‘Spate of air accidents worrisome’
Spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye, has described as worrisome, the spate of air incidents occurring in the nation’s aviation industry. Adurogboye spoke to P.M.Business against the backdrop of the two successive air incidents involving two Nigerian flag carriers, Virgin Nigeria and Bellview Airlines.
According to him, “the position is that it has become worrisome and the trend is that it has cut across all. It is not a question of one airline, we are analysing the trend with a view to ascertaining the situation. Already, we have begun talks with the airlines involved,” he stated.
He noted that air incidents, as being witnessed in Nigeria, was a global phenomenon that could only be minimised, but not totally eradicated.
“All over the world, the incidents are not new. Let us not miss the point. There is no known nation in the world where this does not happen. The more aviation activities, the more aviation incidents. Regular operations breed incidents. When there are no incidents, it gives room for concern. The NCAA has cause to worry if there are no reports of occurrences, because they are bound to happen; it means they are hiding something,” he explained.
Speaking further, Adurogboye noted that the NCAA needed reports of such occurrences to promote appreciable standard.
He said: “With their reports, we are able to analyse trends and tow appropriate lines of action. On noticing any anomaly, the captains are requested to make air return. It only becomes an offence when such actions are not taken and consequently, there is a crash. When there is an occurrence, the affected airline is required to file a Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR). That is the standard operation.”
The NCAA spokesman also denied any link between the incidents and recent calls for fleet renewal.
According to him, “the issue of fleet renewal is in response to public call for it. There is a perception in Nigeria that the older the aircraft, the less safe it is. But standard maintenance is really what keeps an aircraft going. This, notwithstanding, fleet renewal is advantageous because it reduces the cost of maintenance.”
Last week, a Virgin Nigeria aircraft 3737-300 with registration mark 5N-VND, which took off from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos en route to Kano via Abuja at about 5.20 p.m. GMT, was unable to retract its landing gear. The pilot decided to return to base for safe landing, after which the crew made a successful emergency evacuation of the passengers, while those suffering from shock were treated at the aviation clinic.