NCAT opens campus at Minna Airport

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology opened its campus at Minna Airport for flight training. The Niger State Government signed a deal with NCAT last year to establish a campus at Minna, where it would station four trainer aircraft.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport Niger state Alhaji Abdullahi explained that the training commenced with ‘ground school studies’ last year adding that the students are now ready to start ‘flight training with small aircrafts’. Abdullahi explained that due to the nature of the exercise small aircrafts will hover around the state at a low level. He explained that the public should not panic at the sight of such aircrafts as they bear no security risks to anybody.

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology – Zaria Airport

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)

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.

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

News from the Minister of Aviation

The Minister of Aviation made a couple of statements this week:

• Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airlines were denied landing rights at Abuja Airport and Kano Airport. Instead, the Minister requested these airlines to commence flights to Enugu Airport. This report was later denied by a spokesman of the Minister.
• The Minister of Aviation warned airlines not to make any air returns because of bad weather conditions:

…there is absolutely no reason and justification for an aircraft to make an air return on the basis of poor weather condition since initial weather report from the AIS would have been adequate to indicate the futility of an initial take-off under such harsh weather conditions. This recklessness on the part of airline operators and pilots, the minister warned, will no longer be tolerated and infractions would be met with serious sanctions as she noted that this has the potential of compromising the safety of the nation’s airspace.

• The Ministry of Aviation denies that it intends to privatise the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, rather it wants ‘to reposition’ the aviation college.
• No money was withdrawn from the BASA fund to finance the airport remodelling excercise in Nigeria, according to the Minister of Aviation.

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)

NCAT ditches plans for helicopter flying training?

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, announced last year August that it would commence a helicopter flying school with assistance of Bristow Helicopters. Two Bell 206 L4 helicopters were ordered to this end. But it seems now that they have put aside these plans, as the unused helicopters are put up for sale:

Bell 206 L4:
02/09/2012 – For Sale –  Brand new 0hrs Bell 206 with garmin 530 and all the Bells and whistles.
Contact: Rotor Head   Company: NCAT   Phone: 802-797-7104    Email: Email    Web Address: http://www.mobiliti.com.ng

This would be remarkable as officials of NCAT recently inspected the helicopters (5N-BZB; ex-N449XB and; 5N-; ex-N449YB):

NCAT – Bell 206 L4

IAC Ilorin Receives First Diamond DA40 Trainer Aircraft

The International Aviation College, Ilorin, received its first trainer aircraft, a Diamond DA40, last week. For those interested, here are the contact details:

IAC Admission and Inquiries
Phone: +234 (0) 816 171 7817
Email: info@iac-ng.com or info@internationalaviationcollege.com
Website (inactive): www.iac-ng.com

For more information about the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Kaduna: http://www.ncat.gov.ng.

Diamond DA40 at Ilorin Airport

Two Emergencies On 8/12

Two aircraft made an emergency landing this week:

• On Wednesday an unidentified Air Nigeria aircraft on route from Lagos to Abuja developed technical problems and experienced a loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft returned safely to Lagos Airport.
• A Tampico TB-9 training aircraft belonging to NCAT made an emergency landing at Kano Airport on the same day.

Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing Near Kano

A Tampico TB-9 training aircraft belonging to NCAT made an emergency landing at a Katoge village, about 20 kilometres away from Kano. Three occupants of escaped unhurt and the aircraft was not badly damaged. The aircraft was to land in Zaria but could not do so due to heavy downpour in the late afternoon. It therefore diverted to Kano Airport, but developed technical problems and was forced to make an emergency landing.

NCAT Accepts A New TBM 850

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, took delivery of a new TBM 850 turboprop aircraft, which will be used primarily for advanced airline transport pilot (ATP) training courses.

NCAT - TBM 850 - 5N-BZA

This Week’s Update

Some bits of news over the past week:

• United Airlines delayed the start of planned flights to Lagos, Nigeria, because of regulatory issues.
• The FAAN has completed the installation of the airfield lighting system at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.
• Bristow has signed a $1.5m agreement with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, for the provision of technical support.
• An Arik Air B737-700 (5N-MJE) was hit by a bird at Calabar Airport on 26 April 2010.
• Although Arik Air withdrew the A330-200 from its schedule, a spokesman of the airline assured that the aircraft will be deployed on the Lagos-Johannesburg route before the start of the World Cup.
• Aero had to ground the aircraft it leases from CHC, mainly the helicopters and Dash 8s used for the oil and gas industry, as the airline could no longer pay the bills.
• Dapo Olumide tendered his resignation as CEO of Nigerian Eagle. The COO of the airline, Kinfe Kahssaye, is appointed as his successor.
• Does anyone know which individuals or institutions are behind the new charter airline TopBrass Aviation? Its CEO, Roland Iyayi, was Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He was arrested by the EFCC in 2008 for misuse of the N19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund.

Nigerian Colleges Of Aviation

Here is a short update on the status of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

The new College of Aviation, Ilorin, will open its doors in July, 2010.