In preparation for international operations, Air Peace has deployed slides worth its $1 million on the Boeing B777 on the final test that would qualify the airline to carry out international operation.
This is in compliance with aviation safety procedure for induction of aircraft into operations and it spent 10.5 seconds in deploying the slides which takes standard 16 seconds.
These are parts of the requirements for the airline which would soon take to the skies for its international operation. The airline carried out the emergency simulation on its B777, which is the first time it will be done in Nigeria. The exercise which the airline said is a testament of the carrier’s readiness to venture into long-haul operations.
With that exercise, the airline has demobstaretd its preparedness and it would now carry out the last test, which is ‘Demonstration Flights’.
The emergency exercise carried out on one of the Four acquired B777 would cover for the rest of the aircraft meant for the international operations.
The emergency feat was made known through a video clip by the airline as it was carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The airline has acquired Four B777 for its international operations of which it has taken delivery of two. In a telephone conversation with the airline’s Communication Manager, Christian Iwarah said, “This is a test that we are ready for international operations which will be launched soon, starting with Dubai and Sharjah. The emergency exercise was carried out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos where we will be launching our international operations.”
The last stage in preparation for the international operation will be a “Demonstration Flights”. According to Iwarah, he said the airline will embark on demonstration flights starting with Port Harcourt, Kano in Nigeria; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa and Dubai in the United Arab Emirate.”
On the date the Demo will take place, Iwarah said: “That is subject to the clearance from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).” “Once NCAA gives the clearance, the demo flights will commence”, he said. As I am talking to you, NCAA has submitted the names of its officials that will be on the demo flight.
A very important aspect of the slides blown exercise is the response time of the emergency slides. According to Iwarah, “The maximum standard time the slides are meant to respond is 16 seconds, but our aircraft was able to do it in 10.5 seconds.”
Iwarah said after the demo flight, the airline would be set to launch the much awaited international operations, starting with Dubai and Sharjah.
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