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Author: Gerald
Posted to the web: 6/15/2008 3:40:21 PM

SUDANESE PLANE CRASH: A CHALLENGE TO AFRICAN AVIATION INDUSTRIES

Contemporary Aviation in Africa grows out of a long tradition of poverty, hardship, neglect and mismanagement. This is the more reason why international community including African citizens are criticizing African Aviation industries as inefficient government bodies that facilitates the death of innocent air travelers. The scorched hell of a crash that caused the plane to veer off a runaway and burst into flames, killing at least 100 people have put African Aviation industries under scrutiny and suspicion. The Sudanese airways jet, Airbus A 310 appeared to have gone off the runaway after landing at Khartoum International airport, with several loud explosions resounded as fire raced through the aircraft leaving bystanders gasping for breath. This singular incident has given African nations another baptism of a name as a continent with creepy air transportation. This baptism of name reaffirms why African air transportation has become another death trap for commuters. The recognition that African aviation industry is short of international standard reaffirms the assertion that other aspects of African social, economic and political lives need proper examination. The examination of African aviation industries challenges one to a myriad of questions. The questions many ask is why are African aviation industries in a perpetual flaw? Why are air transportation in most African countries a nightmare? Why are African Jets and planes in a very deplorable flying conditions? Why have African planes failed to race well? and why are they emitting combustive smokes, loud sounds or roaring distractions? And after a crash, why have African aviation officials unable to put accurate death toll per each crash? Concerned individuals often ask why death toll after a crash is always conflicted? They ask why African television and newspapers give a different death statistics while aviation officials give a total different number? When we ask fundamental questions of this nature the power that be would call for our removal or look for our shortcomings to get rid of us. But these are fundamental questions that challenges the validity of administrative nonchalance. They are questions that African citizens always demand answers. They are fundamental questions African people believe in. The questions that would transform African Aviation are questions air commuters ask on a daily basis. They are not my personal questions? They are not my arguments or fabricated postulations. They are questions African citizens want answers. At all times, death resulting from air crash in Africa has continue to rise in the past decade and nothing meaningful have be done to remedy the situation. The world and NGO’S knows that African aviation is a flaw because all her aircrafts go through rough landing which leads to transportation disaster. Sometimes disaster in African aviation results because smokes gets into the cockpit that sometimes engulf the plane and passengers or because the runaway are always drenched by rain. It is in Africa that pilots tries to land in spite of bad weather. It is in Africa that bad weather causes African aircrafts to crash-land, split into two and catch fire. It is in Africa that pilots have difficult signals with control tower. It is in Africa that government officials attribute reasons for a crash on technical problems. It is in Africa that commercial air travel is very unsafe. Africa is a continent where looters swarm the scene of a plane crash in a bid to loot instead of engaging in a fire-fighters rescue mission. This is the more reason why the CBS news room once reported that impoverished residents in the capital central African Republic swarmed over the wreckage of a crashed plane, hacking off metals, looting a cargo of onions and hampering efforts to free trapped victims. This means that mere metals and onions are far more important than the lives of victims trapped in a humiliated crash. Most African plane crashes have claimed lives of top government official, politicians, celebrities, business tycoons and common citizens. On May 2002, a plane crashed in a remote area of southern Sudan killing 24 people including key members of the Sudanese government. On July 2003, a Sudanese Airways Boeing 737 en route from port Sudan to Khartoum crashed soon after takeoff, killing all 115 people on board. In November 28, 1987 another aircraft traveling from Taipei Taiwan to Johannesburg, South Africa, a south African Airways flight 295 flew without incident for nine and half hours before tragedy struck. The death toll and the cause of the crash remained a mystery till today. As Boeing 747 flew over Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the pilot reported smoke in the cabin. A few minutes later, the