The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Aviation

  • In Major Milestone, Mbah Flags Off Enugu Air Maiden Int’l Flight to Douala, Cameroon

    In Major Milestone, Mbah Flags Off Enugu Air Maiden Int’l Flight to Douala, Cameroon

    … Enugu Air CEO: Enugu becoming a gateway

    The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has flagged off the first-ever international service by Enugu Air, describing it as a major milestone in his administration’s vision to grow Enugu State into a major aviation hub and make it the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.

    Speaking at a brief ceremony at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on Wednesday, Mbah, who heaped commendations on the leadership of the state-owned airline for the fast growth of Enugu Air, said it was not an isolated story, but a part of connecting the dots as his administration strives to grow Enugu State into a $30 billion economy.

    “Months ago, right here, we watched Enugu take to the skies. In just barely six months after a rigorous regulatory process, Enugu Air obtained her Air Operator’s License. This is not a mean feat.

    “Today, 14 months after, we can see that dream flying beyond our expectations, as Enugu Air is one of the fastest-growing airlines in Nigeria, without a doubt.

    “But we did not conceive of Enugu Air as a bragging right or because of the clamour, or to gain some political acclaim. Enugu Air is part of the masterplan to make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, living, business and tourism. For us, Enugu Air is part of connecting the dots,” he stated.

    Mbah described Enugu Air as a campaign promise kept, saying the Enugu–Douala service was the beginning of many more international flight operations to many parts of the world.

    “What you are seeing here today is performance above promises. So, we ask you to judge us by the things we have promised and have delivered to you.

    “Besides, today is Douala, but I am hoping tomorrow, we are not only going to be talking about the continent of Africa, we will be talking about Enugu to the world,” he added.

    He thanked President Bola Tinubu “for consistently demonstrating his commitment to aviation infrastructure and for the support he is also giving to the states to enable us to create businesses like Enugu Air,” commending also the Minister of Aviation and Aerodrome Development, Festus Keyama, SAN; and the agencies under him such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) supporting Enugu Air’s growth and making Nigeria a standard bearer in the African aviation industry.

    Speaking, Enugu Air CEO, Capt. Tolu Ita, said Enugu Air was not merely launching a flight, stressing, “we are launching a new chapter.”

    “This is a chapter in which Enugu is no longer simply where a journey begins or ends. Enugu is becoming a gateway.

    “Today, much bigger than an aircraft will be moving across our skies. Opportunity will be moving. Business will be moving. People will be moving. Ideas will be moving. And Enugu will be moving with them. This is what makes today so significant.

    “Enugu Air was never built with the vision to simply put aircraft in the sky. The vision was to build an airline that connects people, connects markets and connects possibilities.

    “We began by strengthening our domestic network — connecting Enugu with Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Owerri, Asaba, Benin City and Warri.

    “Today, we take our first major step beyond Nigeria. Enugu to Douala. Nigeria to Cameroon. The Southeast to Central Africa. And this is only the beginning.

    “Our ambition is to continue building a stronger regional network across Africa, while progressively opening the door to wider international markets,” she said.

    In growing Enugu Air, Ita reaffirmed the airline’s responsibility and commitment to authorities, passengers, and all stakeholders, upholding the highest operational and ethical standards.

    In her goodwill message, the Managing Director/CEO of the FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, said Enugu Air’s inaugural international flight was “a strong statement of Nigeria’s growing capacity to connect7 people and businesses across West and Central Africa.”

    Represented by Mrs. Onyeka Udenze, the7 FAAN DG said, “Akanu Ibiam International Airport now takes a firm step as a regional hub.”

    While congratulating Enugu Air for the fast growth in 14 months, she assured that FAAN remained committed to providing the infrastructure, safety standards and support that make such services possible.

    The DG of NCAA, represented by the Director of Air Transport Regulations, FAAN, Mrs. Olayinka Babaoye-Iruobe, said connecting Enugu to Douala directly represented would create opportunities for increased trade, investment, tourism, and movement of people, while strengthening social and economic ties between Nigeria and Cameroon.

    In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the new service to Douala marked a monumental leap forward in the state’s trade, investment, and economic integration strategy.

    “For decades, the vibrant traders, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs of Enugu and the broader region have navigated complex transit routes to access Central African markets.

    “Today, that barrier is dismantled. This direct link directly advances our goal of transforming Enugu State into a premier regional hub for commerce and industrial development. We are now effectively bridging markets, shortening supply chains, and unlocking unprecedented opportunities for cross-border commerce across Central and West Africa,” he said.

    The Maiden flight, which departed Akanu Ibiam International Airport in the early hours of the afternoon, touched down safely at the Douala International Airport where it was well received by the Cameroonian authorities in a brief ceremony before it returned to Enugu on the history trip.

