The Nigerian federal government may ban the use
of all Russian manufactured aircraft by the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority due to the high accident rate involving such
aircraft. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's (NCAA's) Dr
Harold Demuren made this announcement in Ota at the
weekend
while giving a breakdown of aircraft accidents in Africa last
year.
The breakdown showed that 19 out of the 24 accidents that
happened in the continent involved Russian manufactured
aircraft.
He also said that about half of the aircraft
accidents in the continent occurred on aircraft operating under
foreign registry, most of which had ineffective safety
oversight, questionable safety certificates, fake insurance
papers and forged flight crew licensees.
"All contribute to high rate of accidents.
African civil aviation authorities must be ready to ground these
dangerous operations. In Nigeria, the holiday is over for them.
It is no longer business as usual," said Demuren.
He emphasised that safety is a concept that
encompasses aircraft design, crew, operation, maintenance, air
traffic control and regulatory oversight.
Demuren also highlighted other issues that are
responsible for aircraft accidents in the continent. They
include infrastructure decay, which comprises air traffic
control, navigation aids, airport equipment and weather, unsafe
airline operations and ineffective regulatory oversight.
Demuren also spoke on the issue of apron
accidents, which he described as a major industry problem.
According to him, the cost of apron accident is estimated at
about US$5 billion annually. In view of this, he stressed the
need for airlines to have adequate insurance to cover this type
of aircraft accident.
On the state of safety oversight in Nigeria, the
director general said his organisation has been able to
undertake "comprehensive re-certification of all Nigerian
registered aircraft, airline operators, airports, personnel and
airspace system".
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to pass
International Aviation Safety Assessment (Iasa) category 1,
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit as
well as meet international aviation security standards.
Demuren who spoke at a retreat organised by the
ministry of aviation for news editors and aviation journalists
presented a paper entitled "Routine Incidents/Accidents in the
Aviation Industry – Crisis Communication".
Nkem Osuagwu, Financial
Standard (Lagos) |