plane crashed into the deep ocean, killing all 159 passengers and crew. Those who witnessed the incident say that debris of the crash were washed ashore on the beeches of Madagscar. These debris could not be retrieved due to political troubles between the Island nation and South Africa at the time. And till this day, the precise cause of the crash remain shrouded in mystery. The Kenyan Boeing 737-800 crashed in Cameroon involving the country’s national carrier killing over 114 people aboard. According to a reliable source, the plane left Doula international airport in Cameroon and crashed only 13 minutes later. This particular incident was the second plane crash belonging to Kenya Airways to have crashed within the West African aerospace. The Sub-Sahara informer writes that the first crash took place in 2000 with en route from Abidjan , Cote d’ Ivoire killing all 168 passenger on board. Also, Angola Boeing 737 plane crashed on landing at the airport in Northern Angola killing 5 people on board. This particular crash happened shortly after the European union said it was blacklisting the airline due to safety reasons. Stories reveal that Angola Boeing 737 landed half way down the runaway and bounced before crashing into a house. Nigeria always witness at least three plane crashes less than in a year. Why should plane crash be a tradition in African aviation industries? Why is plane crash a lead story in Nigeria? At one time Nigerian airliner carrying 104 passengers was found to have operated for more than 23 years. The questions that come to mind is how can a plane of 23 year old be air worthy to fly? How can the lives of passengers in such outmoded aircraft be secured? There is no possibility for security and protection of the lives of passengers who board African aircrafts that are as old as their grandmamma. Contrary, Nigerian transportation industry would have the effrontery to pass stringent law that motor vehicle model beyond 8 years are not road worthy and must be banned plying Nigerian highways. The same regulation and policy should affect aircrafts that are more than 8 years. Moreover, aircraft that fails to pass inspection test should not be allowed to fly across African borders. Safety precautions should be enforced at all times to limit the increasing number of air crash. The lack of proper safety precautions have caused many African aircrafts to be blacklisted or banned from operating within the European union. Many are banned from flying into any European nations because of safety concerns. Many are banned because of sabotage especially Kenyan and the Sudanese who have history of terrorist encampment. According to an Associated press, the European union unilaterally banned 62 African airlines from flying into European airspace following a string of air disaster, including the Kenya Airways, B737 that crashed killing 114 passengers. After the ban took effect, the civil aviation of African continent based in Namibia with regional offices in South Africa, Ethiopia, Libya and Nigeria and the Cameroon never did anything to play to the rule. Instead they played an Ostrich and contradicted the very essence of aviation requirements. They never helped matters or tried to inspect their aircrafts to meet international standard. They never tried to work on deficiencies that causes African planes to crash. One could call this body a toothless bull-dog that fails to streamline aviation regulations and licensing throughout Africa at a time when the continent has the world accident record in the world. It is worrisome that our aviation industry cannot guarantee the safety of her citizens. It is worrisome that African aircrafts are in a deplorable bad conditions. It is worrisome that most of our aircrafts lack proper maintenance and services culture. Africa as a continent lacks maintenance culture in all ramifications. Besides lacking maintenance culture, Africa has a poor aviation safety record. The federal aviation administrators and the national transportation safety board have always tell families and relatives who die during a crash that they are monitoring the situation. Instead of telling families the truth, they say the cause of the crash is unknown and everything is in place to ascertain the cause. Most often, families and well-wishers would continue to wait for answers until another crash over shadows the former. Studies show that causes of fatal air accidents are as a result of poor maintenance and error from African pilots. Demographic assessment reveal that most African fatal crashes are caused by the lost of radio contact, run out of fuel, depressurization which often times renders passengers and crew members very incapacitated and unconscious for hours before the plane crash. Sometimes a fuel-air explosion may take place inside the center wing tank, precipitating an explosive crash. Sometimes a crash occur as a result of fuel leaking into