This week’s update

A couple of updates:

• Aero just announced that it will resume flight operations today. The airline’s management has promised to reinstate all the dismissed employees.
• The Federal Government will allow corporate and private jet owners to operate without an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).
• The Nigerian Air Force has acquired several B737s to set up a commerical airline named United Nigeria Airlines. The first aircraft, a B737-500 (NAF 916; ex-LN-BRV), will soon arrive in Nigeria.
• Dana Air’s MD-83 (5N-JAI) remains grounded, as the airline struggles to meet the directive of the Minister of Aviation that Boeing has to re-certify the aircraft.
• Arik Air’s B737-700 (5N-MJI), recently spotted without an engine at Abuja Airport, was ferried to Malta for maintenance.
• Aero’s second Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 (5N-BPT; ex-G-JEDN) has been sprayed in its new livery.
• A B737-800 of Royal Air Maroc made an emergency landing at Lagos yesterday, after hitting a bird during take-off.
• According to a state governor, the Federal Government plans to float a national airline through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
• The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will install toll gates at all airports to increase its revenues.
• Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport currently ranks as the fourth biggest in Africa, but its seat capacity declined with 13 per cent in the past year.
• Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) plans to build a chain of branded fixed-base operations (FBO) across Africa within the next seven years.
• Ethiopian Airlines has taken Chanchangi Airlines to court over a case of unpaid maintenance fees.
• Kenya Airways will increase its Nairobi-Lagos serice from five weekly to daily per 31 March 2013, while reducing its Nairobi-Lagos-Cotonou-Nairobi service from four to three weekly.
• Turkish Airlines will replace the B737-900ER on the Istanbul-Lagos route with A330 equipment per 21 May 2013.

United Nigeria – B737-500 – NAF 916

Dana Air to resume flight operations

Dana Air will resume flights tomorrow. The airline held talks with the NCAA and officials of the Ministry of Aviation today, and all issues have been resolved. Dana Air released the following statement:

We are pleased to announce that the airline has been given approval to resume flight operations with immediate effect following the temporary suspension of our operations on Saturday, 16th March, 2013. Scheduled flights will now commence on Tuesday 19th March, 2013 on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route.

A spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation confirmed that the suspension has been lifted with immediate effect, but the MD83 aircraft (5N-JAI) which had a technical snag last Friday will remain grounded until it is certified as airworthy by the manufacturer, Boeing.

Federal Government ‘revokes’ Dana Air’s AOC

The Federal Government has apparently given in to pressure from the Nigerian National Assembly and revoked Dana Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The decision comes in the same week in which the Director-General of the NCAA was replaced, considering that his ‘unsatisfactory response to the numerous concerns of stakeholders in the aviation sector’.

Update 1: the spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation is not aware of the development. Apparently, the decision was taken after Dana Air reported a minor technical problem with one of its aircraft to the NCAA yesterday.

Update 2: Dana Air released the following statement:

We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday, 16th March, 2013. No specific reason was given for the action. A meeting is, however, scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday 18th March and we will update you as we get more information.

Update 3: According to Joel Obi, the spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation, Dana Air flights were suspended after one of its planes had a safety issue with its batteries. So, although flights are suspended, Dana Air did not lose its license. Still, the question is why the Ministry interfered in a matter that should have been dealt with by the NCAA alone.

This week’s update

A few things worth mentioning:

• A group of investors plans to construct a business aircraft maintenance base at the Ido-Osun Airport this year. The State Government began building the new airport last year.
• The renovation of the airport terminals at Benin and Kano will be ready this month, while those at Enugu, Jos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt should be delivered in April 2013.
• SkyBird Air is in the final stage of obtaining its AOC for commercial flight services.
• Dana Air added a sixth return flight from Lagos to Abuja on Thursdays and Fridays and a fifth flight on Sundays. The airline also announced it will start flying to Port Harcourt again ‘very soon’.
• The latest issue of Arik Wings is online.
• New reports on the fraudulent origins of Arik Air’s start-up capital circulated in the media this week.
• Aero will add a second Dash 8-Q400 (ex-G-JEDN) to its fleet; the aircraft is stored at Exeter.
• The BAe 125-800B (5N-BOO; ex-5N-AGZ) which formerly belonged to the Presidential Air Fleet has been resprayed at Lanseria. The aircraft is registered to Gyro Air.
• Wings Aviation’s Beech 200 King Air (5N-IHS) has been parked at Lanseria for years now. Perhaps it will be operated again by JedAir.
• Four ex-Sonair S76 helicopters are parked at Lagos. The Angolan registered helicopters are apparently acquired by Hak Air.
• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) informs air passengers that they are entitled to compensation from airlines for flight cancellations.
• Saudia Cargo will increase its weekly frequency from Hongkong to Lagos.
• Since December 2012, Airstream Cargo has been operating a B737-400F (S5-ABV), leased from Solinair, out of Lagos, using Axiom Air’s call sign.

