We will make our airspace safer - President Jonathan

Aviation Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the administration will work towards making the Nigerian air safer.

He made this statement during the unveiling of a Cenotaph at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

The event marked the one year remembrance of the tragic crash of Dana Air flight J9 992 which led to the loss of over 157 lives at Iju/Ishaga in Lagos on June 3, 2012.

President Goodluck Jonathan stated that: "We also share a profound feeling of loss to all other aviation incidents in the country and will remain committed to do everything possible to avoid such an occurence in the future"

He also stated that since the Dana incident, critical safety equipment had been improved  as well an implementation of the Technical and Administrative Review Committee (TARPDA) recommendations.

The aviation industry has also instituted a safety week which will be observed from June 3, 2013 every year, to honour of those who lost their lives in one of the nations most tragic air transport accidents.

Dana Aicraft flight J9 992 took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja in the afternoon of June 3 last year and crashed about one minute to landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah led the church service for the crash victims, with the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah as the chief host of the ceremony which climaxed with the Presidents unveiling of the cenotaph.

Automated Flight Information Reporting System To Boost Air Safety In 2013 – NCAA

Aviation Nigeria

Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, recently reacted to calls by the House of Representatives for his removal by saying that as a professional, he would not join issues with the honorable members as politicians.

Speaking during an interview with journalists at the Christmas service held at the Garden Tomb in Israel where he prayed for the safety of the Nigerian airspace and passengers, Dr Demuren said, “The National Assembly members are politicians. We are not politicians; we are professionals doing our job. The truth will come out and when it comes out, it will set everyone free.”

He further explained that for six years, no flight accident was recorded by airlines in Nigeria.

“It is very unfortunate that we had that tragic accident and for that to happen, you must not forget that this is why we gave thanks to God that from 2006 to that June last year, we have carried 50 million passengers and operated 4 million flights without a single accident, and then suddenly that accident happened.”

Dr Demuren also disclosed that the NCAA is set to deploy Aircraft Automated Flight Information Reporting System to improve air safety in the year 2013. He explained that the Aircraft Automated Flight Information Reporting System will alert the authorities if there is any problem on board an aircraft, whether the aircraft is missing or not.

“If anything happens on board, whether it is recorded or not, once it happens, automatically, it would record the data based on hours and stream the data to us. Whether the aircraft is missing or not, you still get and see the data,” he said.

“The good thing is that this data can be easily animated and you will see it in real life how it happened and what occurred. That way, there will be no speculation. You can log from it, learn from it and then correct it.” 

Source: The Herald

Dana commences balance payment to crash victims.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

Insurers of Dana Air, today, commenced payment of USD 70,000 to families of victims of the June 3 disaster after having made advance payments of USD 30,000 to over 80 families. The Civil Aviation Act stipulates that the sum of USD 100,000 be paid as compensation to families of victims of air disasters.

Dana Air’s Head of Corporate Communications Tony Usidamen said: “Following receipt of Letter of Authentification from the Probate Registry, our insurers have begun balance payment of USD 70,000 to affected families. Only 4 other families have, so far, presented the requisite Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration, and payment will shortly be made to them.”

Usidamen explained that in order to assess and verify full compensation due and payable, it is necessary for claimants to produce the required Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration which would then have to be authenticated by the Probate Registry.

“This is a customary procedure to ensure that just compensation is only paid to the right next-of-kin. Dana Air has no control over the speed with which the Probate Registry deals with the verification process, although maximum pressure is being exerted to expedite this.” He added.

Speaking in the case of minors, Usidamen explained that a Letter of Guardianship will be required from the parent or guardian in order to access full payment. He further added this not being a pre-condition given by Dana Air or its insurers but a standard legal requirement to ensure that due compensation is paid only to those who have entitlement.

In conclusion Usidamen restated the airlines deep condolences, expressing the company's appreciation of the difficulties and challenges all affected families were going through in accessing the necessary documents, and thanking all those involved such as NCAA and the Lagos State Government in making the process a smooth one.

“Dana Air shares in the pain of all the affected families and we wish to re-iterate the readiness of our insurers to settle all claims in accordance with the law and available evidence, at the earliest opportunity,” Usidamen reassured.

Dana Air Flight 992 was a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft making a scheduled commercial passenger flight from Abuja to Lagos, Nigeria. On Sunday, June 3, 2012, the aircraft crashed into a furniture works and printing press building in the Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood of Lagos . The crash, believed to have been caused by dual engine failure and subsequent forced landing, resulted in the deaths of all 153 people on board, as well as approximately six deaths and an unknown number of injuries to people on the ground. Victims of note include Alhaji Ibrahim Damcida, the Under-Secretary of Ministry of Industries.