the cockpit and cause intense fire outbreak. Despite intense investigation and subsequent speculation , the cause of most crashes remain unknown. Sometimes investigators would found no evidence of sabotage or an in-fight fire. But the lack of sufficient evidence have kept African aviation authorities from ever identifying the true cause of most air disaster. Most African air crash occur in good weather and visibility with ground controller receiving no signs of distress messages prior to crash. Most theories given for the cause of plane disaster are often times not substantiated. However, a range of unofficial theories are sometimes given to the press, other national media or families of the victims of such disaster as the cause of the crash. From 1921 to date, the air accidents involving commercial aircraft have rose significantly. From 1922 to 1940, there were about 36 incident of air crash; from 1941 to 1951, there were about 100 incidents; and from 1952 to 1962, there were about 381- the latest in our aviation history. Statistics show that in 1950, the cause of 41 fatal plane crash was pilot error. In 1960, the number was 37; In 1970 the number was 29; In 1980 the number was 30; In 1990 the number was 31 and In 2000 the number was 30. Most pilot errors that are weather related was 11crashes in 1950, 17 in 1970; 15 in 1970; 16 in 1980; 19 in 1990 and finally 19 crashes in 2000. Pilot error that was mechanical related in 1950 were 7 crashes; 3 in 1960 4 in 1980; 6 in 1990 and 3 in 2000. The total pilot error that have cause fatal crash in Africa is 59 in 1950; 57 in 1960; 48 in 1970; 50 in 1980; 56 in 1990 and 52 in 2000. Weather related crashes are 14 in 1950, 11 in 1960; 10 in 1970; 12 in 1980; 9 in 1990 and 8 in 2000. Fatal plane crashes associated with mechanical failure are 20 in 1950, 19 in 1960; 21 in 1970; 21in 1980; 21 in 1980 and 25 in 2000. Statistics of Sabotage that cause African planes to crash are minimal compared to sabotage that are commonplace in Europe and America. One study reveal that sabotage related crashes in 1950’s were 3; 4 in the 1960‘s; 9 in the 70‘s; 10 in the 80‘s; 7 in the 90’s and 6 in 2000. The above data represents 1,843 fatal crashes involving commercial aircrafts. Pilot error -weather related represent accidents in which pilot error was the cause but brought about by weather related phenomenon. Pilot error -mechanical related represents accidents in which pilot error was the cause that brought about some type of mechanical failure. Other human errors include air traffic controller errors, improper loading of aircraft, fuel contamination and improper maintenance procedures. Again, human error could be attributed to the machine with which the manufacturers measured component vibrations which sometime could be found to be inaccurate. Sabotage in African air crash includes explosive devices, shoot downs and hijacking. There are other notable crashes assessed by categories such as: Air traffic control error; bird strike; cargo hold/cabin fire; design flaw; sabotage/explosive device; fuel starvation; hijacking (resulting in fatalities); lightening; pilot incapacitation and finally pilots shot by crazy and blood thirsty passengers. On one hand, propeller failure is another factor that has continued to precipitate regular aviation crash. Operations during an ILS approach or a bird strike (a flock of starlings) have damaged the engine of most African aircrafts, cog the pilot tubes, and obstruct the pilot’s view. It seems to appear to me that a mechanical factor that precipitate aviation crash is the fact that runaway stabilizer may results in maintain ace error causing the aileron to become detached from the control wheel. Sometimes, African pilots misread their approach chart after an unexplained course deviation. Cart deviation sometimes cause the engine to lose all electrical powers. Deviations may be as a result of contamination of the fuel resulting in dual engine failure. Our aviation industry does not engage in air passage screening. And when they do, they are carried out haphazardly and inconsistently. Also, African Jets are exposed to poor inspection and sometimes the engine of the aircraft suffers explosive decompression. Most often, one of its cargo doors falls in flight to a degree that defective instrument gives misleading guidance during the instrument approach in visibility. Often times, inexperienced pilots over run the speed way , or land short on approach especially when most aircrafts have instrument malfunction. A malfunction that is capable of causing a crash is a light indicating a problem with the landing gear or other catastrophic mechanical failure. The Sudanese air crash was the worst airline incident in African history and would always remain in my assessment the worst single-aircraft airliner accident on African soil. Causes of African plane crash points to severe corrosion in the fuselage structure