FAAN Parades Investment Opportunities In Airports

Aviation Nigeria

Following the successful signing of the $500 million loan agreement to finance the construction of four new international airport terminals in Nigeria, the aviation ministry has now turned its attention towards the drive to woo foreign investors to buy into the Aerotropolis project.

Addressing the Nigeria-China Investment Forum in Beijing recently, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr George Uriesi, said the ministry was willing to partner with the Chinese investment community for the development of Aerotropolis in the Nigerian cities of Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Uriesi said the project holds tremendous promise of good return on investment for any investor, and called on the Chinese investors to take advantage of the huge opportunities which the initiative presents to boost the expansion of their business interest in African.

“We want to partner with you as we develop our aerotropoli in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. There is so much that the Chinese companies can do to leverage our drive to position aviation as pivotal to the growth of the Nigerian economy through the airport cities concept, otherwise known as Aerotropolis,” the FAAN MD declared.

Uriesi said Nigeria was poised to take its rightful place in the comity of successful aviation service providing nations of the world through the upgrade of its aviation infrastructure. He added that the ministry wants to establish Nigeria as an aircraft maintenance hub on the African continent and called on Chinese investors to grasp the opportunity and establish maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country.

With a population of over 167 million people and a projected passenger growth of 50 million by 2026, Uriesi said Nigeria is a huge, untapped market waiting to be harnessed by investors with an eye for guaranteed return on investment.

He further spoke of the huge potential which the perishable cargo/fresh produce initiative holds for any investor, stressing that to grow this segment of aviation in Nigeria, about 13 perishable cargo terminals were being constructed across the country.

The Investment Forum was attended by large investment community which expressed readiness to expand its business interests in Nigeria. The forum was the climax of the 3-Day State visit of President Jonathan to China which witnessed the signing of over 15 Agreements and MoUs, including the $500 million loan agreement to finance the construction of four airport terminals in Nigeria.

According to Yakubu Dati, the coordinating general manager, Aviation Parastatals, the intervention of the Nigerian government in the aviation sector, by way of infrastructure, safety and security upgrades as well as human capital development, is repositioning the Nigerian aviation sector as a major player in the continent. 

The signing of the $500 million loan agreement with the Chinese government for the construction of airport terminals is a turning point in Nigeria’s quest to play its leadership role in African aviation.

Construction work on the terminals would soon begin and the funds from the Chinese EXIM Bank, will guarantee its completion on schedule.

Source: Leadership

MMA2: Increasing tensions as Bi-courtney assaults FAAN staff

Aviation Nigeria

Increased tension between Bi Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was noted last week, when the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakudbu Dati was allegedly stopped from driving off with his car on his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic terminal (MMA2).

Speaking to newsmen, Yakubu Dati said the Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Mr. Christopher Penninck ordered thugs to stop him, apprehend his vehicle and seize his phone.

“On 17th July, 2013, at 4.45pm, Bi Courtney CEO, Mr. Penninck personally led thugs to block the car conveying me out of the MMA2 official car park. He offered no explanation as he made frantic phone calls. Sensing danger, I took pictures of the scene and sent thugs to forcefully take my phone. It took the intervention of the police officer on duty to rescue me. The police removed the barricade and allowed my car to drive off,” Dati said.

Dati lamented the negative development in the saga adding that Penninck threatened that he would deal with him.

"What surprised me was that other cars with FG registration numbers, same as mine, were neither harassed nor molested but given free access. In fact, our Director of Legal that arrived with me was allowed to leave.” Dati added.

But spokesman of BASL, Steve Omolale-Ajulo said that Dati parked his car at an area prohibited for parking and as the BASL CEO was going round on inspection, he saw the car parked at the wrong area and asked those in charge why the car was parked there and directed them to move the car.

Dati was said to have started taking the photograph of Pinninck who protested against the photograph, saying that he must have to seek his consent before taking him personal photographs, remarking that Pinninck did not even know that the person who parked the car at the wrong place was Dati.

Omolale-Ajulo also asked whether Dati has reported the matter to the police if actually he was molested as alleged, adding that what happened was not a serious matter to attract such reaction.