Airstream Cargo – B737-400F – S5-ABV (copyright Fascination Aviation 2013 / Aviapix)

This week’s update

Short updates:

• The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recorded 14,3 million air travellers in 2012, according to a press release. This is a decrease of four per cent in passengers compared to 2011, although the numbers given in the statement conflict with those on FAAN’s website.
• The Federal Government has implemented a duty waiver for the import of aircraft and spare parts. Foreign registered aircraft based in Nigeria are excluded from the waiver.
• TopBrass Aviation took delivery of its third Dash 8-Q300 (5N-TBA) last week, meanwhile another aircraft of the same airline (5N-TBB) was spotted at Maastricht for maintenance.
• Reportedly, Aero will soon accept its first Dash 8-Q400 (5N-???; ex-G-JEDO), which was ferried to Norwich for painting. One of Aero’s B737-400s (5N-BJA) is currently at Bournemouth for a new coat of paint.
• Overland Airways apparently accepted its second ATR 72-200 (5N-BPF; ex-F-WNUF). A third ATR 72 is being prepared for the airline at Toulouse. Meanwhile, Overland is recruiting pilots and mechanics for B737NG aircraft, meaning that the B737-800 (EI-EZB) may join its fleet after all.
• Dana Air added a fifth return flight between Lagos and Abuja on weekdays. The airline intends to re-start services to Port Harcourt before the end of February 2012.
• A Nigerian official blamed a pilot error for last year’s Dana Air crash, even though the official report is yet to be published.
• Cross River State announced that Bebi Airstrip, serving Obudu Mountain Resort, will get a regular commercial service in March 2013. The state government acquired an aircraft – probably the Dash 8-200 (5N-GRS) purchased from Rivers State, rather than the mentioned ATR 42 – to serve the airstrip.
• Cross River State also wants the runway of Calabar Airport extended. The airport recently got the status of cargo airport.
• A Hawker 4000 (5N-NOC) belonging to NNPC overran the runway at Warri on 6 February 2013.
• Omni Air’s Makurdi-based Air Tractor 502 (5N-BPV).
• Arik Air and IRS Airlines are no longer making night stops at Maiduguri for security reasons.
• The 2003 white paper on the mismanagement of Nigeria Airways has been dug up again by local media.
• The Nigerian Air Force has only one serviceable trainer aircraft at its Kaduna Base. Three Do 228s will be refurbished.
• The company responsible for the dismantling of derelict aircraft (video) in Nigeria paid N800,000 for each aircraft.
• The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is set to improve the nation’s radar control. However, pilots dispute the claim that the TRACON project resulted in a complete radar coverage of the Nigerian airspace.

Bebi Airstrip

This week’s update

Short updates:

• The Senate has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to recover a loan of N35.5 billion from Jimoh Ibrahim. The sum came from the Aviation Intervention Fund and was intended for Air Nigeria.
• The Senate again asked the Federal Government to revoke Dana Air’s AOC and to fire the DG of the NCAA for negligence of duty.
• A few images of the clearing of stored aircraft at Lagos Airport. A DHL B727F and NICON Airways B727 are the first aircraft to be dismantled.
• FAAN announced that it will construct twelve cargo terminals across the country to boost the export of perishable goods.
• FAAN has accepted six refurbished fire tenders. Jalingo Airport is currently the only airport in Nigeria without a fire tender.
• Runway lighting will be installed at Enugu, Yola and Owerri, and these airports will be open for night operations from 24 March 2013 onwards.
• The promised duty waiver on aircraft and aircraft parts is yet to be implemented by the Federal Government.
• Ticket prices have dropped on domestic routes in the recent weeks, because of increased supply.
• Arik Air quit its Abuja-Katsina route.
• Arik Air issued a RFP to finance four Bombardier jets.
• ExecuJet Nigeria in Lagos has been named a Line Maintenance Facility (LMF) for Bombardier business jets.
• VistaJet asked the support of the Federal Government to expand its activities in Nigeria. Apparently, the charter airline currently operates on the AOC of SkyPower Express.

An inspection of some of the refurbished fire tenders (copyright The Nation)

This week’s update

A couple of news bits:

