This week’s update

Updates:

• Chanchangi’s second B737-300 (5N-BMC) will re-join the airline’s fleet shortly. The airlines also hopes to add two more B737 Classics before the summer.
• The Minister of Aviation disclosed that the launch of a new national carrier is in its final stage of approval.
• FAAN has begun to dismantle derelict aircraft at Lagos Airport, meanwhile an entrepreneur wants to collect abandoned aircraft to set up an Aviation Museum in Nigeria.
• The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced it will enforce the new Passenger Bill of Rights to make sure that all airlines comply to the new rules protecting air travellers.
• Gombe State Government has struck a new deal with Arik Air to increase the current five-weekly service between Gombe and Abuja to a daily service.
• Med-View Airline has suspended its Lagos-Owerri service after just one month.
• AirFrance will offer more seats on its daily flights from Paris to Abuja and Port Harcourt per 31 March 2013, changing from A332 to B772 equipment. The airline also serves Lagos daily from Paris with an A332.
• The Nigerian Air Force has acquired a former SAS B737-505 (to be registered NAF 916; ex-LN-BRV). The aircraft is currently at Istanbul for maintenance.
• PICOMMS lost the feud with NIMASA and will be disolved by the Federal Government. The Nigerian Navy will take over the assets of PICOMMS, including a B350, DA42 and Cessna 206.
• An article on the Biafran Air Force (shared by Alaba).
• Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers in the US for further training.
• The foundation of the new airport in Bauchi State was laid by the State Governor on 25 January 2013. The second airport in the state should be ready before the end of the year.
• A couple of pictures showing the ongoing renovation work on the Owerri Airport terminal emerged on the net. Apparently all the domestic airports – Benin, Port Harcourt and Enugu – are getting a very similar look.

Owerri Airport

Overland takes delivery of the first of six ATR 72s

Overland Airways accepted its first ATR 72-200 (5N-BPE; ex-FWNUA); the aircraft arrived at Lagos Airport on 27 October 2012. The turboprop aircraft is configured to carry 70 passengers, and the airline announced it has five more ATR 72s on order. Overland already has three ATR 42-300 and two Beech 1900Ds in its fleet. The airline mainly serves thin domestic routes from Abuja and Lagos to Asaba, Bauchi, Ibadan and Ilorin.

Overland Airways – ATR 72-200 – 5N-BPE (copyright Toulouse-31)

Overland Airways to open Abuja-Bauchi route

Overland Airways announced it will commence an Abuja-Bauchi-Abuja service on weekdays per 23 May 2012. Bauchi Airport was recently re-opened after renovation works. Overland mainly flies from Abuja and Lagos to minor domestic airports, such as Ilorin, Ibadan and Asaba.

Schedule (flights on weekdays only):

• OJ1193 ABV-BCU 10:00-11:00
• OJ1194 BCU-ABV 11:30-12:30

First aircraft landing at renovated Bauchi airstrip

A Donier 328 (D-CIRJ) operated by charter airline Prime Air Services was the first aircraft to land at the renovated Bauchi Airstrip on 13 February 2012. The aircraft was closed for eleven months, after an aircraft hit sheep on the runway during landing. Bauchi Airstrip is mainly used for charter operations, as no airline operates scheduled flights into the airport. The Bauchi State government is nevertheless planning to build a new international airport in the state, for which it signed a N7.9 billion contract last year.

Do 328 - Prime Air Services - Bauchi Airstrip (copyright NAN)

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

Aircraft Hits Goats At Bauchi Airport

A Hawker 800 (5N-BMR) operated by King Airline for the ACN election campaign hit a number of goats or sheep this afternoon at Bauchi Airport. The animals appeared on the runway as the aircraft was landing. No details are made available about the damage to the aircraft. Bauchi Airport is used infrequently and it is reported that cyclists also use the runway as a short cut.