Stella says no aircraft over 15 yrs old

[exeng]

So if this is the case where do Aero, IRS, etc (or Dana if appropriate) stand. Last time I looked the age of most fleets apart from Arik was way above this.

What plans do these airlines have?

Interesting times in for aviation for Nigeria perhaps?

[stevef]

Third-rate maintenance is probably worse on newer aircraft as there are more things to screw up if they're not understood.
I've seen some frightening levels of blissful technical ignorance in that part of the world.

[eagleflier]

My understanding of this law is that no aircraft will be registered in Nigeria if over the age limit. It does not apply to aircraft already registered.

[exeng]

Yes that makes sense in many ways. Don't want to see any more airlines out of business.

[arf1410]

did a quick "google" and could find no further info on this subject. Can you post a link to an article providing more details?

[stallfail]

Dear leading Aviation figure of the federal republic of nigeria, your highness.. princess...... always best example of greatly educated, sumpremely in accdordance with international aviation standards/rules acting minister of aviation, ............... Madame Babatunde Omotoba

Now, you really found THE solution in your fight to make “Nigeria’s Aviation”SAFE !!!!
Of course it’s always the OLD aircrafts, making the sky unsafe,………………………………………………………….

it has nothing to do with retaining spare parts of your customs authority, even though urgently needed by the Airlines !!!!
it has nothing to do with the NCAA’s sick approach to approve MEL extensions (let’s say an APU – MEL Cat “C”…….10 days ) up to 180 days !!!!!!
it has nothing to do with the poor infrastructure of airports, NAV/COM/MET equipment , nothing to do with poor handling of standard situation, not by not following any procedures, established by foreign countries/authorities !!!!!!

My dear Princess you are also soooooo much right in not accepting any advice, beside your political ones, ……..keep your focus on creating a foreigner free aviation environment, guess the best way would be if only controlled by you, guess than nothing will go ever wrong again in Nigeria !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Dang! So that's what a can of worms being opened sounds like...:}

[exeng]

From Information Nigeria.org [URL="http://www.informationnigeria.org/2012/07/decision-to-impose-15-years-aircraft-age-limit-may-lead-to-closure-of-at-least-4-airline-operators.html"]

The Federal Government’s has plans underway to lower the age limit of commercial aircraft allowed to operate in Nigeria to 15 years. And, the policy, which has been receiving criticisms from the aviation industry experts, has been described as unrealistic.

It is believed that this will lead to the banning of no fewer than 38 jets, representing about 60 per cent of scheduled commercial airlines’ planes in the country. The 38 planes are currently flying for eight domestic airlines.

At the Safety Conference of African Aviation Ministers in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, had said the government was already considering lowering the age limit of aircraft that could operate in the country to 15 years. She admitted that the policy could have a short-term negative impact on the desire to encourage the growth of domestic airlines, but added that the issue should be how to strengthen and enhance airlines’ viability as business concerns.

In her words, “We will continue to encourage domestic airlines not only to grow in their individual capacities but also to consolidate wherever possible, so as to pool resources together for the emergence of more stable, viable and profitable airlines.” She added, Statistics on age and histories of Nigerian airlines’ planes obtained from planespotters.net showed that at least 38 out of the 64 Nigerian commercial planes were over 15 years old. However, airlines that are likely to be affected are: FirstNation Airlines, Dana Air, IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines. Statistics from the planespotters.net showed that apart from the plane that crashed, Dana currently has four Boeing McDonnell Douglass 83 planes that are over 15 years.


So it seems the plan is to also ban aircraft over 15 years old that are currently registered.

If this plan is carried out then it will be very bad news for some operators and also domestic passengers.

An innapropriate knee jerk reaction to the Dana accident that does nothing to address the endemic safety issues evident in the Nigerian aviation infrastructure. This reaction would indicate that the 'government' of this fine nation either do not understand the issues or deliberately choose to ignore them.

[eagleflier]

So what happens if a 4 year old aeroplane crashes, ban all aeroplanes over 3years old.
If a 50 year old Captain crashes, ban all pilots above 40 years old.
If a foreign pilot crashes, ban all expats.
Load of :mad: in my opinion.
That's what happens when you have a minister of aviation whose only experience in aviation is on the queue to check in

[unstable load]

If you are looking for someone to blame, follow the money.
Who stands to gain the most from this ruling? Certainly not
the folks that will be forced to buy newer equipment, so it
seems to be those who already have an established foot in
the door with the necessary equipment to continue operating
pretty much as they are right now.....:rolleyes:

[50oddfeet]

Stella.....what a joke! And as a Princess I guess that she couldn't even go back to the kitchen? How's about fixing some of the aviation infrastructure and inherent problems associated with trying to run an Airline/Corporate Flight Department as pointed out by stallfail....and while your at it fix the rest of the bloody place cause God knows it surley needs it! Who was it that said "I can fix most things but I can't fix stupid"?