  • International Civil Aviation Day: Turbulent But Not Dangerous – By Capt. Evarest Nnaji

    International Civil Aviation Day: Turbulent But Not Dangerous – By Capt. Evarest Nnaji

    As the world marks International Civil Aviation Day, aviation expert and industry leader, Captain Evarest Nnaji, popularly known as Odengene, has offered a detailed and reassuring explanation of what air turbulence really means—cutting through widespread myths and passenger anxiety with clear, authoritative insights.

    As we mark International Civil Aviation Day, it is important to reinforce the fact that aviation remains the most reliable, effective, efficient and safest mode of transportation in the world. Air turbulence may feel uncomfortable, but it is a normal part of flight—one for which aircraft are designed, and pilots are expertly trained.

    Air Turbulence remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of air travel. For many passengers, any sudden movement in flight can trigger anxiety. Yet, within the aviation industry, Air turbulence is well-studied, well-managed, and—contrary to public perception—rarely a threat to the safety of an aircraft.

    What Causes Air turbulence?

    Air turbulence is caused by rough air pockets encountered during a flight. Rough air pockets are derived from air with poor molecules. When an air pocket contains rich air molecules, the sky is clear and devoid of clouds. Clouds form when atmospheric conditions in a section of the sky collect or attract interference components in the form of moisture, mist, fog, smog, steam, dew, condensation, convection, haze, vapour, etc.

    The introduction of any or more of these elements into the atmosphere reduces the molecules in the air and creates visible air pockets known as clouds.  Clouds, when formed by the earlier mentioned interference components, then have poor air molecules which, in turn, will not be strong enough to warrant the smooth flow of rich air over an aircraft’s airfoils (wings), thereby causing turbulence.

    When clouds form, they contour into different shapes and structures, giving them divergent patterns. Different clouds are named after their shapes and strengths, such as Stratus, Stratocumulus, Cumulonimbus, Nimbostratus, Altostratus, Altocumulus, Cirrus, Cirrostratus etc.

    A more troublesome source of air turbulence in flight is thunderstorms.

    Thunderstorm is a weather system that includes lightning, thunder, heavy rain, strong winds, and sometimes hail. It can form from large towering cumulonimbus clouds, and can also form rapidly over adiabatic temperature change rate in rising unstable air.

    There are four main types of thunderstorms; light, moderate, severe and extreme thunderstorms.

    Severe and extreme thunderstorms appear scary and worrisome, but aircraft do not fly through them. Pilots and air traffic controllers avoid them using Radar, Weather reports and Satellite data.

    There is also the Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) that can form at any altitude, high or low. CAT has no visible pattern. Therefore, pilots can run into CAT without adequate preparation or forewarning, causing sudden jolting turbulence in flight. But the industry has developed a mechanism known as PIREP which enables the first pilot to encounter CAT, to make a certain immediate pattern of report, letting other aircraft in the route or region to prepare for it.

    Aircraft design capability:

    Modern aircraft are structurally designed to handle very well all forms of possible air turbulence.

    Each aircraft model’s wing-structure, at design stage, underwent a bench-test usually stronger than anything such aircraft can ever encounter in real bad weather flight conditions before certification by FAA and or EASA for commercial production and use. This certification is a without-which such model will never fly in America or European airspace, and by extension, the world over.

    So, your aircraft may shake, dip, rock and rattle in flight, but will never fall off the sky due to air turbulence. In addition, pilots are trained to navigate  air turbulence safely.

    How do passengers handle air turbulence?

    Realistically the main danger passengers can encounter in air turbulence is the sudden jolts that can cause people to fall, or hit their heads on cabin consoles.

    Another danger can result in movement within the cabin which can move the center of gravity (CG) limit of the aircraft, depending on the size of aircraft and amount of movement. Such movements can affect pilots control input and judgment causing the aircraft not to respond the way the pilot had mastered it.

    But all this can be completely avoided by simply ensuring you are seated with your seatbelt fastened.

    So, stay calm, keep your seatbelt fastened, the aircraft is built to withstand it, is the rule of thumb.

    So next time your flight encounters turbulence or rough patch of air, remember:

    It may be turbulent, but it is not dangerous.

    Captain Nnaji is both FAA (USA) and NCAA (Nigeria) licensed pilot, and the Group Chairman of OAS Helicopters, a leading conglomerate in Nigeria’s oil and gas aviation sector, as well as an astute businessman and philanthropist.

  • Aviation fuel scarcity: Passengers should expect more flight delays, cancellations –AON

    The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has urged passengers to expect more flight disruptions, as the scarcity of Aviation Turbine Kerosine (ATK) also known as aviation fuel (Jet A1) persists.