In the last few weeks FAAN and Bi Courtney officials have recorded similar face-offs over the placement of billboards at the uncompleted hotel project BASL is building opposite MMA2, a structure that is strategically located at the link road to the international terminal of the airport.

Bi Courtney placed the billboards, but FAAN officials removed them, saying that the concessionaire, which build and is operating the MMA2 on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) did not have the right to place advert billboards on the building which had seized to belong to the organisation; besides, FAAN also argued that it has the control of all the advert placements at the airport and should be consulted before any billboard was placed.

Ilorin Airport Manager decries Airport land encroachment

Aviation Nigeria

Manager of the Ilorin Airport, Mr Usman Saka, Manager has appealed to the Kwara State government to prevail on 'native' land owners to stop encroaching into the airport's land.

Saka said that some portions of land belonging to the airport had been sold to people by the natives on grounds who hold the allotted 2,248 hectares of land was too large for the airport.

"There is encroachment on our land by the Magajis, whom the Federal Government had compensated when their land were acquired.

"The present secretariat of Ilorin West Local Government is built on the airport's land and we have reported the matter to appropriate quarters."

He said that the encroachment could be disastrous in the event of an air crash. He also appealed to land excavators to desist from collecting sand on its land.

Source: NAN

Boeing Dreamliner Catches Fire At Britain’s Heathrow Airport

Aviation Nigeria

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire at Britain’s Heathrow airport on Friday in a fresh blow for the U.S. plane-maker which earlier this year was forced to ground the new planes for three months after battery fires.

Boeing shares tumbled by as much as 7 percent, wiping $5.4 billion off its market capitalization after television footage showed the Dreamliner surrounded by foam used by firefighters at Heathrow. At 1745 GMT, shares were down 3.2 percent at $103.50.

Heathrow briefly closed both its runways to deal with the fire which broke out while the aircraft was parked at a remote stand. There were no passengers aboard the plane.

Television footage showed an area on the fuselage in front of the tail that appeared to be scorched.

It was not clear if the fire was related to the batteries, which were the cause of the previous fires on the Dreamliner.

“A Boeing 787 Dreamliner suffered an on board internal fire,” a Heathrow spokeswoman said. “The plane is now parked at a remote parking stand several hundred meters away from any passenger terminals.”

Boeing said it was aware of the fire and that had people on the ground working to understand the causes of it. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of the fire and was in contact with Boeing.

“This is terrible for the Dreamliner, any event involving fire and that airplane is going to be a PR disaster for Boeing,” Christine Negroni, an aviation writer and safety specialist based in New York, said in a telephone interview.

“Because of the battery issue, the public is even more sensitive to events that happen to the Dreamliner. Even if they are normal, benign teething problems, that subtlety is going to be lost on the public,” she said.

Another Boeing Dreamliner operated by Thomson Airways returned to the United Kingdom due to technical issues as a precaution, TUI Travel said.

Ethiopian Airlines said its aircraft had been parked at Heathrow for more than eight hours before smoke was detected

FG signs $500 million Aviation Infrastructure Loan agreement with China

Aviation Nigeria

The federal government of Nigeria has signed a $500 million Loan Agreement with the Chinese government for the construction of four new International airport terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

The Agreement is one of many other Agreements and MoU’s signed in Beijing as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan formally commenced a Two-Day State Visit to China.

The commencement of construction work on the terminals had been on hold pending the formal signing of the loan deal which will be financed by the Chinese EXIM Bank.

Reacting to the development, Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal government is very elated that the loan deal for the financing of the construction of the terminals has finally been sealed.

She said airports, being the Gateways to the country are critical not only as drivers of the socio-economic development of Nigeria, but also an outward reflection of the character of any nation.

She added that developing airport and aviation infrastructure was therefore a major priority to the federal government, and commended the leadership of President Jonathan for pulling off such a remarkable milestone with the Chinese authorities. She said the simultaneous construction of four international airports will create employment and other value chains that will help to grow and expand the frontiers of the Nigerian economy.