Princess Stella for President!

[capt767]

Who was it that said "I can fix most things but I can't fix stupid"?



I beleive that was Ron White..and he was spot on. This lady is the definition of stupid! I wonder what the criteria is for being appointed a minister in Nigeria. One would think you should at least have some knowledge of the f:mad:g area first. May God help them develop some sort of common sense. It's really sad to see things like this happen.

[5N-OSA]

Nigeria loses revenue, status as airlines shun its airspace (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93895:nigeria-loses-revenue-status-as-airlines-shun-its-airspace&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)


The System is Sick and the princess doesn't have the faintest Idea of what to do. IMHO I think she is just Overwhelmed and her utter lack of knowledge on Aviation matters makes her helpless figure head.

[NIJASEA]

Ladies and gentlemen, we can't blame the princess for the shortcomings in the aviation sector as we have a DG NCAA and several MD's of parastatals who are to advise an administrator. The princess is an administrator and nothing more, so if we can't get things done properly we should stop flying/ signing out aircrafts. The last line of defence for the safety of passengers is the flight deck crew. Don't fly if you think it is not safe. There are jobs out there but I personally don't have 9 lives.

[dash200]

You talk as if you don't know Africans. Stella Oduah's a politician first, and any thing else, second.
Just how laughable these people can be was evident in the Dana crash panel report, which recommended speedy completion of the airport terminals' remodeling project, as if that had anything to do with the crash.
Ultimately, an intelligent and push-full pol like Oduah would have learned by now the nuances even, of the industry. Her officials include honest people who'll ensure all options are always on her table; the job by itself compels it, for that matter.
So, the question is whether she listens to reason, purpose and direction, not whether she gets supplied with such or not.
But if the track record of our public officials is anything to go by, I guess the answer to that is clear

[stallfail]

Dear NIJASEA,

In a "normal" world Ministers/Politicians/Governors are supposed to take responsibilities for missmanagement and bad performance in their sector, irrespective of the quality of advisors or other related people.
The Minister is the head of the division and if **** hits the fan, he/she has to take responsibility............

Your statement just reflects the average mindset of aviation profesionals working in Nigeria.....

so if we can't get things done properly we should stop flying/ signing out aircrafts. The last line of defence for the safety of passengers is the flight deck crew.

A usual working day in Naija meens for flightcrews to deal with incorrect loadsheets, HIL items filling several techlog pages, continues fuel shortages, erroneous flightplans, wrong pax numbers, expired METARs, mental ATC requests, powerless airport facilities, unserviceable ground NAV/COM equipment,................................ :yuk:

Complacency and flawed manner has become a norm as the majority performs in this way, means in order to get an aircraft even airborn, most of flightcrews/maintenance are cutting corners constantly....

If the flight deck is left as the only line of defence for the safety of passengers, then it will continue to rain aircrafts out of the Nigerian sky.



It is the responsibility of all Airlines in Naija to create a " safety culture", and it is the responsibility of the Aviation Minister Stella to provide the required infrastructure and to assure that airlines are working in accordance with rules and regulations.

So if Stellas answer to the aviation safety problem in Nigeria is to ban aircrafts older than 15 years, she might be overdue for the petition in lunacy........................

[Phantom Driver]

A usual working day in Naija meens for flightcrews to deal with incorrect
loadsheets, HIL items filling several techlog pages, continues fuel shortages,
erroneous flightplans, wrong pax numbers, expired METARs, mental ATC requests,
powerless airport facilities, unserviceable ground NAV/COM equipment,..


You mean nothing has changed in the past 30 years?!:sad:

[stallfail]

Same place, same things, same people.............it appears..........

[NIJASEA]

Guys/Gals, things have changed drastically in the last 20 odd years and it has moved in the right direction but it needs to move a lot more to keep up with the times. We still have people sitting exams on paper as the computer system crashes every other day, no emails to the NCAA please as they have no cash to renew the subscription. Ramp checks done by inspectors who have no idea of the documents required. Do your best guys/gals... Fly safe, blue side up :ok: