All Posts in "Aviation"

By Favour Nnabugwu

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has lifted the ban on Boeing 737 Max Aircraft operating in the Nigerian Airspace.

The ban was placed on 737 after two fatal accident involving the aircraft.

A statement signed by the Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu said the lifting of the ban came into effect on 12th February, 2021.
Captain Nuhu in the statement said : “Consequent upon the two accidents of Lion Air Flight 610, an Indonesia flight which crashed into the Java Sea 13mins after takeoff, and Ethiopian Airlines flight 320, which crashed six minutes after takeoff, made the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika pronounced the ban on the operations of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the Nigerian airspace.”

” On the 18th November 2020, the Authority received a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) CAN-2020-24 advising it of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAAs) ongoing continued operational safety activities related to returning Boeing Model 737-8 and 737-9 (737 MAX) aircraft service.”

” This however, made the FAA issue a final rule/Airworthiness Directive (AD) that mandated the following actions for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft which includes; Installation new flight control computer software and new 737 MAX display system software; Incorporate certain Airplane Flight Manual flight crew operating procedures, Modify horizontal stabiliser trim wire routing installations; Conduct an angle of attack sensor system test; and Conduct an operation readiness flight.”

” NCAA recognize that a Joint Authority Technical Review (JATR) that comprised of International Aviation Authorities such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada (TC) and the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority amongst others carried out a joint review of the Boeing 737 MAX safety system alongside FAA and NASA”.

“In the light of the above, the FAA has released documents on Boeing 737 Flight Standardization Board Report, revision 17, identifying special pilot training for the 737 MAX and Safety Alert for Operators”.

“NCAA recognises the joint review of the Boeing 737 Max Safety System and came up with the following actions required of all foreign and domestic operators”:

The statement further said “All intending domestic operators are required to work with the Boeing Company and NCAA for the Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Programme in order to have the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in Nigeria and issued with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness.”

“All foreign air operators that intend to operate the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into Nigeria must submit evidence of compliance with the FAA AD 2020-24-02.The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will continue to ensure strict compliance to Safety Regulations as violation[s] will be viewed seriously,” the statement read.

Patoma Admin by — February 21, 2021 in Aviation 0

The United Arab Emirates, UAE, yesterday announced an extension of the ban on passengers flights out of Nigeria from February to March.

Speaking through the country’s carrier, Emirates airlines, the authorities said
that the February 28th date of reopening flights will no longer be feasible.

According to a release from the airline titled : “Temporary Suspension of PAX uplift from Nigeria to Dubai – update
Emirates said, “As instructed by the UAE authorities, the uplift of passengers on Emirates from Nigeria (LOS & ABV) to Dubai is temporarily suspended up to and including the 10th March 2021.”
” Affected services are, EK784 LOS-DXB and EK786 ABV-DXB.”

” Note also that passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter the UAE (whether terminating or connecting onwards) ”

” Flights from Dubai to Nigeria (EK783 DXB-LOS & EK785 DXB-ABV) are not affected by this suspension and these flights will continue to operate as per the published schedule.”

“The operational status of EK (Emirates) services from Nigeria after the 10th March 2021 is under review & further updates will be published in due course.”

“For passengers affected kindly apply re-booking options provided in our COVID-19 waiver policy previously communicated. We hope to revert to you as soon as possible, regarding the status of our future flights.”
Recall Nigeria and UAE have been locked in disagreement over the observance of the covid-19 protocols.

The UAE authorities have hardened its protocols for visitors to Dubai. It introduced new rules to Nigerian travellers to Dubai. The new rules by Dubai Airports banned flights from any other point to Dubai from Nigeria.They insist only on direct flights from Nigeria .

Nigeria government retaliated by banning Emirates flights out of Nigeria, insisting that the airline should suspend it Rapid Antigen Test, which the airline said was a prerequisite for granting other airlines access into Dubai.

The suspension was, however, later lifted by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, following instructions from the United Arab Emirates government that the Emirates suspend the Rapid Antigen Test pending when the Nigerian government would have put infrastructure in place to meet the airlines request.