Also reacting, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah expressed profound joy that the dream of President Jonathan to bequeath befitting international airports for the country will now be realised with the signing of the Agreement today in Beijing, China.

”I am extremely delighted with this development today. Now, real work can start as we had been eagerly waiting for this day. We promised to give the nation international airports befitting the stature and standing of Nigeria as the giant of Africa and today’s ceremony is a significant milestone towards the achievement of this objective”, Oduah declared.

Aerotropolis: Aviation Ministry woos Chinese Investor

Aviation Nigeria

Following the successful signing of the $500 million Loan Agreement to finance the construction of four new International Airport terminals in Nigeria, the Aviation Ministry has now turned its attention towards the drive to woo foreign investors to buy into the Aerotropolis project.

Addressing the Nigeria-China Investment Forum in Beijing, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr George Uriese expressed the desire of the Ministry to partner with the Chinese Investment Community for the development of Aerotropoli in the Nigerian Cities of Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Uriesi said the Aerotropoli hold tremendous promise of good return on investment for any investor, and called on the Chinese investors to take advantage of the huge opportunities which the initiative presents to boost the expansion of their business interest on the African continent.

“We want to partner with you as we develop our Aerotropoli in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. There is so much more that Chinese companies can do to leverage our drive to position aviation as pivotal to the growth of the Nigerian economy through the airport cities concept, otherwise known as Aerotropolis”, the FAAN MD declared.

The MD said Nigeria is prised to take its rightful place in the comity of successful aviation service providing nations of the world through the upgrade of its aviation infrastructure. He added that the Ministry wants to establish Nigeria as an aircraft maintenance hub on the African continent and called on Chinese investors to take grasp the opportunity and establish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country.

With a population of over 167 million people and a projected passenger growth of 50 million by 2026, Uriesi said Nigeria is a huge, untapped market waiting to be harnessed by investors with an eye for guaranteed return on investment.

He further spoke of the huge potential which the perishable cargo/fresh produce initiative holds for any investor, stressing that to grow this segment of aviation in Nigeria, about 13 perishable cargo terminals are being constructed across the country.

The Investment Forum, which was attended by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR was attended by a very large investment community which expressed readiness to expand its business interests in Nigeria.

The Forum climaxed a Three-Day State Visit of President Jonathan to China, which witnessed the signing of over 15 Agreements and MoU’s, including the $500 million Loan Agreement to finance of the construction of four airport terminals.

U.S. airline pilots to need more flight time

Aviation Nigeria

The United States will increase the flight experience required of pilots on U.S. airlines, a long-awaited move not related to the crash last weekend of an Asiana Airlines plane in San Francisco.

The new rules, which will take effect later this week or next week once they are published in the Federal Register, stem in part from a plane crash near Buffalo in 2009 that killed 50 people, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday.

First officers, or co-pilots, will now need Airline Transport Pilot certificates to take control of U.S. commercial jetliners or cargo planes. The certificates are earned with 1,500 hours of total flight time. Previously, a co-pilot needed only a commercial certificate, requiring 250 hours.

Captains would still need at least 1,500 hours of flight time but now 1,000 hours would have to be logged as a co-pilot on a commercial carrier. Previously, those hours could be earned in flight school or military training.

Bob Coffman, an American Airlines captain who is also chairman of its pilots union's government affairs committee, said the additional requirement of the ATP certificate would ensure that co-pilots have a variety of flying experiences.

"In this day ... where we are more and more dependent on having two competent pilots at the controls, it does not make much sense for one of the pilots to be significantly less qualified than the other pilot," Coffman said.

The new regulations stem in part from a crash in February 2009 in which a Bombardier DHC-8-400 plunged into a snow-covered neighborhood as it neared Buffalo, New York, killing 49 people on board and one person on the ground. The crash of the Colgan Air flight, operating as Continental Connection flight 3407, raised questions about pilot training.

In that accident, investigators said, the pilot failed to respond appropriately to a "stick-shaker" warning of a potential stall from low air speed - similar conditions to those under investigation in the Saturday crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in San Francisco, which killed two people and injured more than 180.

