₦airaland Forum

The DC-8 was impounded after contraband goods (textiles) were found on board

The problems with nigerian aviaition:
1. Government parastatals - CORRUPTION
2. Airlines - There is are only a couple of airlines in Nigeria that were set up with the aim of providing long term quality air transport service to the public. Most were set up for quick profit, which is not sustainable.

The airline industry is one of the hardest industries to run. This is due to very high operating costs. There are two operating models: Full service (e.g. emirates) and low cost (e.g. southwest). No model is better than the other; they have their niche customers. But the bottom line is customers want value for money. Therefore a well run airline is one that is run efficiently and offers customers value for money, whether u offer a 5 course meal on a 1 hr flight or u cram passengers like sardines in the name of Low cost.
When low cost airlines are mismanaged they usually go bust cos there is no way to cut costs as they are already operating at the edge of the envelope. When full service airlines are mismanaged they try to cut costs. The easiest, but not
necessarily the most sensible, thing is to revert to the low cost model which immediately brings down operating costs.
Aerocontractors was mismanaged and went into a financial crisis. The management panicked and decided to adopt the low cost model. They sell cheap tickets and have more passengers but it doesn't necessarily translate into more revenue.
Unfortunately 4 them , a significant proportion of customers choose airlines based on the services they offer. They can afford to pay to be pampered. When aero ventured into the scheduled airline biz a couple years or so ago, people flew them cos they had some sort of class. Aeroplanes were crashing, so airlines has to sell class. Now they are throwing out that class. Who wants to bet? It aint gonna last. Wealth in Nigeria is not well balanced; most ppl are poor and very few are rich, very rich. The rich fly, the poor enter the bus. The low cost model works in developed countries where the working class can afford $50 to travel low cost. N7000 cheap air ticket is not cheap to the average working class nigerian, so dont expect aero to flill their planes just as southwest does in the USA. In fact since they introduced these cheap tickets their passenger numbers have not increased significantly. secondly, the passenger numbers on other airlines has not dropped.
Explanation:N7000 tickets allows a lotofpeoplewho couldn't previously afford it to fly, but those that could have voted with their feet in search of comfort.
I wish them luck but i dont think going low cost will get them out of the messthey put themselves in

The first step is to get an admission first. Then u can look for a scholarship afterwards. Aviation is a "flamboyant" industry and a lot of state are willing to sponsor indigenes. A lot of students I know who went Zaria had some sort of scholarship or the other. Most are sponsored by theri state govts

It's nice to see that d big wigs to are not immune fom facing d hazards that crew members and passengers face on a daily bases. Maybe now they can stop "chopping" the money meant for infrastructural and personnel development in the industry.
After ruining the airlines, they all acquired foreign registered private jets (most of which are operated illegally for charters). But they still have to fly in the same unsafe airspace. Nigerian airspace is probably one of the busiest sections of airspace in the whole world to NOT have radar. My sympathies go our to the Air traffic controllers (civil servants) who have the impossible task of dealing with so much air traffic even though they are provided will inadequate resources to do their job.
1 air traffic controller (Kano control) with a very bad radio and no radar is responsible for controlling all air traffic north ot the rivers Niger and Benue. This means hundreds of domestic flights, hundreds of departing and arriving intl flights and hundreds of transiting intl flight (It will amaze u how many flights transit Nigeria). 1 controller (Lagos) is supposd to control all traffic south of d Niger and Benue but the radio is bad. So airplanes east of Benin cannot hear Lagos anymore, so they talk to PHC who they has to relay messages to and from Lagos to the aircraft.

The airspace over PHC is DANGEROUS, full stop! It is very busy airspace. U have lots of relatively busy airports in a small area; PHC, Enugu, PHC military, Calabar and Owerri. Then u have helicopters servicing the oil industry swarming around like flies on sh1t! The PHC guy has all this to deal with + spill overs from Lagos. Its amazing there hasn't been a tragedy already. Thankfully, the former NAMA  MD was able to put a lot of things in place: the 2 radars (shameful) that work in Lagos and Abuja, 200 air traffic controllers set 4 radar training, and so many other projects. Unfortunately, The guy was too  efficient, so the fired him and put d old guy who knew how to let them embezzle money there.
So Mr Akpabio, expectmore near death experiences in the future. U cannot reap where u did not sow. And ur new airport is located right in betweenPHC and Calabar, that should be interesting. Hopefullythey get the PHC radar installed in Time.
Safe Skies an sweet dreams to everyone!