leading to explosive decompression and disintegration at high altitude due to engine failure; crashes while attempting to land in heavy raining seasoning or fog; suffering complete hydraulic system failure or running out of fuel due to inaccurate navigation. Majority of African plane crash are attributed to defect in a valve associated with the rudder; overshooting the runway; crashes during takeoff; landing gear failure; blowing of the tire during landing, causing a fire that needs emergency response personnel’s to extinguish. A remarkable spotlight besides the Sudanese crash that claimed lives was the Goma crash in the democratic republic of Congo. Shortly after taking off from the Goma airport, the aircraft maze off houses as it plowed through a densely populated marketplace. This particular crash killed about 16 people while more than 66 others including 5 crew members survived. The survival of the 5 crew members was a miracle and family members praised the lord for their survival. Though relatively rare, incidence of airplane tragedy in Africa make up a significant element of 20th century aviation history. If this is the case, one would logically argue that African Aviation department does not study the cause of air disaster which could help African economy or assist our aeronautic engineers to design safer planes that would challenge officials to initiate better air travel habits and guidelines. Despite all these, a number of crashes have remained unresolved till today. Such mysterious crashes are the plane accident from Orville Wright’s ill-fated flight of September 1908 to the October 1999 crash associated with Egyptian air flight 990. On Jan 22 1973, in Kano Nigeria, more than 171 Nigerian Muslim returning from Mecca and 5 crew died in a plane crash. On March 4th 1975 in Douala Cameroon, the trans-African DC-7 crashed on the take off killing all 111 passengers aboard. Similarly, on May 20th 1965 the same crash took place in Cairo, Egypt. The Pakistan International Airways 707 crashed on landing at airport killing 124 passengers. On August 3, 1975 in Agadir Morocco, the chartered Boeing 707 returning Moroccan workers home after vacation in France plunged into mountainside and killed 188 passengers. In 1987 (November 26, South Mauritius), the South African Airways Boeing 747 went down in rough seas and left 160 died. Also in January 2000, off the Ivory Coast, the Kenyan Airways Airbus A-310 carrying 179 passengers and crew crashed and perished into the Atlantic ocean killing all 217 aboard. On May 4th 2002, Kano Nigeria, the EAS Airline BAC 1-11 bound for Lagos plowed at a poor densely populated suburb of Kano shortly after takeoff, killing 148. The statistics and death tolls are so many for a mere census. Causality and death toll included 76 aboard and dozens on the ground. On October, 22 2002 at Lagos Nigeria, a crash occurred involving Belleview Airlines Boeing 737-200 en route to Abuja crashed, killing all 117 on board. On December 10 2005 at Portharcout, Nigeria, the Sosoliso Airline planes carrying 110 crashed during landing killing 106. Jesuit students and a priest (Fr. Obi) a man of God who laid the foundation stone to Mater Catholic Parish in Portharcourt perished beyond recognition. In the same year, March 2005, the Bellview aircraft clamed the lives of prominent Nigerians Muslims returning from Mecca including the life of prominent emir in the North, the Sultan of Sokoto. Finally on May 5, 2007 in Douala Cameroon, A Kenyan bound Airway plane took off in stormy whether and crashed moments later after killing all 114 people on board. The statistics goes on and on and the tragedy remains with families of air commuters. Africa should do something concerning her aviation image within international community. African should copy international aviation manual and regulations. They should enforce proper inspection of aircrafts that flies within sub-Sahara and beyond to ensure credibility and flight satisfaction to customers and passengers. The safety of African aircrafts and the safety of African passengers should be first priority for African Aviation industries. Safety of these industries would attract tourism and change the mind-set of the West to fly into Africa without inhibition. African politicians should do sometime about these daunting challenges. The reason is because tourism in Africa appears to be part and parcel of the services that can boast African economy. In 2001 alone, Nigeria received 955, 000 tourist visits. Most tourists come from neighboring African countries, but international tourists shy away because of the safety issues associated with our industries. Politicians and law makers should not wait till one African president dies on a plane crash before a legislation is passed to revamp our aviation. A prosperous nation is one that has good transportation system. A powerful society is one with efficient aviation history. Good