The new FAA rules would not apply to the pilots of the Asiana flight, however, since they are not pilots for a U.S. airline.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr said there was no link between the pilot qualification rules and Saturday's Asiana plane crash in San Francisco.

"This ruling has been in the works for a couple of years now," Dorr said.

The FAA has drawn criticism from the National Transportation Safety Board for taking years to develop the rules.

"The NTSB notes that human factors concerns associated with low airspeed do not require more than 6 years of study for a solution to be implemented," the NTSB said in a 2010 report on the Colgan accident.

Rep. Rick Larsen, the ranking member on the House aviation subcommittee, said the long period in adopting the rules was a concern. "It's fair to be somewhat critical of the FAA for taking a long time to get these rules up running," he said.

Sokoto to conduct raffle for Hajj seats

Aviation Nigeria

The Sokoto State Pilgrims’ Welfare Agency has disclosed plans to conduct raffle for Hajj seats. This, according to it, is to ensure fairness in view of the 20 per cent reduction in the number of intending pilgrims from the state.

Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Mukhtari Bello Maigona, said already the agency has held a meeting with all hajj registration officers of local government areas on the issue.

According to him, other measures taken to take care of the reduction in the number of pilgrims, include the exclusion of all those who fail to pay their fares and old timers.

Maigona, who said that only male intending pilgrims would be involved in the raffle draw, adding that reports from all the local government areas indicate that the number of first timers out-number the seats allocated to their respective areas.

He said the raffle draw would commence next Saturday in Kebbe Wurno, Sabon Birni, Tambuwal Gudu and Silame Local Government Areas. According to him, women who are first timers were given automatic consideration.

About 1,300 intending pilgrims from Sokoto were affected by the recent cut in the number of pilgrims to perform this year’s hajj exercise

CCECC to constuct four International airports in Nigeria

Aviation Nigeria

Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, (CCECC) has pledged to deliver the four new International Airport terminals it will be constructing in Nigeria in record time of 20 months.

President of CCECC, Yuan Li who disclosed this when a High-Powered Delegation of Nigerian Government officials paid him a Courtesy/Facility Inspection Visit at the Corporate headquarters of the company in Beijing, said the quality of the work to be done at the airports will be of the highest international standard comparable to similar projects executed by the company in other parts of the world.

Yuan Li said the airport terminals’ construction remains a special project to the company, stressing that the company’s imprimatur of unrivaled excellence would be brought to bear in the building of the terminals in Nigeria.

Responding, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah said she is eagerly looking forward to the signing of the agreement today and the completion of the projects in the next 18-20 months, adding that the desire to have the best for Nigerian airports informed the decision to work with a reputable, world class construction firm like CCECC.

The Minister said she has no iota of doubt in her mind on either the quality of job to be delivered by CCECC or the completion timelines since due diligence was conducted before the Federal government finally settled for CCECC.

When completed, the Minister said the Nigerian International airports would take their rightful place in the world aviation map, and boost Nigeria’s position as the natural hub for commercial aviation business on the African continent. The $500 million loan deal is for the construction of four, brand new International terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Also speaking, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe expressed satisfaction that CCECC has been a very active firm in Nigeria, saying he would want to have the company in the East-West and the Oron-Calabar road projects.

He said with the President’s State Visit to China, a new chapter is being opened in the bilateral and economic relationship between the two countries, and expressed the hope that the four international airport projects would be completed in good time.

Speaking further, Yuan Li said CCECC is the biggest Chinese company doing business in Nigeria, with a local staff strength of about 20, 000 and an expatriate quota of 1000 Chinese citizens. He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the government of Nigeria for the support given to the company, adding that CCECC wants to establish a special friendship between Nigeria and China.

Responding to concerns raised by another member of the Nigerian delegation and Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar that CCECC needs to make a paradigm shift from being A Contractor to an Investor firm in Nigeria, Li said the company has already made that strategic decision and has started investing in Real Estate development. He added that the company intends to expand its investments in Nigeria to include manufacturing (cement), seaports, railways, Highways development, Steel, among st others.