The bottom line

THE WHOLE MMA2/GAT DIDN'T FOLLOW DUE PROCESS. Fani-Kayode sold of Nigeria's birthright to Bi-courtney (some of the most controversial parts of the agreement were signed by his PA/girlfriend, he couldn't be bothered to read the details). Monopoly is not the way forward, Govt should be encouraging healthy competition.

Don't be decieved by the "shine shine", MMA2 is not good for nigerian aviation. It's too expensive to operate, no nigerian airline can afford to operate from MMA2. There is no airline currently operating from MMA2 that is turning a profit.

Bi-courtney has no experience in running an airport. MMA2 is already falling apart. They breached the airport masterplan in order t make a profit. Ther is nowhere to park airplanes cos they built a hotel where the carpark should be, put the carpark where the terminalshould be. Now the terminal is built where airplanes are supposed to be parked. MMA2 cannot handle ARIK air alone (30 airplanes), that'swhy they need to get the GAT, without GAT they are finished.

Majority of FAAN's revenue comes from domestic traffic out of Lagos. FAAN has already lost a lot of revenue to MMA2, if they hand over the GAT rhere would be a serious shortage of cashflow. THE AVIATION WORKERS THEREFORE HAVE A GENUINE CONCERN, as BICOURTENY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP ALL OF THEM IN EMPLOYMENT.

Possible sponsors:

1. Arik Air - they have a cadet program (0 hrs-CPL)

2. Virgin Nigeria- They have a cadet program (0 hrs -CPL)

3. Aerocontractors - train PPL holders and sometimes 0 hr candidates to fly helicopters

4. Bristow Helicopters/ Pan African helicopter - same as the above

5. Your state govt - i know quite a few people that have recieved assistance from their various states, being female can help

Private Jet = layman's term

Business Jet = Professional term

Why do organisations acquire these aircraft? Because it makes business sense. Most large fortune 500 companies have FLEETS of aircarft complete with a corporate flight department. In some cases, companies actually make money by owning these jets, e.g. lease it to a charter company when not using it. Aircraft are like real estate, they keep their value well. Citigroup just offloaded its fleet of aircraft in its quest to source for much needed funds. If Redeemed decided to offload this aircraft a few years down the line, it might end up not costing them anything.

The GO is a busy man who travels a lot, usually with an entourage. Add up his ticket fare and that of his entourage and you'll be suprised that the difference btw the total and the cost of operating his aircraft will not be as significant as you think.

He needs privacy, which might be difficult for him to have while waiting in the departure hall of MMIA or ina crowded 450 seater Boeing 747. half the passengers will wants to shake his hand or ask for a prayer or just catch a glimpse of the man of God.

Nigeria's road network is dangerous, and it is suicidal for anyone who can afford air travel to opt for road transport. The GOs tight schedule may render road travel unfeasible. Lets examine a scenario. He has to attend his friday night vigil @ camp then preach in yola the next day followed by another programin jos. If he used the airlines his route will be lagos- abuja-yola-abuja-lagos-jos. if he used his private aircraft,it will be Lagos(or ibadan)-yola-jos. ability to fly directly between any two cities means he can be more productive. More convention/services/crusade per year=more souls to Christ.

The G-IV is a top of the line long range aircraft, thecouldhave probably gone for something slightly smaller, maybe something in the "super midsize" category.

Just another look at the whole situation from an Aviation worker (not a redeemed member)

Nigeria is not a developed country because most nigerians dont have a developed mindset. Virgin Nigeria recently ordered 24 aircraft from a brazilian company Embraer. Brazil is a third world country yet it is the leading manufacturer of regional jets in the world. Their biggest customers are in Europe and America.
All the major aerospace companies will not be where they are now if not for government intervention. Airbus recieves a lot of funding and support from various EU govts. Government funding and support is paramount in aerospace development. Boeing relies heavily on govt-funded NASA research. Just for your information, the following third world countries make aircraft: Brazil, china, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, India, South Africas,etc. So why can't Nigeria design aircraft? Because Nigerians are not development minded as is evident from a large % of posts on the threads.
5 years from now many posters on this thread will jumps in a boeing or airbus designed by Mubarak and marvel at oyinbo wizardry, if only they new. I am a pilot and am very conversant with the history and mechanics of aircraft design. I have to say that Mr Mubark has achieved a great technical feat, and doesnt need your support because at the moment he's probably having a difficult time choosing which of the major aircraft designers to work for. Onename to watch out for in the future