• The House of Representatives insists on banning Dana Air and firing NCAA’s MD Harold Demuren, who defended the re-certification of the airline.
• The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will start scraping old airplanes that are abandoned at airports next week.
• The NCAA has expanded and revised a part of the civil aviation regulations.
• Some controversy over the acquisition of new trainer aircraft for the International Aviation College, Ilorin. It’s not clear whether the aircraft will be financed by the Federal Government of by the Kwara State Government.
• The Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the Airline Intervention Fund to give the sector a boost.
• The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has approved night flight operations at Uyo Airport. The expansion of the airport will be ready in 2015.
• The FAAN has yet another conflict with a concessionaire about a plot of land at Lagos Airport.
• Flights were delayed in the past week due to the Harmattan haze.
• Dana Air has added a fourth, early-morning flight between Lagos and Abuja on weekdays.
• The Nigerian Air Force took delivery of a Hawker 4000 (5N-FGX; ex-N466HB). The aircraft was acquired as part of the renewal of the Presidential Air Fleet; it replaces a Hawker 800 (ex-5N-AGZ; now 5N-BOO).
• Caverton Helicopter’s new Dash 6-400 Twin Otter (5N-SHE; ex-C-GUVA) is on its delivery flight from Canada to Nigeria.
• TopBrass Aviation will likely get a third Dash 8-Q300 (5N-TBA; ex-5N-BIA). The aircraft is currently stored at Maastricht, but flew in Nigeria in the past with Aero.
• Overland Airways’ second ATR 72-200 (5N-BPF; ex-F-WNUF) was spotted in Toulouse. The B737-800, reportedly, destined for Overland is still stored at Shannon.
• No date has been set for the delivery of Arik Air’s A330s.
• Kabo Air was to get a B747-400 (N135KB), an ex-Corsair aircraft, but is unable to finance the necessary maintenance checks.
• Serious complaints were made about the management and solvency of Kabo Air and MaxAir on a pilots’ forum.
• No news about the start-up airlines Azman Air, Discovery Air, and Hak Air. Discovery Air is set up by First Deepwater Discovery, of which Babatunde Babalola is the MD/CEO. Discovery Air is sourcing B737-300s.
• The B737-200F (5N-BMS) operated on Wings Aviation’s AOC belongs to the former MD of Wings, Nogie Megginson. He also intends to set up a new commercial airline called  Jedidiah Air (Jed Air).
• The Nigerian Air Force is sending Alpha Jets (NAF 452 and NAF 455) and MI-35s to Mali, while a C130H and G222 are used for transporting troops.

Nigerian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules (NAF 917) transporting troops from Kaduna to Bamako (copyright Dario El-Carabobeno)

Dana Air resumes Abuja-Lagos flights

Dana Air has resumed commercial operations on Thursday, 3 January 2012. The airline, operating a fleet of five MD83s, operated a single positioning flight from Lagos to Abuja in the afternoon. Scheduled operations will restart on Friday, with a three daily Abuja-Lagos service. Schedule:

• ABV-LOS 9J350 07:20-08:37 (Monday-Saturday)
• ABV-LOS 9J350 09:00-10:17 (Sunday)
• ABV-LOS 9J354 12:06-13:23 (Daily)
• ABV-LOS 9J356 16:29-17:37 (Daily)
• LOS-ABV 9J353 09:45-10:53 (Daily)
• LOS-ABV 9J355 14:22-15:30 (Daily)
• LOS-ABV 9J359 18:36-19:53 (Daily)

Dana Air is the first Nigerian airline to provide a flight tracker. The airline plans to replace its MD83 fleet with new B737s in the coming months.

Dana Air – MD83 – 5N-DEV

This week’s update

A few updates:

• Dana Air has sent its employees on compulsory leave, since the airline’s intentions to resume services have met with political resistance.
• Med-View Airlines currently wet-leases a B737-800 (CS-TQU) from EuroAtlantic Airways.
• A second A319 (5N-FNE; ex-EI-DVU) has been painted in FirstNation Airways’ colours. The airline aims to resume commercial operations next year.
• Overland Airways has resumed its daily Abuja-Asaba service.
• Four suspects were arrested near Enugu Airport, with two boxes of fireworks in their car.
• The Aviation Investigation Bureau will soon get its own accident investigation laboratory in Abuja at a cost of US$5.5 million.
• Aero has been awarded a Best Domestic Airline of the year 2012 prize.
• The FG is planning to impose stricter rules on the operation of private, corporate and charter aircraft in Nigeria.
• Niger State has allocated N80 million for the training of ten pilots by NCAT at Zaria and Minna.

This week’s update

Short updates:

• FirstNation Airways intends to lease an A319 (5N-FND; ex-EI-DVD) from ILFC. The aircraft is being prepared for painting at Dublin.
• Allied Air Cargo, reportedly, has acquired a B734F (5N-OTT; ex-N737WF).
• NAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules (NAF 917) has been repaired and is back in service. The aircraft’s wing was hit by an Arik Air B737 on 14 July at Jos Airport.
• United Airlines has postponed the start of its five weekly B787 service to Lagos till the end of January 2013. The flights from Houston to Lagos are currently operated with a B777.
• The Federal Government has designated Kano Airport as cargo airport.
• The authorities also announced that mobile airfield lighting will soon be installed at Lagos Airport runway 18L, serving the domestic terminals.
• The House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for the dismissal of the NCAA’s DG, Harold Demuren, as well as the withdrawal of Dana Air’s AOC.
• The Federal Ministry of Aviation admits that the Nigeria’s radar and airport security systems are not functioning properly, contrary to claims made by NAMA.
• There was a minor fire incident at a construction site beside the D-wing extension of the international terminal at Lagos Airport, on 20 December 2012. On Wednesday, part of the roof of a building – most likely the E-wing of the international terminal – was blown off by a Avient Aviation MD11F taking off.
• About 300 christian pilgrims are stranded at Tel Aviv airport, as KS Travels/Empire Aviation Services failed to arrange a charter flight back to Nigeria.
• To emergency landings this week: an Overland Airways ATR42 from Ilorin to Lagos developed issues with its landing gear last Sunday, while an Aero B737 on its way from Lagos to Enugu experienced an engine failure on Tuesday.
• The governor of the Central Bank, L. Sanusi, has advised the Federal Government against the idea of floating a government-owned national airline
• It appears that the recent proliferation of charter airlines in Nigeria also resulted in many ‘paper’ airlines: Fly Jets, Ferry Aviation, and Ed Air.

