There have been reports about aged aircraft operated by Nigerian airlines. Some of those reports indicate that Nigeria operates the oldest aircraft in Africa.
Recently the UK’s based The Telegraph reported 10 world’s oldest aircraft in the world and none came from Nigeria; one came from South Africa, Interair with registration number ZS-IJJ. The list is as follows:
1. PK-OCG, 25/05/1970, Airfast Indonesia (737)
2. ZS-IJJ, 28/09/1972, Interair South African (737)
3. 5Y-CGV, 03/11/1975, Transafrican Air (737)
4. EP-SHB, 22/12/1977, Saha Airlines (747)
5. YV502T, 12/04/1978, Venezolana (737)
6. EP-CQA, 29/09/1978, Caspian Airlines (747)
7. XA-UHZ, 07/08/1979, EasySky Airlines (737)
8. C-GAIG, 28/09/1979, Air Inuit (737)
9. 4L-NAL, 21/03/1980, Georgian Star International (737)
10. EP-IBS, 16/04/1980, Iran Air (A300
Nigerian airline operators are alleging that the publication is meant to demonise Nigerian airlines by those who are clamouring for national carrier and noted that when Nigerian Airways existed it never sustained itself; government subsidized its existence. But now the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika is talking about private sector driven airline, but indications show that not many foreign investors would be willing to invest in the airline because of the inability of the Nigerian government to keep to agreements.
THISDAY learnt from some of the operators that since Richard Branson complained about how the Nigerian government frustrated its agreement when it floated Virgin Nigeria Airways and forced him to withdraw his investment in the airline, “no foreign investor takes Nigeria seriously as far as investing in aviation is concerned.”
Former Director of Engineering, Medview Airline, Lookman Animaseun told THISDAY that the question is not about how old the aircraft is; it is about how airworthy the aircraft is. He said that an aircraft is as good as its last maintenance.
After 2017 was marked the safest year in aviation in recent times in 2018 there are three aircraft with three fatalities and these accidents involved very new aircraft. The Lion Air crash involving Boeing 737 MAX that was barely three months old killed 188 passengers last October. The aircraft which was delivered to the airline in July started operation on August 15 and crashed on October 31, 2018.
It is the view of many industry experts that what is important about an aircraft is its maintenance status, the efficient regulation and the determination of the airline to ensure that the aircraft is airworthy; not its age.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye said that age of the aircraft does not really matter but what matters are the maintenance of the aircraft and the efficiency of the regulatory authority.
The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide is of the view that there is a calculated attempt to run Nigerian airlines down. She said that this is deliberate and alleged that is effort to discredit the domestic carriers.
“The other day a major government official was mocking airlines with many aircraft and referring to airlines in the past that had such number of aircraft yet they eventually collapsed. Also the Minister of State, Aviation recently said, ‘All this sudden growth to over 20 planes, we have seen it before. We had seen it in Chanchangi, We had seen it in Kabo and of recent in Arik Air and yet they are inefficient. We have given them international routes but they don’t have capacity to operate them’. This is coming from a Minister that is supposed to protect the airlines. One expected that the Minister should meet the airlines and find out the challenges that we have. If they are really interested in the growth of Nigerian airlines, we expect them to want to know what they will do to help us so that we don’t go the way of the other airlines. I feel so bad to suspect that these officials may be praying for our downfall,” she observed.
Mrs. Olajide also observed that there is calculated attempt to diminish and demoralize Nigerian airlines and alleged that it is a planned effort by those who wish to convey the feeling that the only way to get viable airlines in Nigeria is to float a national carrier.
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect local investors who have put their money in risky ventures like the airline business. The other day Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings said if local investors are burnt in business, foreign investors would not come in to invest and noted that no amount of roadshows will make foreign investors come if local ones are failing. But it is unfortunate that it is government media channel that is supposed to be for every Nigerian and ought to be neutral that is used to diminish Nigerian airlines because they are owned by private concerns,” she noted.
