Engine Noise
27th Sep 2005, 17:32
Guys how true is this story that appeared on a nigerian daily today?
DOMESTIC airline operators have petitioned the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NACA) over the alleged supply of adulterated fuel by a major oil marketer (name withheld).
The adulteration was allegedly noticed last week when the engine of some aircraft began to show signs of malfunction after taking the aviation fuel - Jet A1.
Some of the airline chiefs who spoke to The Guardian on the issue said they have collectively written a petition to the regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The operations manager of Chanchangi Airlines, Alhaji Muhammed Tukur confirmed the development.
The situation which he said was noticed last week had forced most of the operators to reject new supplies preferring to rely on their reserve until the problem was rectified.
He, however, noted that the NCAA was supposed to have checked the quality of the product before certifying it good for use.
According to Tukur "I believe that the marketer knows that the fuel was below standard. I believe that the drive to make more money could be the reason for selling sub-standard products. Any marketer selling fuel must present it for us to test".
To partially overhaul an engine of a B727-200 according to experts could cost up to $850,000 while a total overhaul of the engine of the same aircraft type costs about $1 million.
The secretary of AON, Capt. Mohammed Joji, said after investigation, "we may go to court".
Spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye in a telephone interview with The Guardian said the authority was yet to receive any petition from AON.
NCAA, he said, would investigate the allegation with a view to putting a stop to it or sanctioning the erring marketer.
Said he: "What we do is to get some quantity of the product from the marketers and test it through the quality control department before it is certified."
Meanwhile, domestic airline operators may be preparing to increase airfare as most of them are already running out of stock.
The increase which a source said may be an additional N1,000 on one-hour routes, was as a result of high cost of operations.
DOMESTIC airline operators have petitioned the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NACA) over the alleged supply of adulterated fuel by a major oil marketer (name withheld).
The adulteration was allegedly noticed last week when the engine of some aircraft began to show signs of malfunction after taking the aviation fuel - Jet A1.
Some of the airline chiefs who spoke to The Guardian on the issue said they have collectively written a petition to the regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The operations manager of Chanchangi Airlines, Alhaji Muhammed Tukur confirmed the development.
The situation which he said was noticed last week had forced most of the operators to reject new supplies preferring to rely on their reserve until the problem was rectified.
He, however, noted that the NCAA was supposed to have checked the quality of the product before certifying it good for use.
According to Tukur "I believe that the marketer knows that the fuel was below standard. I believe that the drive to make more money could be the reason for selling sub-standard products. Any marketer selling fuel must present it for us to test".
To partially overhaul an engine of a B727-200 according to experts could cost up to $850,000 while a total overhaul of the engine of the same aircraft type costs about $1 million.
The secretary of AON, Capt. Mohammed Joji, said after investigation, "we may go to court".
Spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye in a telephone interview with The Guardian said the authority was yet to receive any petition from AON.
NCAA, he said, would investigate the allegation with a view to putting a stop to it or sanctioning the erring marketer.
Said he: "What we do is to get some quantity of the product from the marketers and test it through the quality control department before it is certified."
Meanwhile, domestic airline operators may be preparing to increase airfare as most of them are already running out of stock.
The increase which a source said may be an additional N1,000 on one-hour routes, was as a result of high cost of operations.