been dispatched to all concerned operators.
It would be recalled that the National Security Adviser (NSA) had placed a ban on helicopter operations into Abuja. However, the restriction was rescinded and all operators were enjoined to embark on their regular operations as approved.

The NCAA, however warned that all operators should carry out their operations in line with Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
Woleshadare.net had exclusively reported more than a month before the Abuja airport closure that helicopter service operators in Nigeria were already seeing a huge rise in clientele, as demand seems to outstrip supply.
But this was not to be as the Office of the National Security Adviser, had penultimate week reminded aviation authorities of the restriction of helicopter ferry flight over Abuja metropolis for security reasons.
The reminder which was issued to regulatory stakeholders through a memo titled “Restriction of Helicopter Ferry Flights Over Abuja Metropolis” stated that: “In view of the closure of the (Abuja) airport, air travellers will be required to travel by road/train to Abuja from Kaduna International Airport.
This, it said would undoubtedly cause constraints on the movement of some passengers who would aim to travel using other means, notably the use of commercial ferry helicopters.
The memo read in part, ““Please be reminded that the airspace over the Federal Capital Territory Abuja is controlled and only security flights or those with the requisite security clearance from the Presidency are granted overhead clearance for obvious security reasons. Consequently, you are to note and ensure that no charter or commercial helicopter ferry flights are allowed to fly within Abuja airspace.
Few day after that, the Federal Government reversed itself as it approved the operation of private and commercial helicopter services at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja which was shut down penultimate week for rehabilitation of the runway and other facilities. The work, which costs N5 billion, is to end on April 19.
Following the stress associated with the over three-hour trip by road to Kaduna where in-and-out bound Abuja flights have been directed in the wake of the closure, this approval of chopper shuttle was expected to ease the many troubles put in the way of air travellers.
A helicopter operator who spoke to our correspondent under strict condition of anonymity said the decision and approval by the NCAA was the right thing to do, adding that the operators had lost over N1.8 billion to the ban that shut them out of business for more than a week.
Another with a popular helicopter operator who spoke under same condition lamented that the decision to initially stop them was wrong stressing that many of the operators had acquired aircraft and personnel that he claimed almost ruined investments of over $20 million.
Executives of oil and gas companies, top officials of blue chip companies and other extremely rich people scrambled for few available seats to shuttle between the two cities.
Some firms were said to have entered into agreement with some of the operators to cater for their top managers within six weeks that the aerodrome would be closed to traffic.