Patoma Admin by — February 14, 2021 in Aviation 0

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said that two of Nigeria’s International Airports Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and PortHarcourt Airports have been accredited by Airports Council International (ACI)

The accredited Airports into the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation Programme are Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa.

According to Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, the ” Airport health accreditation programme is designed to assess how aligned airports health measures are with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations along with industry best practices.”

She said both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Port Harcourt International Airport have become the 1st and 2nd respectively to be accredited in this programme.

The Spokeswoman further said the accreditation is due to the efforts by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), led by the Managing Director, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, and the Management team to ensure the safety and security of all travelers and Airport users.

Recall FAAN recently beefed up safety protocols at all Airports, following the new wave of Covid-19, and a monitoring team was set up for each Airport to drive total compliance. “This is in line with the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation Programme, which is designed to reassure the travelling public of the safe precautions being taken to reduce any risks to their health as well as maintaining secure Airport Facilities,” she added.

Patoma Admin by — February 12, 2021 in Aviation 0

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted the suspended order place on Emirates Airlines after much discussion late yesrday eveingb

The suspension placed a 72-hour suspension on outbound Emirates flights from Nigeria

A February 4, 2021, circular signed by NCAA Director-General, Musa Nuhu, accused Emirates Airlines of violating guidelines put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The authority further accused the airline of airlifting passengers from Nigeria using rapid antigen tests conducted by laboratories not approved by regulatory authorities.

“Emirates Airlines has not been in compliance with the two options given by the PTF as records obtained from Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) indicates that Emirates Airlines operated the flights from both Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja” the circular read.

“Emirates should suspend its operations to Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) effective 72 hours from midnight on Thursday, February 4, 2021.

“During the 72-hour leeway, Emirates Airlines is only authorised to bring passengers into Nigeria. Outbound passengers are not authorised.”

The NCAA stated that more sanctions would be imposed on Emirates Airlines for the violations of COVID-19 protocols.

It added that the airline would be informed as to when to resume operations.

Patoma Admin by — February 5, 2021 in Aviation 0

By Favour Nnabugwu

Nigerians travelling to Dubai must take a direct flight to the United Arab Emirates ,UAE, otherwise all transit flights with Nigerian passengers into Dubai is banned.

This means all passengers from Nigeria must fly directly from Nigeria to Dubai without stopping over in another country.

The UAE in a travel advisory tagged, “Dubai Travel Protocol Update-Travel from Nigeria”revealed this yesterday.

This is a tactical ban of other foreign Airlines from carrying Nigerian Passengers as only Emirates flies directly to Dubai. Nigeria Air Peace airline also fly directly to Dubai through Sharjah Airport which is 15 minutes drive from Dubai.

All Nigerians who have visited home in the last 14 days will not be allowed to fly to Dubai through Nairobi-Kenya, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, Cairo-Egypt, Kigali-Rwanda , amongst other. Other European countries are affected by this new policy issued by the UAE geared towards reducing the spread of Covid-19.

This policy is expected to greatly affect competition by African and European airlines on the lucrative Dubai route.
The travel advisory also explains that all ” departing Nigerians to Dubai are required to obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate and the PCR must be conducted within 72 hours of the date of departure.

It further adds that ” all passengers are required to conduct a rapid COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result within four hours of their departure time. Passengers must travel directly from Nigeria to Dubai”.

There are reports that some foreign airlines have started reacting. Some said they would refund and also not lift passengers from Nigeria to Dubai from January 31, 2021 until further notice.

“You are hereby adviced to check & cancel all your bookings & inform your passengers this new development”, a memo by an airline said

Patoma Admin by — January 31, 2021 in Aviation 0

Travelers arriving in Tunisia will have to comply with stricter health measures effecttive from February 1,:2020.

Arrivals coming from countries concerned with the emergence of the new strain of COVID-19 must respect the strict measures, 

The purpose is to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

In this regard, travelers from abroad are required to undergo a mandatory quarantine of one week in one of the hotels dedicated for this purpose. Accommodation expenses will be borne by the traveler

This decision means “all travellers coming to Tunisia must present a negative PCR test for the coronavirus within 72 hours before the trip

Besides presenting a negative PCR test, upon their arrival, they must pass from a crossing point of COVID-19 antigen-based rapid diagnostic test.