This week’s update

A couple of updates:

• Aero took delivery of its sixth B737-400 (5N-BPQ; ex-N605SC) this week.
• One of Dana Air’s MD83s (5N-SRI) was ferried back to Abuja, after maintenance checks in Istanbul.
• Reportedly, Arik Air will get a second A332 (5N-JID/EI-EWG; ex-Kingfisher). But the first A332, ‘The Lady of Grace’, is still stored at Bordeaux for unknown reasons, so it will take a while before the aircraft will enter service, if it ever does.
• IRS Airlines signed an agreement with Turkish Airlines to cooperate with regard to staff training and aircraft maintenance.
• The two VVIP-helicopters ordered for the Presidential Air Fleet have been identified as AW101s. It seems that the order for a Hawker 4000 has been cancelled, since the aircraft manufacture entered bankruptcy.
• Delta Air Lines celebrates five years of service to Nigeria: ‘More than 570,000 passengers have flown on Delta’s flights between Nigeria and the United States since 2007 and this year Delta has seen strong load factors of over 80%. Additionally, over the last 5 years, Delta has transported around 6,500 tons of cargo between Nigeria and the U.S., facilitating trade and commerce between the two nations.’
• EgyptAir will increase its capacity on the Cairo-Abuja route in December 2012 and January 2013, as A330-200 is to operate on selected periods instead of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
• The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) will divide the Lagos Area Control Centre into two sectors per 17 December 2012, meaning that an additional radio frequency (120.9 MHz) will be created to relieve the heavily congested existing radio frequency (127.3 MHz). Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) warns that air safety is under threat due to the bad state of communication facilities.
• None of the airports in Nigeria are ICAO approved.
• Evergreen Apple Nigeria (EAN) has announced that it achieved approved maintenance organisation (AMO) certification from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
• There is a new issue of Arik Wings out.

AOC for Dana Air and SkyJet Aviation

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has (re-)granted air operator’s certificates (AOC) to Dana Air and SkyJet Aviation.

Dana Air’s AOC was suspended in June this year after one of its aircraft crashed. The airline intends to resume domestic services with a fleet of five MD83s, but will only be allowed to start flying after fully compensating the families of the crash victims.

SkyJet Aviation is currently a charter airline, operating from Kaduna. According to the airline’s owner, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the new airline will begin scheduled flight operations with five aircraft

Recent air accidents in Nigeria

In general, air safety in Nigeria has improved since the major crashes in 2005-2006, but still a number of serious incidents in which lives are lost and/or an aircraft is written off occur every year. Not all of them are reported in the press, and only three (the Sosoliso, Wings Aviation and Dana Air crashes) are mentioned on the website of the Accident Investigation Bureau.

• 27 OCT 2012 – 5N-??? – Bell 206L4 – Pan African Airlines – offshore
• 25 OCT 2012 – 5N-BMJ – Cessna 208B Grand Caravan – Private owner – Yola
• 03 JUN 2012 – 5N-RAM – McDonnell Douglas MD-83 – Dana Air – Lagos*
• ?? ??? 2012 – 5N-CAG – Beech 58 Baron – NCAT – Zaria
• ?? ??? 2011 – 5N-BMM – Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel – Pan African Airlines – Port Harcourt
• 28 JUL 2011 – 5N-BKA – AS 350B2 Ecureuil – OAS Helicopters – Ikonifin
• 24 MAY 2011 – N364UZ – Beechcraft King Air C90 – Shawa Engineering – Kaduna
• 11 DEC 2009 – 5N-BKJ – Aerospatiale AS 332L1 Super Puma – Bristow Nigeria – offshore
• 09 OCT 2009 – 5N-BIC – Bell 407 – Gitto Construction – Uyo
• 22 JUL 2008 – 5N-CAV – Socata TB9 Tampico – NCAT – Zaria
• 15 MAR 2008 – 5N-JAH – Beechcraft 1900D – Wings Aviation – Besi*
• 03 AUG 2007 – 5N-BIQ – Bell 412EP – Bristow Nigeria – Eket
• 10 NOV 2006 – 5N-BHU – AS 350B2 Ecureuil – OAS Helicopters – Warri
• 29 OCT 2006 – 5N-BFK – Boeing 737-200 – ADC Airlines – Abuja
• 10 DEC 2005 – 5N-BFD – Douglas DC-9 – Sosoliso Airlines – Port Harcourt*
• 28 NOV 2005 – N73MW – Beechcraft Super King Air 200 – Oriental Energy Resources – Kaduna
• 22 OCT 2005 – 5N-BFN – Boeing 737-200 – Bellview Airlines – Lagos

