New Bell 429s for NEMA and Police, and a Bell 206 for NCAT

Three new helicopters arrived at Lagos Airport this week. A Bell 429 EMS (5N-NEM) for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as well as a Bell 206L-4 (5N-BZC) for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, where she will join her sistership 5N-BZB. The third, hidden chopper, a Bell 429 (5N-MDA), is the first of five helicopters of this type for the Police Air Wing.

Bell 429 – NEMA – 5N-NEM, Bell 429 – Police Air Wing – 5N-MDA, and Bell 206 – NCAT – 5N-BZC (copyright Superspotter)

Bell 429 – NEMA – 5N-NEM/ex-N465XB (copyright Superspotter)

Bell 429 – Nigeria Police Air Wing – 5N-MDA/ex-N466AB (coypright Superspotter)

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

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.

New helicopters for the Police and NCAT

Two Bell 412EP’s for the Air Wing of the Nigeria Police arrived at Lagos Airport this week. The helicopters will join the four other Bell 412s already in the fleet of the Police.

Two Bell 412s for the Nigeria Police (copyright Superspotter)

The first of two Bell 206 L4 helicopters for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology at Zaria was also spotted at Lagos. The College intends to set up a helicopter flying school.

A Bell 206 L4 (5N-BZB) for NCAT at Lagos Airport (copyright Superspotter)

Nigeria Police Air Wing

The Nigeria Police recently acquired a Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel + (5N-HAR). In the 1990s the Police already operated a Cessna Citation I (5N-APN), a Cessna Conquest II (5N-APZ), both stored at Lagos Airport, and a Cessna Citation II (5N-NPF). The latter aircraft was later transferred to the Nigerian Air Force and re-registered 5N-AYA.

After retiring at two Bell 47Gs, two Bell 412s, and Bell 222s in the 1990s, the Police Air Wing now operates the following fleet of helicopters:

• Bell 206 5N-AXY/5N-AXZ
• Bell 427 5N-PAW/5N-SGE/5N-FHQ
• Bell 412 5N-KSH/5N-LEH/5N-GEJ/5N-PEJ

A fourth Bell 427 (5N-POL) crashed at Rukuba near Jos on 14 March 2012.

In 2005, the Federal Capital Authority also donated a Robinson R44 (5N-BKF) to the Nigeria Police, but the chopper never entered service because there was no pilot nor suitable fuel. In November 2007, two Mi-17 aircraft were acquired from/donated by Ukraine for the Police Air Wing, but the two helicopters mysteriously went missing as part of the Police Equipment Fund-fraud, led by Kenny Martins. The Police Force was attempting to sell a Schweizer 269C (5N-BAD) and a Bell 47G (5N-APF) in February 2012. Both choppers are stored at Lagos and haven’t flown since 1991.

In October 2010, the Federal Government announced that it would acquire five Bell 429 helicopters for the Police Force, and the President declared the intention to purchase a police helicopter for each state. It is interesting to know that all recent acquisitions for the Police Air Wing were conducted by Manyatta Engineering Services, a company owned by the former Kaduna State governor and present Vice-President Namadi Sambo. This company also acquired two Bell 427s for the Nigeria Customs Service, which were accepted in April 2012 (one is registered 5N-NCS).

Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has acquired two Bell 412s in 2009 for security operations, even though the helicopters are now operated by Caverton Helicopters for the oil and gas industry. In September 2011, Ondo State Government also announced the acquisition of helicopters for surveillance tasks. It plans to establish a helicopter company at Lagos Airport in cooperation with an ex-Caverton staff member.

Nigeria Police Air Wing – Bell 412 (5N-LEH)

This week’s update

Short updates:

• Arik Air will suspend its Abuja-London service again per 25 March. Apparently the slot issue at London Heathrow has not been resolved.
• Arik Air has ferried one of its CRJ900 aircraft (5N-JEC) to Arkansas for maintenance recently.
• SkyBird Air will soon take delivery of its first Dornier 328Jet (5N-BMH).
• DANA will also accept a new Dornier 328 aircraft (5N-DOW / ex-D-CASI) soon, after selling some of its aircraft last year.
• Air Taraba’s EMB145 has received its livery (without titles yet) at Bournemouth; the aircraft will be registered 5N-BOZ.
• A police helicopter (a Bell 427 that joined the fleet last year; 5N-POL) crashed near Jos on 14 March. The Airwing of the Nigerian Police also acquired a Cessna Citation XLS (5N-HAR) new last year.
• Shell has given Caverton Helicopters a loan of $85 million to upgrade its fleet with six AW139s. Caverton will from next month expand its operations to Cameroon, signing a five-year contract with the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company.
• Air France will resume flights from Lagos to Abuja from June 2012. It will be the airline’s third destination in Nigeria.
• Enugu Airport will be closed for traffic for three weeks from 18 March (now postponed to April), to enable the installation of runway lighting.
• Bauchi Airport has re-opened after a year of renovation works.
• Kano State Government has appealed to KLM to shelve plans to suspend operations at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
• FirstNation Airways have commenced a daily Abuja-Port Harcourt service from 14 March.
• Allied Air Cargo continues to lease two MD11Fs from World Airways along its own four B727Fs.
• Associated Aviation still operates an ERJ-145 (5N-BJM) leased from the Bauchi State government.
• MaxAir has acquired a Embraer Legacy 600 (M-ANGA) for its charter operations. The airline also operates a Learjet 45 (5N-LDM).

SkyBird Air – Dornier 328Jet