Already, he said the company has finalized plans to incorporate a new firm-CCECC Industries Nigeria Ltd to to prosecute its investment agenda in Nigeria and help develop the industrial sub-sector of the economy, adding that going forward, the company intends to increase the number of indigenous Nigerian employees while reducing the expatriate quota to the barest minimum.

To accomplish this, he said the company has mapped out a scheme to grant scholarships to, and train Nigerian students in technical areas in Chinese Universities to make up for the manpower needs in critical areas like Railway Engineering and Management, amongst others.

He said CCECC also intends to set up a Joint Venture (JV) with the Nigerian government for the operation and maintenance of the railways, and would soon commence construction work for CCECC Plazas in Abuja and Lagos.

In his remarks, Works Minister, Mike Onolemehme said Nigeria and Nigerians were worried that CCECC was not investing in the country, adding that the assurances by Li that the company would begin to invest massively in Nigeria is heart-warming.

He said his Ministry is executing road projects worth over $2billion, with CCECC as a major contractor, and expressed the desire to see the company venture into real investments rather than pure contract execution.

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma said President Jonathan is committed to moving Nigeria to the next level, adding that the National Assembly will give him all necessary support.

Also on the Courtesy Visit was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Sector Reforms, Ms Anne Ene-Ita, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Ahmed Rufai Chanchangi, Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr Clement Dosunmo, DG NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom and MD, NAMA, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, among others.

Aviation Transformation: Looking towards a Chinese Concession

Aviation Nigeria

by Tahir Sherriff

Transportation as a means to an end has remained a primary action of man since time immemorial. Today, in all modern societies it has become a hub of investors and institutions developed to provide an array of services related to land, sea and air transport.

Since service providers have come to depend on investors who aid in setting up necessary infrastructure, two elements, Capital and Profits take primary positions in these discussions and every government that seeks to provide social amenities have to deal with these challenges.

The Nigerian Aviation industry which has continued to cross the boundaries of local possibilities has sought to tackle one challenge in its plan to build first class international terminals in different states of the country. The challenge of funding.

Building airport terminals to meet international standards go beyond raising structures that inspire awe from local and foreign travelers, it also (as airports are gateways to countries) defines for foriegn investors a first aid analysis to economic standards of quality.

To fund the building of structures is only partial, to fund the entities that will exist in these structures is another financial maze in itself.

Among the 'To Do' list of the team which will accompany President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as he resumes a session in China is among other things, working out the financial ramifications of a concession agreement that will involve the President, the Ministry of Aviation and the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in what is expected to be a concessionaire agreement for the building of airport terminals in different parts of the country.

The key word for CCECC who have began to play an active part in the development of various sectors of the Nigerian economy will be 'Profit', but theirs will not be short term. A concession agreement often accompanies with it (in complex societies such as Nigeria) various financial and political upheavals. 

Diplomats and Ambassadors will be discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan along social, political and financial lines in his 5-day visit to the commercial world center. If a cost-effective concession agreement is reached and the terminals are put in place, it is expected that it will usher not only Foreign Direct Investments, but also internal development in the area of job creation and quality services.

With the growing focus of foreign investments in Africa, matched with a double digit airline passenger growth statistics, such development not only helps to take advantage of the opportunities as they come, it also aids in building from scratch a workable business and legal framework that will suitably meet developing challenges.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah highlighted the administrations objectives while clinically stating its advantages during a Mid Term report in June after what was termed 'a wholistic review of the aviation sector' said its actions are poised to prepare the sector to become an economic tool for transforming the economy.

One thing is certain, this new trend to tackle the challenges of funding for national projects, is a different approach from older and more radical versions of wealth creation such as double digit interest loans from Paris Club and sister entities.

Kabo Air acquires new B747-400 series aircraft

Aviation Nigeria

Reports say Kabo Air Limited has acquired a B747-400 series aircraft.

The indigenous airline made this assertion through its Public Relations Manager, Alhaji Aminu Hamza.