Incidents involving security agencies:

• 05 JUL 2012 – 5N-BKS – Diamond DA42MPP – PICOMSS – Benin
• 02 MAY 2012 – NAF??? – Chengdu F-7Ni – Nigerian Air Force – Kaduna
• 14 MAR 2012 – 5N-POL – Bell 427 – Nigerian Police – Jos
• 28 OCT 2011 – NAF??? – Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros – Nigerian Air Force – Uyo
• 11 MAY 2011 – NAF??? – Chengdu FT-7Ni – Nigerian Air Force – Gboko
• 22 MAR 2011 – NAF??? – Chengdu F-7Ni – Nigerian Air Force – Kano
• 12 MAR 2010 – NAF950 – Aeritalia G.222 – Nigerian Air Force – Port Harcourt
• 26 JAN 2010 – NN06 – Agusta A109E Power – Nigerian Navy – Port Harcourt
• 28 MAY 2009 – NAF054 – Van’s RV-6A – Nigerian Air Force – Jaji
• 20 APR 2007 – NN?? – Agusta A109E Power – Nigerian Navy – Owerri
• 17 SEP 2006 – NAF033 – Dornier Do228 – Nigerian Air Force – Vende Ikya

Crash site at Kaduna of a Beechcraft King Air C90 (N364UZ) belonging to Shawa Engineering

This week’s update

A few bits of news:

• An interesting read: ‘Benefits of Air Transport in Nigeria‘.
• The NCAA has directed the domestic airlines to install the AFIRS system on their aircraft within six months, meanwhile almost all airports, including runway at Lagos Airport used for domestic flights, lack functional runway lighting.
• NAMA has ordered a Beechcraft King Air 350 for its Navigational Aids Flight Inspection and Surveillance (NAFIS), as the HS 125-700 (5N-AVK) caliberation aircraft inherited from the NCAA is “too fast”.
• The House of Representatives has summoned Emirates, Asky, Turkish and Ethiopian to determine whether the Minister of Aviation denied these airlines landing rights at Kano Airport.
• From 1 December 2012, Emirates will operate its two daily Dubai-Lagos flights with B77W equipment, which means a 48 per cent increase in capacity. After replacing the current A345 on the route, the airline will offer 10.000 seats from and to Lagos every week.
• Dana Air is set to resume flights between Lagos and Abuja with two MD83s. The airline is considering the B737 and A319 as replacement aircraft.
• Aero announced it added two B737-400s to its fleet.
• Overland Airways’ B737-800 (EI-EZB; ex-OE-LNJ) will be leased from Austrian Airlines.
• Azikel Air acquired an Agusta A109S Grand (M-AZKL). It’s probably the fifth private helicopter that has been imported to Nigeria this year.
• Dangote Group acquired a Learjet 45 (N104DN).
• Kabo Air has leased a B747-400 (TF-AMY) from Air Atlanta for the remaining Hajj period.
• Regina Air is a possible new Abuja-based start-up airline.
• Air Nigeria’s AOC expired last week.
• The blog is now supported by a twitter account; double entries will be kept at a minimum.

Business and private jets based in Nigeria

In recent months, wild guesses have been made in the Nigerian press about the number of private and corporate jets based in Nigeria and/or owned by Nigerians. The NCAA will not provide the accurate numbers, but a list of identified active private and business jets is provided below. The list is not complete and might not be entirely accurate, but it does show that the numbers circulating in the press are slightly exaggerated.

Aircraft on the Nigerian register:

• Boeing 737-700/BBJ (5N-FGT) – Nigerian Air Force
• Dassault Falcon 7X (5N-FGU) – Nigerian Air Force
• Dassault Falcon 7X (5N-FGV) – Nigerian Air Force
• Gulfstream G550 (5N-FGW) – Nigerian Air Force
• Gulfstream GV (5N-FGS) – Nigerian Air Force
• Cessna Citation II (NAF 050) – Nigerian Air Force
• Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (5N-RSG) – Rivers State Government
• Embraer EMB145LR (5N-BJM) – Bauchi State Government / Associated Aviation
• Embraer EMB145EU (5N-BOZ) – Taraba State Government / Air Taraba / OAS Helicopters
• Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel + (5N-HAR) – Nigeria Police
• Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 (5N-DIA) – Nigeria Customs Service
• HS 125-700 (5N-AVK) – Nigerian Airspace Management Agency
• Hawker 4000 (5N-NOC) – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
• BAe 125-800 (5N-NPC) – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
• Hawker 800A (5N-BNE) – King Airline
• Hawker 800A (5N-BMR) – King Airline
• Hawker 800XP (5N-BNM) – SkyJet Aviation
• Learjet 45 (5N-BLW) – ARM Investment Managers / Associated Aviation / Hangar8
• BAe 125-700 (5N-BFC) – Associated Aviation
• BAe 125-700 (5N-DAO) – Associated Aviation
• Hawker 800XP (5N-JMA) – Arik Air
• Hawker 800XP (5N-JMB) – Arik Air
• Learjet 45XR (5N-LDM) – MaxAir
• Gulfstream GIV (5N-BOD) – SkyBird Air
• Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (5N-BJS) – Pan African Airlines
• Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (5N-BOQ) – Pan African Airlines
• Learjet 45 (5N-DAL) – Dana Air
• BAe 125-600 (5N-EMA) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air – stored at Lagos
• Hawker 800A (5N-QTS) – S. Iwuajoku / Quits Aviation
• Hawker 800XP (5N-IZY) – A. Izinyon / Izy Air
• Cessna 550 Citation Bravo (5N-IZZ) – Izy Air
• BAe 125-700 (5N-BEX) – A. Dangote
• BAe 125-1000 (5N-DGN) – A. Dangote
• Gulfstream GII (5N-BGV) – R. Okorocha – for sale
• Gulfstream GIV (5N-PZE) – A. Eze / Oranto Oil / Triax Airlines
• Hawker 800 (5N-BMT) – Ocean and Marine
• BAe 125-800 (5N-BOO) – unidentified – stored
• Dassault Falcon 900 (5N-FGE) – unidentified – stored
• Dassault Falcon 900 (5N-BOH) – unidentified – stored