aviation facilitates the growth of the economy. It facilitates trade, services, international relations and business. Unfortunately, services are vast and poorly defined part of the African economy that include most informal and formal enterprise. African economy traditionally that are based on agriculture, trade and crude oil should shift focus to aviation and transportation. Aviation and transportation also makes travel safe and faster for citizens and visitors. It brings travelers and their world together into a global village. It makes travel smooth for presidents and politicians. It makes travel easier for international business and friendship. It makes the world a global village in connectivity. Efficient aviation industries contrast a nation’s dependence on oil by promoting greater increase in export earnings and allowing massive investments in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and social services. Since petroleum accounts for as much as 98 percent of export earning and produce which is about four-fifths of government revenues. The production and account of the GDP is often times divided almost equally between petroleum, agriculture, service and aviation sectors. Finally, it removes fear and reduces the pain ordinary citizens go through while driving long distance or catching a bus. Perfect aviation puts life and business on a fast track. Bad aviation on one hand contradicts all these. Critics say that a continent with bad aviation system is a right off in the international assessment. The time has come for political aspirants to establish political pressure groups such as the campaign for sustainable aviation progress in Africa. This pressure group like the Nigerian Labor congress should be prepared to organize a strike to protest against all nightmare associated with African aviation tragedies. Protests should center on government polices and legislations that hampers industrial development such as aviation expansion and efficiency. Protests should challenge government establishments that makes it difficult to obtain sufficient parts of the aircraft and spear parts. Critics of oil and aviation industries should not allow this aspect of the national life of the economy to die a natural death. Activists in social justices should not allow African Politicians to dubiously accuse them of murdering government supporters who sing praises to our rascal leaders and those of them who make political speeches that our aviation industry is in perfect shape. Any political speech or rhetoric’s (storytelling) that praises African aviation is a speech from the ghost. Good speeches must promote the establishment of good and excellent aviation for commerce and industries. Good speeches must center on the mission, objective, achievement and pitfalls of African aviation. A good speech must consider what needs to be done to remedy the quagmire. A continent without solutions to her commerce and industries, otherwise without excellent aviation industries is always plagued by sporadic outburst of communal violence. African employees needs to form Aviation union to fight problems affecting the continent. Such union should introduce series of reforms, including an allowance for greater foreign partnership or ownership of domestic aircrafts, a loosing of control and misappropriation from African aviation officials who cannot handle their own business well. When a continent cannot handle her own business, then such a continent is calling for help. Union activities have increased in recent times with the economic downturn of the 1990s and 2000s. Like the active union representing petroleum workers and university teachers, the union for aviation should challenge the government not just on salary and economic issues but on abuses of aviation industries. They should campaign actively to compel African government and major aviation unions to introduce aviation and environmental safeguards. African government need to create continental aviation protection agency (CAPA) to address problems of plane crash, inspection and cause of crash and other contingencies associated with African aviation. A perfect aviation would serve as a strong constitutive element that would link Africa diversely to the network of opportunities and friendship with other international communities. Common sense teaches that aviation and transportation have pre-eminent consideration in the determination of a robust economy, attractive tourism and initiation of friendship. Also, perfect aviation generates fast revenues to the continent. In sum, efficient aviation is equi-primodial with the acquisition of respect, recognition, transformation of a continent. Through excellent aviation, African continent would be respected and their world-view would be assessed in a less critical manner. Assessments and implementation of all these ideals are one step toward solving aviation quagmire. Jerry Ogbuja