Hamza stated that the decision to acquire the aircraft was aimed at boosting the company’s International Airline Transportation system, adding that the B747-400 is a technologically advanced aircraft.

"With the new aircraft, transportation of pilgrims to the Holy Land will be faster because it is an advancement of what is obtained in other B747 aircraft" he said.

He said that the acquisition of the new aircraft would enable Kabo Air compete favourably with other International Airlines in the world.

According to him, the acquisition of the new aircraft has brought the number of B747 in the fleet of Kabo Air to four.

The spokesman reiterated the determination of the airline to upgrade its fleet with technologically advanced aircraft.

Hamza assured intending pilgrims and other passengers who patronise the airline of adequate security and maximum comfort while on board the aircraft.

He said the new aircraft was fitted with ‘Grand Positioning System’ (GPS) which enables it to be tracked anywhere in the world.

Hamza promised that Kabo Air would not relent in its effort to maintain its position as a safe, comfortable and reliable airline.

Source: NAN 

Abuja High Court summons Borishade, two others

Aviation Nigeria

An Abuja High Court on Monday ordered Babalola Borishade, a former minister of Aviation to appear before it unfailingly on July 9.

Justice Abubakar Umar gave the order, after Borishade, Tunde Dairo and Rowland Iyayi, a former managing director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency failed to attend their trial.

When the matter was called at the resumed hearing, EFCC Counsel, Mr Daniel Penda, told the court that the counsel to the accused persons, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had served him with a letter seeking for an adjournment.

He said the adjournment was sought to allow Borishade attend the birthday ceremony of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

Penda told the court that only the fourth accused, George Eider, the Managing Director, Avsatel Communications Ltd, who is standing trial alongside Borisade, was in court.

Umar, who frowned at the absence of the accused and their counsel, said that they were disrespectful to the court.

"The counsel should have come to court to explain the absence of the accused persons. But he chose not to. This is highly disrespectful. I am ordering that the three accused persons and their counsel appear in court unfailingly on Tuesday July 9'' Umar ordered.

Reports indicate Borisade is standing trial alongside Iyayi, Dairo and Eider, an Australian over the alleged mismanagement of the N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.

They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of bribe-taking and forging aviation contract documents on Nov. 19, 2009.

Source: NAN

Boeing 777 crash: Asiana Airlines pilots tried to abort landing

Aviation Nigeria

The Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 that crashed at San Francisco's airport on Saturday was travelling "significantly below" its intended speed and its crew tried to abort the landing just seconds before it hit the seawall in front of the runway, the US National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday.

Information collected from the plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder indicated that there were no signs of trouble until seven seconds before impact, when the crew tried to accelerate, NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said at a news conference at the airport.

A stall warning sounded four seconds before impact, and the crew tried to abort the landing and initiate what's known as a "go around" manoeuvre just 1.5 seconds before crashing, Hersman said.

"Air speed was significantly below the target airspeed," she said.

Later on Sunday, the local fire department said that an emergency vehicle rushing to the scene of the crash may have run over one of the two teenage Chinese girls killed in the incident.

San Francisco's medical examiner is now conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of the girl's death, fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

"One of the deceased did have injuries consistent with those of having been run over by a vehicle," Talmadge said.

More than 180 people were injured in the crash, at least two dozen of them seriously.

Hersman said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash. The data recorders corroborated witness accounts and an amateur video, indicated the plane came in too low, lifted its nose in an attempt to gain altitude, and then bounced along the tarmac after the rear of the aircraft hit a seawall at the approach to the runway.

Asked whether the information reviewed by the NTSB showed pilot error in the crash, Hersman did not answer directly.

"What I will tell you is that the NTSB conducts very thorough investigations. We will not reach a determination of probable cause in the first few days that we're on an accident scene," she told reporters.

Six people remained in critical condition at San Francisco General hospital on Sunday, including one girl, a hospital spokeswoman said, and 13 others were in less serious condition. Stanford hospital said late on Saturday that three people were in critical condition and 10 in serious condition there. At least five people were still being treated at other area hospitals on Sunday morning.