Foreign registered aircraft based in Nigeria:

• Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS) – Rivers State Government
• Gulfstream G450 (N224BH) – Akwa Ibom State Government
• Hawker 800XP (N664AC) – TaK Aviation / TaK Continental
• Hawker 800XP (N500AZ) – Azikel Air
• Hawker 900XP (ZS-SME) – TopBrass Aviation
• Hawker 900XP (ZS-KBS) – SkyJet Aviation
• Hawker 4000 (N412TF) – SkyPower Express Airways
• Dassault Falcon 900EX (N512TF) – SkyPower Express Airways
• Cessna 525 CitationJet Cj1+ (N224BA) – SkyPower Express Airways
• Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign (N2208L) – United Bank of Africa
• Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (M-ANGA) – MaxAir
• Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (ZS-LRK) – SkyJet Aviation
• Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (ZS-UBS) – SkyJet Aviation
• Learjet 45XR (ZS-KAA) – SkyJet Aviation
• Learjet 60 (VP-BOD) – Caverton Helicopters – for sale
• Airbus A318 Elite (VP-CKH) – Harry Akande
• Bombardier Challenger 604 (VP-BJM) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air
• Bombardier Global Express XRS (VP-CNA) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air
• Bombardier Global Express XRS (VQ-BJA) – A. Johnson
• Bombardier Global Express XRS (VP-CEO) – F. Alakija
• Bombardier Global Express XRS (N104DA) – A. Dangote
• Learjet 45 (N104DN) – A. Dangote
• Dassault Falcon 2000LX (M-DARA) – Dangote Group / Dansa Juice
• Bombardier Challenger 300 (VQ-BMJ) – Executive Jets Services – for sale
• Bombardier Challenger 605 (3B-RGT) – GTBank / Executive Jets Services / OSA Aviation
• Bombardier Challenger 605 (N605GF) – J. Ibrahim / Global Fleet
• Bombardier Challenger 605 (VP-CSI) – I. Sanomi / Gembrook Energy Projects
• Dassault Falcon 50 (M-SNSS) – S. Tommey / Osmoserve Global
• Hawker 800A (N118KL) – M. Lawal / ACE / CAMAC Aviation / West Link Airlines
• Hawker 900XP (N638MA) – Midway Airlines / Okin Travels
• Hawker 900XP (M-SAPT) – T.Y. Danjuma / SAPETRO Aviation
• Bombardier Challenger 605 (M-SAPL) – T.Y. Danjuma / SAPETRO Aviation
• Hawker 900xp (ZS-SGV) – J. Okoloko / Notore Chemical Industries
• Gulfstream GIV (N990EA) – E. Azudialu / Nestoil
• Gulfstream GIV (N52MK) – M. Indimi / Oriental Energy Resources
• Gulfstream GIV (M-PZPZ) – A. Eze / Triax Airlines
• Gulfstream GV (M-USBA) – Namco Nigeria / Shukra
• Gulfstream G550 (N169SD) – S. Dantata / MRS Group – for sale
• Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ (N5UD) – Dantata
• Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (N357TE) – I. Rabiu / BUA Group
• Dassault Falcon 7X (VP-BGG) – Chagoury Group
• Gulfstream GIV (N707EA) – E. Adeboye / Emmanuel Aviation
• Bombardier Challenger 601 (N431CB) – A. Oritsejafor
• Bombardier Challenger 604 (N664D) – D. Oyedepo / Dominion Air / World Mission Agency
• Hawker 800XP (ZS-PCY) – Oando / Triton Aviation
• Hawker 900XP (ZS-BOT) – Oando / Triton Aviation / Hangar8
• Hawker 4000 (ZS-ZOT) – Oando / Triton Aviation / Hangar8
• Bombardier Challenger 300 (VP-BJT) – Triton Aviation