    AON’s spokesman, Obiora Okonkwo, said in a statement on Monday that the persistent fuel scarcity is affecting the operations of air transport in the country and could lead to flight more rescheduling and cancellations.

    He however said that the AON is working in alliance with product marketers, government and relevant stakeholders to ensure availability and proper pricing of the product in the country.

    “The Airline Operators of Nigeria wish to alert the public of impending disruptions to scheduled flight operations of members of the association. This development is being forced on members by the growing scarcity of aviation fuel popular as Jet-Al.

    “The scarcity is impacting negatively on the seamless conduct of air transport operations and would lead to flight rescheduling, and, or, cancellations.

    “While pleading the understanding of the flying public in the face of this reality, we also promise to do all that is necessary, and within our powers, to restore normal flight schedules as soon as possible,” he said.

    Last week, Daily Sun revealed that despite the meeting airlines had with the House of Representatives, oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure the availability of fuel at N480 for three months, the product is still not readily available to many airlines.

    In March, flight operations were nearly grounded as all the scheduled operators could not access fuel and even when they could, it was purchased at over N500. However by last Friday, the AON said it would commence the suspension of flights on Monday, May 9, as it can no longer afford to purchase fuel at N700. The plan to suspend flights was later cancelled after intervention by the Ministry of Aviation and other industry stakeholders.

    The fuel crisis did not abate as early last Thursday morning, Azman Air sent a message to its passengers apologising for the protracted delays and even cancellations of some of its flights, blaming it on the scarcity of aviation fuel.

    The deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dana, Sukhjinder Mann, in a message to its passengers recently, also revealed that they are again witnessing the scarcity of aviation fuel across the airports in Nigeria which has caused flight delays and cancellations but that they have the commitment of their fuel partners to service our requirements

    When Daily Sun contacted the spokesperson of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa, to clarify the situation of fuel supply, he said the airline was also finding it difficult to get fuel as the scarcity has persisted and has caused flight disruptions.

    Also, the spokesperson of Arik Air, Ola Banji, also confirmed to Daily Sun that aviation fuel is not readily available.

    (Sun)

  • NCWD: Revolutionising the aviation sector

    NCWD: Revolutionising the aviation sector

    The soon-to-be unveiled Cross River State-owned Cally Air would revolutionise the aviation sector in the country, immediate past Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Mary Ekpere-Eta, has predicted.

    “Cally Air, as promising as it is, stands to dictate the pace in the aviation sector. And for the state, it will not only yield dividends to its treasury but will create thousands of jobs for our teeming youths. I am overjoyed by this new entrant into the aviation sector.

    “Cally Air took delivery of its first Boeing 737-300 (737-31S, 5N-BYR, msn 29266) on April 6, 2021. A second Boeing 737-300 (5N-BYQ, msn 30334) has also been delivered on April 28, 2020. The two Boeing 737 aircrafts have a carrying capacity of 142 and 144 passengers respectively. And more aircrafts are still underway.

    “Governor Ayade’s decision to establish Cally Air is as a result of the high cost of air fares in the country, particularly the Lagos-Calabar and Calabar Abuja routes where a passenger pays over N70,000 to fly to Calabar. The route to Calabar, either from Lagos or Abuja, is the most expensive in Nigeria.

    “The governor had said the outrageous charges was due to the non-corresponding surplus of airlines coming into Calabar which was the reason he promptly responded to the yearnings of the people.

    “Considering the tourism potentials in the state, I am sure you understand better than I do, the need to have an affordable and efficient airline plying the route which Cally Air is the right answer to,” Ekpere-Eta said.

    Ekpere-Eta said Ayade, having created the ministry of aviation was also constructing an airport to support the patronage of international tourists coming to Obudu cattle ranch.

    “The airline, according to the governor, will fly Lagos-Calabar Obudu and Abuja- Calabar-Obudu-Lagos-Abuja routes for now. The two aircrafts will resume operations in few weeks time. So, it is clear that Governor Ayade is not only developing the economic fortunes of Cross River State but putting the state on the global map.”

    Ekpere-Eta also expressed delight that Governor Ben Ayade has joined the progressive family following his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    She said with the development, the state would gain from all fronts considering the enabling potentials in the state and President Muhammadu Buhari’s disposition towards the governor and the state.

    Ekpere-Eta noted that even before joining the APC, Buhari has been supportive of Cross River State, which she said was visible in the industrialisation of the state, particularly in the empowerment of women and youths.

    On recent remarks by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Governor Ayade’s decision to join the APC, particularly the quit notice by the National Secretariat of the PDP led by Prince Uche Secondus, Ekpere-Eta said she was not losing sleep over what some disgruntled politicians think of him.

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com