Posted by Oluseto Olatuyi on
No fewer than 29 aircraft out of 53 operating commercial flights in the country have exceeded the 22-year age limit stipulated by the Ministry of Aviation.
No fewer than 29 aircraft out of 53 operating commercial flights in the country have exceeded the 22-year age limit stipulated by the Ministry of Aviation.
Statistics obtained from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority showed that, out of the over age aircraft on scheduled services, three are 30 years old and above.
The Federal Government had on the heels of the 2002 crash of an EAS BAC 1-11 aircraft in Kano, which killed all 106 persons on board and dozens on the ground, directed that aircraft aged 22 years and above should no longer be registered by the NCAA.
Owners of over age aircraft that were already registered were given five years to get rid of them.
Operators of the three aircraft that are above 30 years, according to NCAA records last updated in February 2005, are Albarka Air Services, Associated Aviation Limited, and Sosoliso Airlines.
Those having aircraft aged between 22 and 30 years in their fleet are the Aviation Development Company, Aero Contractors, Albarka, Associated, Bellview Airlines, Chanchangi Airlines, Executive Air Services, IRS Airlines, Sosoliso and Spaceworld International Airlines.
Our correspondent learnt that there are 165 aircraft registered, both by commercial and non-commercial operators, with the NCAA.
Of the entire lot, 11 are exactly 22 years old.
Younger generation aircraft, including helicopters aged 15 years and below, numbered 59. These are, however, found in the fleet of airlines servicing the oil industry and government parastatals.
Some of the aircraft, which are as new as three to four years, are being operated by Aero Contractors, Bristow Helicopters, Mobil Producing Unlimited, National Emergencies Management Agency and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
Other operators are the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Overland Airways, Pan African Airlines, and the Presidential Air Fleet.
Some of the planes in the Presidential Air Fleet are, however, overage.
Although NCAA rated the fairly old aircraft as serviceable, they are mostly found in the fleet of airlines involved in general aviation and cargo operations.
In the fleet of Aero Contractors, there are 26 aircraft made up of helicopters and turbo prop engines. The newest plane on its fleet was manufactured in 2003, and the oldest in 1983.
ADC has one serviceable Boeing 737-294 aircraft manufactured in 1980.
Albarka has two serviceable Boeing aircraft, 727 and 737, manufactured in 1973 and 1982 respectively.
Associated has four HS 125 built in 1973, 1981 and 1983. The airline also has Shorts 360-200 built in 1987.
Bellview has three Boeing 737, manufactured in 1983 and 1981; while Chanchangi has three Boeing 727-200 built in 1982, 1979 and 1977.
EAS has three Boeing 737-200. NCAA records showed the manufacture date of two of them to be 1982 and 1983. IRS has four Fokker 28 aircraft built in 1990, 1987 and 1982. It also has one B 727 built in 1977.
Overland has three Beech 1900D manufactured in 1996 and 1999.
Sosoliso's newest DC-9 was built in 1982, and the oldest in 1973; while Space-world's two Boeing were built in 1981