Private and corporate propeller aircraft:

• Beechcraft 1900D (5N-WCI) – Dominion Air
• Beechcraft 1900D (5N-MPA) – Mobil Nigeria
• Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-MPB) – Mobil Nigeria
• Beechcraft 1900D (5N-MPN) – Mobil Nigeria
• Beechcraft 350 King Air (N404SA) – Dantata / MRS Group
• Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-FLS) – Julius Berger
• Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-FLY) – Julius Berger
• Beechcraft 200 King Air (5N-IHS) – Wings Aviation – stored at Lanseria
• Cessna 208A Caravan I Amphibian (5N-BIW) – Pan African Airlines
• Pilatus PC-12 (5N-BNG) – Bala Ibn Na’Allah
• Piper Aztec PA-23 (5N-BGZ) – Africa Contracts and Equipment / MishAviation

Corporate and private helicopters:

• Agusta A109S Grand (M-AZKL) – Azikel Air
• Sikorsky S-76C (5N-BQG) – Nestoil

Updates, additions and corrections are appreciated.

Please note that various foreign charter companies are also active on the Nigerian market, such as VistaJet, Hangar8, Empire Aviation Group, Elit’Avia, FAI rent-a-jet, National Airways Corporation, TAG Aviation, AVjet Corporation, and AmJet Executive. Their aircraft are not included in the list above. The same goes for the foreign registered aircraft operated by JetAlliance (Austria/Germany) for Prime Air Services and Izy Air.

Reminder: If you cite this blog, be certain you provide a link to your source and add to the information provided by your source, rather than simply copying it.

This week’s update

This week’s round-up:

• Aviation in Nigeria Blog is now on twitter: twitter.com/avinngblog
• The Azikel Group has launched a charter airline called Azikel Air. The Bayelsa State-based company operates a Hawker 800XP (N500AZ; ex-N919RT), and plans to commence scheduled operations in the near future.
• A new Hawker 900XP (N638MA) is now based at Lagos. It appears to replace the Lagos-based Beechcraft B350 with the same registration. Both aircraft are operated by Midway Airlines, likely owned by Michael Ade-Ojo of Elizade Motors or Adesoye of by E.O. Adesoye Okin Holdings.
• It seems that apart from Executive Jets Services (Aliko Dangote) and Southern Air (Mike Adenuga), several other private aircraft owners in Nigeria have created charter airlines, such as Midway Airlines, AirFirst Nigeria, Gyro Air, Triax Airlines, et cetera.
• Ifeanyi Ubah has acquired an Embraer Legacy 650 according to the rumour mill. Has anyone spotted the aircraft yet?
• The Dantata family, however, has put its G550 (N169SD), which recently received a new paint job, up for sale.
• King Airline has launched a new website. The charter airline operates two Hawker 800As (5N-BMR – in new colours – and 5N-BNE).
• Taraba State has contracted OAS Helicopters to operate the EMB 145 (5N-BOZ) destined for Air Taraba. It seems the aircraft will be used for charter rather than scheduled operations to Jalingo.
• Associated Aviation have suspended all charter operations. The Learjet 45 (5N-BLW) is now operated by Hangar8.
• Overland Airways announced at the acceptance ceremony of its first ATR 72-200 that it has five more ATR 72s on order, of which one is being prepared for delivery in Toulouse. Reportedly, the airline is also expecting to lease B737-800 in order to expand its domestic operations.
• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will soon launch its Safety Management System Dashboard, which will enable the NCAA to monitor all Nigerian registered aircraft equipped with satellite based tracking solutions and data collection hardware.
• Airports across the country have been equipped with forty new fire trucks, but more than a 1000 firefighters are needed in the coming years.
• FAAN has concluded plans to expand the apron of the cargo terminal at Lagos Airport next year.
• The Nigerian Senate/House committee on aviation has passed several resolutions: it requested the EFCC to recover a fine of $235 million from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic for price-fixing, it advised against granting Arik Air the status of national carrier, it will investigate why Aero’s aircraft frequently have technical issues, and it ordered an investigation into why the Minister of Aviation has refused international airlines landing rights at Kano Airport and favours the southern regions of the country over the northern. The Minister has denied the last two allegations in a response; in fact, Turkish Airlines have been granted permission to operate into Kano.
• Dana Air has given an update on the measures it took to obtain a new AOC.
• Chanchangi Airlines is planning to make a re-start, as one of its B737-300s (5N-BMB) returned from maintenance in South Africa today. More details to follow soon.
• The Federal Government is still planning to create a pool of thirty aircraft for the domestic airlines before the end of the year, but it’s not realistic to expect the national carrier to be launched this year. Reportedly, the approached foreign carriers declined to enter into a deal with the Federal Government.
• A Reuters reporter wrote a background article on the financial problems in the Nigerian aviation industry. It’s worth reading although nothing new is in it.

Estate of Dana Air pilot involved in crash sued

The estate of the American Dana Air pilot, Peter Waxtan, the captain of the plane that crashed last June in Nigeria, claiming his life and killing all passengers and crew aboard, is being sued in Florida Federal Court by the victims’ families.

