Aviation industry experts said investigations have confirmed that 80 percent of the accidents that happened in Nigeria were caused by pilot error.
They also acknowledged that there has been improvement in safety in Nigeria’s air transport industry in the last five years, climaxing in 2016 and expressed the hope that the country would continue to record accident free aviation sector in the coming years.
The experts spoke at the at the on-going 13th Akwaaba Travel Market in Lagos yesterday as the President, Sabre Network West Africa and also the President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ARTI), Gabriel Olowo noted that what enhanced air safety in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa was the efforts of the commercial airlines to abide by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).
Olowo attributed the improvement on safety to the efforts of the airlines, which strove to meet IOSA standards rather than the efforts of the regulatory agencies in the sub-region.
“Airline members in the strive for Safety also do go extra mile to subject itself to audit by other jurisdiction outside its own registration, for example, The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification in addition to that of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA),” Olowo added.
He explained that airlines have also intensified human capital development through routine and schedule trainings for all pilots in particular since pilot error account for about 80 percent of all aviation accidents.
He observed that there have also been implementation of safety management system (SMS) and more budgets have been set aside for maintenance and dedicated account for maintenance reserve as accident is planned through neglect and poor maintenance.
Olowo noted that 1312 lives were lost in 10 accidents over 48years and pilot error accounted for 80 percent while maintenance and weather accounted for the remaining 20 percent.
Speaking further on reasons behind Nigeria’s low accident rate, Olowo said that operators are successfully moving to newer and younger fleets with lower operational and maintenance cost and making available funds at low costs through financial institutions.
He said there have been more economic lease and lesser purchase Conditions from aircraft suppliers, adding that there is also continuous advocacy for improved Aviation infrastructure, acceleration of international Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety related standard and recommended practices.
Also Head, Public Relations Accident Investigation Bureau, (AIB) Tunji Oketunbi attributed some of the progress made in the industry to the effective regulation of the sector by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which continued to improve over the years.
“Airlines have a tendency to cut corners but it is the responsibility of NCAA to ensure proper checks are carried out on the airline, especially on the aircraft maintenance and pilot certifications. During accident investigations, AIB is able to reveal a lot of things either on the side of the regulators, the airlines or the service providers.
“Reports from accidents investigations have also reduced accidents occurrence in Nigeria and influenced safety decision implementation on the part of airlines, regulators and other service providers,” Oketunbi said.
He noted that ICAO has worked very hard to ensure no country is left behind on the implementation of international safety standards.
Country Manager, British Airways, Koya Olayinka said that just one accident can be the end of airline, so that makes it important for airlines to comply with standards and ensure they left no stone unturned.
Olayinka congratulated Nigeria for having zero accident rate in 2016 and encouraged airlines to remain steadfast in maintaining the records by applying the rules and training its staff as at when due.