Upon arrival, the traveler must submit a negative RT-PCR test taken during the 72 hours prior to boarding, a reservation in one of the hotels dedicated to the quarantine and a voucher confirming payment for the stay.

On the seventh day of mandatory quarantine, each person must take an RT-PCR test at their own expense. If the result is negative, the person may leave the hotel while still complying with the health protocol.

A 14-day quarantine commitment will be required for all passengers coming from abroad, who can spend the compulsory quarantine in a hotel or at home, “with the possibility of conducting a second lab test for coronavirus on the seventh day of quarantine to ensure that the person is free of the disease, thus reducing the compulsory quarantine to a week,” read the statement.

Patoma Admin by — January 30, 2021 in Aviation 0

By admin
As the world grapples with the second wave of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has stepped up measures to ensure the safety of travelling passengers and other airport users across the nation.

From the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Port Harcourt International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and others within its network, the Authority is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure safe and secure facilitation of travellers.

Across the airports, car parks have been rearranged for seamless pick-up and drop off to avoid congestion. We have also created new drop off zones for passengers with reduced mobility.

Operational and directional signages have also been conspicuously remarked at both the airsides and landsides to make movements easier for airport users and to promote social distancing protocols.

Additionally, we have intensified the process of disinfecting all baggage before entering the terminals, as well as enhanced temperature screening of all passengers and staff using infrared scanners. We have also separated access entry points for passengers and staff to reduce congestion and improve on facilitation.

The Authority will like to use this opportunity to advise all travellers and airport users to strictly abide by all laid down travel protocols and also reiterate that only passengers will be allowed into the terminals.

A compliance monitoring team has been constituted for each of our airports to drive total compliance.

Patoma Admin by — December 31, 2020 in Aviation 0

By admin

Kenya Airways and Air France-KLM Group said on Saturday that they had agreed to mutually terminate their Africa-Europe joint venture partnership from September, 2021.

The Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, Allan Kilavuka, explained that the Kenyan carrier will continue to serve the European market through its gateways of London, Paris, Amsterdam with Rome slated for resumption from 2021.

“This development allows Kenya Airways to offer additional options and convenience to our customers connecting through our European gateways.

”This is in line with our goal of supporting the recovery of international tourism in Kenya and connecting Africa to the World, and the World to Africa,” Kilavuka said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The two airlines had previously suspended the joint venture cooperation for the calendar year 2020 mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent unpredictability of return to normalcy in operations.

Kilavuka said these routes (Africa and Europe) will be served by onward codeshares from the Air France-KLM group and additionally with an ever-expanding network of European carriers including Alitalia, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Airlines amongst others.

Kenya Airways is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and the loyalty programme will continue to apply on all the partner flights.

Frequent flyers will, therefore, continue earning and redeeming miles, while Elite Plus travellers are benefiting from SkyPriority services.

Kenya Airways operates more than 70 flights a day and flies to over 53 destinations worldwide, 43 of which are in Africa.-Xinhua

Patoma Admin by — December 21, 2020 in Aviation 0

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Siriks has said that the planned reform will serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive overhaul of the aviation industry.

Sirika also said that the reform would osition the country as an air transportation hub within the West and Central African sub-region.

This was disclosed by Minister Hadi Sirika, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2020 International Civil Aviation Day on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by James Odaudu, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation and seen by Nairametrics, the Minister explained that the roadmap includes the establishment of a national carrier, establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, Concession of some airports, the establishment of an Aviation Leasing Company, amongst others.

He added that it will lay a solid and lasting foundation for Aviation development in Nigeria. “The implementation of the roadmap, which is in line with the theme of the ICAD, remains on course and that the results will become obvious in due course.

“Safety and security have remained at the centre of government policies in the sector since the inception of the current administration and its efforts have been applauded by all, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realize a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.

He appealed to all players within the industry to join hands with the government to ensure the realisation of the lofty objectives of the roadmap for the benefit of Nigerians and all users of the nation’s airspace.

The Minister also uses the occasion to reaffirm Nigeria’s unalloyed commitment to the ideals of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other Aviation bodies of which it is a member

Patoma Admin by — December 9, 2020 in Aviation 0