Relatives of a Connecticut family of six are the plaintiffs in one of the suits.  Onyeka Collins Anyene; his wife, Maimuna; and their four minor children were killed allegedly because of Waxtan’s negligence.

The suit says the pilot:

• Failed to promptly respond to engine trouble.
• Failed to land at other available airports once engine problems were discovered.
• Did not properly manage the aircraft’s fuel.
• Failed to both declare an emergency and follow proper emergency procedures when the engines lost power.

A second suit making similar wrongful-death and negligence claims was filed by the relatives of two Texas sisters and by 18 other people, including several Nigerian nationals.  The estate of Maimuna Anyene is also listed as a plaintiff.

By the way, the final report on the causes of the crash is yet to be released.

This week’s update

This week’s round-up:

• The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) contracted an A330-200 (N772RD) for this year’s pilgrimage. The aircraft is operated by Ryan International on behalf of Atlasjet Airlines.
• Camair-Co now serves the Douala-Lagos route three times a week.
• A new Kano-based airline, Azman Air, hopes to obtain an AOC soon in order to commence domestic flights.
• The onwer of Millennium Air disclosed that the cargo airline has the intention to commence scheduled passenger services in the near future. Millennium Air now operates a single B727F (5N-BNQ).
• One of Pan African Airlines Bell 206L4, based at Escravos, with two crew and two passengers ran into trouble after taking of from an offshore platform on 27 October 2012. The helicopter successfully ditched into the sea and the occupants were picked up by a rescue boat.
• Delta State Government approved a sum of N37.3 billion to upgrade Osubi Airstrip, Warri, to the status of international airport.
• Aero will lease a B737-400 (N605SC) from Gecas. The fourteen-year-old aircraft is still stored in China; it will be the sixth B737-400 in the airline’s fleet.
• Aero supended its Abuja-Enugu service, but reinstated the flights from Port Harcourt NAF Base to Warri and Lagos.
• A body was found in the undercarriage of one of Arik Air’s A345s today. The plane came in from New York, so it’s likely that it was there already for some time.
• A passenger caused a bomb scare on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja on 24 October 2012.
• One of Arik Air’s CRJ900s (5N-JEA) has been parked at Cologne since this summer.
• Dana Air has contracted FLYHT to install the AFIRS 228 on its five MD-83 aircraft. The airline will use AFIRS to provide real-time flight data monitoring and to assist in achieving maintenance and operational efficiencies.
• One of Kabo Air’s B747-200s (5N-MAD) rejoined the fleet again after maitenance in Indonesia.
• The FAAN has increased security measures at four major airports.
• A Hawker 4000 (N412TF) is also owned by a Nigerian, and registered to Skypower Express Airways.
• The Nigerian Air Forces has acquired two Robinson R66s (N7033V and N804SF) for the Helicopter Flying School at Enugu Airport.
• It appears that Prince Arthur Eze is reviving Triax Airlines. The airline operates two GIVs (5N-PZE and M-PZPZ), but was active as an commercial airline in the 1990s with three B727-100s.
• SkyBird Air’s third Do328Jet (5N-SPM) is still awaiting its delivery flight from Germany to Nigeria. Two other aircraft (5N-SPE and 5N-BMH) are already based at Lagos Airport.

Arik Air and Dana Air win honours

Two prizes for Nigerian carriers:

• Arik Air has been adjudged the Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa for the second consecutive year;
• Dana Air was named Nigeria’s best domestic carrier of 2011 by the FAAN.

This week’s update

Some news bits:

• An IRS Airlines F100 (5N-SAT) brushed a sewage truck stuck along the taxiway with its wingtip at Lagos Airport on Wednesday, 10 October. No one was hurt in this minor incident and the damage to the aircraft was minimal.
• The Federal Government plans to abolish all duties and taxes on the import of aircraft and aircraft spares in 2013. The proposed 2013 Federal Ministry of Aviation Budget can be found online here.
• Four new airlines will commence domestic operations in Nigeria in the coming months with the support of the Ministry of Aviation, which intends to break the virtual duopoly of Arik Air and Aero.
• Dana Air is ready to recommence commercial flights next week if all the necessary approvals are obtained in time.
• According to the owners, the MMA Terminal 2 doesn’t generate enough income to maintain the terminal.
• Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporations has donated 300 seats for the departure hall of Benin Airport.
• The MD of Air Nigeria has resigned from his position, as it’s unlikely that the airline will ever resume operations.
• Two new companies are based at the EAN Hangar at Lagos: AeroFleet and Esperanza Air Services.
• Anyone an idea who owns this Challenger 300 (VP-BJT)? The jet has been based at Lagos for a while.
• The DA42, with a camera mounted on its nose and green/grey cheatlines, on the image below (click to enlarge) is registered 9H-AEV, and operated from Abuja Airport by AeroPrecisa

General Aviation Ramp – Abuja Airport (copyright olivewitch)