Some of the injured at San Francisco general suffered spinal fractures, including paralysis, and others sustained head trauma and abdominal injuries, according to Margaret Knudson, chief of surgery at the hospital.

The plane was coming in from Seoul when witnesses said its tail appeared to hit the approach area of a runway that juts into San Francisco Bay. The impact knocked off the plane's tail and the aircraft appeared to bounce violently, scattering a trail of debris and spinning before coming to rest on the tarmac.

The crash was the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 777, a popular long-range jet that has been in service since 1995. It was the first fatal commercial airline accident in the United States since a regional plane operated by Colgan Air crashed in New York in 2009.

"For now, we acknowledge that there were no problems caused by the 777-200 plane or [its] engines," Yoon Young-doo, the president and CEO of the airline, told reporters on Sunday at the company headquarters on the outskirts of Seoul.

Asiana on Sunday said the flight, which originated in Shanghai, had carried 291 passengers and 16 crew members. The passengers included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans, 64 US citizens, three Indians, three Canadians, one French, one Vietnamese and one Japanese citizen.

Source: BBC

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in emergency landing

Aviation Nigeria

A plane carrying the Somali president has been forced to make an emergency landing in Mogadishu after one of its engines reportedly caught fire.

A spokesman for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said it was not clear why the engine stopped working.

Although the plane's tyres were completely damaged in the incident, Sheikh Mohamud remained un-hurt as fire fighters rushed to put out the flames.

Reports indicate the president was flying to the South Sudan capital, Juba, when it was forced to turn round.

Mr Mohamud was chosen as president last year in a UN-backed move to end decades of conflict.

African Union and Somali forces backing Mr Mohamud have driven al-Shabab from the country's main cities in the past year but the al-Qaeda-linked group still stages occasional attacks.

The new government is the first one in more than two decades to be recognized by the US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Source: BBC

AISAN lauds FG over AIS automation

Aviation Nigeria

The current drive by the Federal Government to make the Nigerian airspace rank among the safest in the world, is fast becoming a reality as the automation project of aeronautical information services at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has reached 97 percent  completion.

The Aeronautical Information Services  Association of Nigeria (AISAN), commenting on this development, lauded the Federal Government and the management of NAMA for expediting action on the  AIS  automation which has informed the installation of  two antennae each  at 11 airport stations across the country.

According to the AISAN president Comrade Babatunde Shittu, AIS automation would further boost air safety in Nigeria and enhance search and rescue operation as National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) is incorporated into the project.

The airports to benefit from the project include: Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Jos, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Owerri, and Yola. Others are Zaria, Calabar Osubi, Minna, Kaduna, Enugu, Katsina, Ibadan, Benin, Akure, Bebi, Bonny, Eket and Escravos.

Comrade Shittu  who led a delegation of AISAN executive on a courtesy visit to NAMA management thanked the Managing Director, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh for his relentless effort to actualize the dream of AIS automation.

 He appreciated the MD for the migration to e-flight plan since November, 2012 in compliance with ICAO directive and the recent deployment of more staff to the department.

Shittu also urged Engr. Udoh to ensure that Nigeria transits from Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) on or before the 15th November 2013 according to amendment 37, annex 17 of ICAO convention.

The NAMA boss , appreciated the effort of the association, assuring them that the project, with the support of the Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah would  be completed as scheduled, so that the traveling public would  continue to enjoy seamless air navigation.

He also solicited the co-operation of staff to ensure that the vision of the Federal Government in transforming the aviation sector into a world class entity is achieved.

AIC Police aide threatens to gun down FAAN staff at Lagos airport

Aviation Nigeria

A police officer attached to and AIC Limited, owned by Harry Akande on Tuesday threatened to ‘gun down’ an official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) premises Lagos.

AIC on Tuesday stormed the airport premises to reclaim the land which was taken away from the company but was resisted by FAAN security officials.

