*Sanusi to Head New Airline, NG Eagle Limited
It has been confirmed that former Director of Flight Operations of Arik Air, Captain Abdullahi Zubair Mahmood is now the CEO of Aero Contractors.
safeflight.com investigations revealed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been notified about his new appointment.
Captain Mamood joined Arik Air in 2007 as a flight officer and operated the Bombardier CRJ-900, where he rose to become a captain and was later type-rated on Boeing B737-NG and before he became the Director of Flight Operations, he has been a captain on Airbus A330.
Safeflight.com also learnt that it is being contemplated that Captain Ado Sanusi who is leaving Aero Contractors would later head the new Nigerian airline, NG Eagle, which is in the process to secure its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from NCAA.
Captain Roy Ilegbodu would continue to head Arik Air Limited as its Chief Executive Officer until further notice.
Investigations also revealed that NG Eagle is expected to bring in two aircraft, which would be used for demonstration for the award of AOC by NCAA, while the airline is expected to bring in about four more aircraft when it kicks off operations.
It was also learnt that the new airline would take over the number of aircraft now owned by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from the existing Arik Air fleet, while the rest would be left for the airline taken over by the government agency in February 2017.
When AMCON took over Arik Air, the airline had about 26 aircraft but currently only very few are still flying, some in maintenance facilities overseas while the rest are in storage at the airline’s premises at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, but it is not clear how many aircraft in the fleet AMCON would take over.
Inside source said that the new airline would not operate Boeing Classics but would start operations with Boeing New Generation (NG) aircraft, which are type being operated by Arik Air.
Arik acquired Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-80, Bombardier CRJ 900 and Bombardier Q400 as new aircraft and the airline still has orders with US aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, for seven Boeing 787-9 and 12 Boeing 737-MAX.
Sanusi could not ne reached to confirm that he is on standby to head NG Eagle but he earlier confirmed that he was leaving Aero Contractors.
NG Eagle Limited was (RC: 1600277) was incorporated on July 11, 2019 with share capital of 1, 000, 000, 000 and share holders are: AMCON, 499, 999, 999, while Omokhide Kamilu Alaba has one unit of share.
Safeflight.com spoke to AMCON Head of Corporate Communications; Jude Nwuzor who confirmed that Captain Mahmood is taking over as Aero CEO and Captain Sanusi has been deployed by AMCON management.
On the number of aircraft AMCON may take from the Arik Air fleet, he said that the agency has other aircraft that would be deployed to the new airline, NG Eagle; that the plan to take some aircraft from Arik fleet was a suggestion.
“Yes, Captain Mahmood is taking over at Aero and management has deployed Captain Sanusi. In fact, we had town hall meeting where the issue was addressed. On whether we would take some aircraft from Arik Air, I wish to say that we have other aircraft in other places; so the idea of taking aircraft from Arik Air was a mere suggestion. We have aircraft with Dana Air and in other airlines. Those aircraft are the primary equipment we will deploy for the new airline,” Nwuzor said.
