Category: Aviation

Aviation News

Airforce Chopper Crash-lands In Katsina

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah The Nigerian Air force has confirmed the crash of a Nigerian Air force helicopter in Katsina state, saying it crashed in the process of landing while returning from action against bandits in the North West Theater of Operation Hadaran Daji. The Nigerian Airforce, NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said that investigations are ongoing into the cause of the crash. Reports indicate that the helicopter crashed moments before landing at the Katsina airbase. The Pilots are said to have exited from the aircraft before it  burst into…

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FAAN Closes MMA Apron To Connect New Terminal

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah Weeks after the Minister of Aviation indicated that the current Terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, will be pulled down to give way for the new terminal, the Federal Airports Authority has announced the closure of Gate 1 Apron and some taxiways at the Tarmac. This, according to them is to enable the Chinese Construction company to complete linkage of the new Apron with the Terminal. Recall that the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had hinted on pulling down the old terminal to give way…

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Senate Vetoes Downgrade Of Enugu Airport

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah The Senate has, in their last plenary, kicked against the plans by the presidency to downgrade Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu over security issues. Instead, they asked the Federal government to make efforts to repair and expand the runway to reduce the security risks that the Aviation ministry has complained about. Recall that the Minister of Aviation, in a Town hall meting in Lagos, has said that the airport will be downgraded due to security concerns. He cited the dangerous runway, the location of an abattoir and…

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Enugu Airport: FG, Enugu State May Reach Rapprochement

Uche Mbah
Hadi Sirika

By Uche Mbah The threat of closing down Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu may be put on hold going by ongoing discussions between the State government and Ministry of Aviation. Recall that the Ministry has threatened to downgrade and close down the Airport due to Security issues raised by the Ministry. These included incessant bird strikes, bad runway, a market nearby, the Enugu Free trade zone and other issues. But Enugu state government rose from an emergency State Executive Council, SEC meeting and immediately ordered the relocation of the Emene…

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FG To Close Down Enugu Airport

Uche Mbah
Hadi Sirika

By Uche Mbah The Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika has said that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport will be closed down by the Federal Government because of what he called safety concerns. “I am afraid the Enugu Airport has to be closed down”, he announced.” I have told the governor that we have to move the Market, Free Trade Zone, and take the radio mast away so that we can move in and fix things and clear the runway so that we can improve on safety and save lives”. He…

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FAAN vs Air Peace: Pilots Leave In Anger, Fidelity Bank Still Backs Air Peace

Uche Mbah

The Federal Airports Authority, FAAN, has been battling to extricate itself from the ethnic slur being given to the Ground handling company in the way they handled the Air peace landing crisis. Recall that a Boeing 737-300 acquired by Air Peace was denied Landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by FAAN for several hours.  After several hours of wrangling, the Aircraft was allowed to pack at the Cargo terminal instead of the normal parking bay. The visibly angry foreign Pilots who were expected to train the crew on…

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Plane Crash: After US Ban, FG Makes U-turn

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah After the US government placed a blanket ban on Boeing 737 Max 8 throughout the entire United States, the Federal Government, in a volte-face, decided to ban the aircraft from the Nigerian Airspace. President Trump, after days of pressure, on Wednesday placed a blanket ban on Boing 737 max 8 from the American airspace, thereby reversing the earlier position that the aircraft will continue to fly pending result of crash investigations. Some 42 countries have banned the aircraft that has been involved in two major mishaps in…

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No Boeing 737 Max 8 Owned By Nigerian Airlines, Says NCAA

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has allayed fears of possible air crash involving the Boeing model following the crash of Ethiopian Airline Flight 302 minutes after take off, killing all passengers on board. As a result of the crash, many countries either grounded their Aircraft pending investigations, or ordered for immediate checks on the Airline.  At least 114 planes have been grounded worldwide, with China leading with 97 planes. The groundings  has posed many administrative and logistic bottlenecks for such airlines, resulting in flight cancellations, loss…

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ET 302: China, Others Ground Boeing 737 Max 8 As Air Peace Expects Order

Uche Mbah

  By Uche Mbah In response to the crashed Ethiopian Airline ET 302, China and Indonesia have grounded their domestic flights involving Boeing 737 Max 8 plying their Airspace. China and Indonesia are the two leading Asian Aviation markets for the Aircraft, with China Owning over a hundred Max 8 Aircraft, a situation that spells disaster for the American Boeing company and for China’s Civil aviation. Ethiopian Airline flight ET302 had crashed over the weekend, killing all the Passengers on board, including two Nigerians. One was Professor Pius Adesanmi, popular…

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Finally, the Bayelsa International Airport Takes Off With An Inaugural Flight

Uche Mbah

By Uche Mbah It was a carnival of  sorts as Governor Seriake Dickson today inaugurated the Bayelsa International Cargo Airport, estimated to have gulped N60 billion. The Airport, which was meant to be a state and Federal government joint venture, suffered a setback when the Federal Government pulled out of the deal. Dickson doggedly continued with the building of the Airport. The Airport was built by Dantata and Sowe, an indigenous construction company. The Airport could have been opened last August, but that date was not feasible. By November last…

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