The duel has continued over a piece of land leased to the company by FAAN over 10 years ago for the development of a hotel facility at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

A fortnight ago, FAAN won a court ruling over the land as the Federal High Court in Lagos set aside the decision of arbitration that awarded the company $48 million to be paid by FAAN, as compensation for ejection of AIC from the land.

While FAAN insisted that the land in question belongs to it by virtue of the Federal High Court judgment, AIC also said the court never ordered the agency to take over the parcel of land immediately.

Reacting to the incidence, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Yakubu Dati stated that:

“Our members of staff were trying to sanitize and clear the area when they were attacked by thugs. We want to ensure that security is ensured at the terminal. The terminal is a secured area and when people want to invade the land illegally, the security officials have the right to prevent that."

He insisted that the land had returned to the agency and FAAN would do everything possible to protect its property.

“The law should be allowed to take its course and we waited for the judicial announcement and the next thing is for us to clear the place until there is a contrary order. That is the law. An appeal is not a judgment and I think we should be more civilised in our conducts,” he said.

Dana: FG issues 6 months ultimatum for payment of Dana claims

Aviation Nigeria

The Federal Government has issued Dana Airline a six months’ ultimatum to pay the claims of the families of the victims of the June 3, 2012 plane crash or face sanctions.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, gave the ultimatum at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja.

She said the airline had paid up to 60 per cent of the claims to the victims' families but experienced a delay due to double claims that needed to be clarified.

"Dana has actually done very well in terms of compensating accident victims. The challenge Dana has is that of multiple claims, the multiple claims made it difficult to ascertain who should collect."

"And until they are able to do that, they will not pay multiple claims and we will continue verifying and re-verifying to ascertain who should be the next of kin to claim the money but I know Dana has done up to 60 per cent."

"However, Dana is giving to December, if they fail to pay completely, we would have to sanction them, they are aware of that so I am sure they are accelerating the process."

She said the sector had put up some strategies to ensure that air accidents became things of the past in Nigeria.

Oduah said the government was rendering additional assistance to families of victims of aircraft accident, 

adding that the approval of the Victim Family Insurance Package (VFAP) had been secured from the Nigerian Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

She said discussions were in progress between NCAA and Zenith Bank on the implementation of the VFAP, while family assistance centre would be established to take care of emergencies.

Source: NAN

Governor Akpabio embargoes employment at Akwa Ibom Airport

Aviation Nigeria

Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom on Monday in Uyo placed embargo on employment by the Ibom International Airport Development Company Limited (IADCL).

Akpabio announced the embargo during a town hall meeting with members of staff of the IADCL in Uyo on Monday.

He said the aim of establishing the airport had not been achieved since most of the facilities were still under construction.

The meeting was called to address the welfare of the airport workers/the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

According to him, the airport is meant to render repair and maintenance operations within the region.

"Due to the stress being experienced by the teeming population of Akwa Ibom by going to Calabar to board planes; we have to commence passengers airlifting from the Uyo airport.

"We are yet to decide other services that will be operational as we are currently on expansion to accommodate international services.

"We are constructing a fuel dump and other facilities that are inherent in a world class airport.

"Most of the staff members are redundant because we are still constructing the facilities they are supposed to work with; so we cannot continue to employ until we are through.

"In the interim, we have to rationalise some of the staff to other agencies within the state civil service until we achieve the full aim of the airport."

He approved N120million for the payment of salary arrears owed the airport staff and recalled one who was wrongfully dismissed.

Akpabio also said the staff would be incorporated into the state civil service.

He explained this was a step toward addressing the poor welfare and enhance their opportunities in case the airport was taking over by the Federal Government.

The governor promised to set up a committee to look into the issues of rationalisation of the staff, promotion and increment of salaries in accordance with the state civil service rules.

Chairman of ATSSSAN, Brendan Edidiong, appealed for the upward review of IADCL staff salaries to become 10 per cent higher than that of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Edidiong also appealed for the release of promotion letters to the overdue staff of IADCL with financial benefits effective from the day they were due for promotion.

Chairman of Ibom Airport Implementation Committee, retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, urged the workers to abide by the rules of safety and security as prescribed by the aviation authorities.

Source: NAN