Aviation
Med-View gets AOC to commence scheduled operations next month
By Oyise OGHENE
It was pomp and pageantry on Friday night at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as Med-View Airline, which is noted for annual hajj exercise to Mecca, Saudi Arabia was eventually issued the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to commence scheduled flight operations after two years of rigorous attempt to get the certificate.
The airline was issued a certificate to operate scheduled, cargo, charter and passengers operations in the Nigerian aviation industry in a certificate personally signed by the Director-General, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren.
This certificate with the registration number MVA/AOC/10-12/05 was issued on the 19th October 2012 would be due for renewal on the 18th October, 2014.
Speaking in his office during the presentation of the certificate to the management of the airline, Demuren challenged the management to contribute their quota to the development of the sector and warned that the agency would not tolerate any unprofessional conduct from any airline in the sector.
He explained that unlike in the past when the AOC could be gotten easily by intending carrier in the industry, NCAA would ensure that anybody that is issued the certificate must be those that duly deserved it and emphasised that the agency would not relax its rule in order to achieve total safety for passengers and aircraft in the sector.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the airline, Alh. Muneer Bankole commended the agency for its careful oversight function and described the mandatory demonstration flight of 50hrs by NCAA as a step in the right direction.
He explained that the essence of the 50hrs demonstration flight was to ensure that the applicant could carry out scheduled operations with all the safety standards, adding that the carrier was the fifth airline to be certificated by NCAA under the new re-certification programme of NCAA.
Bankole informed that the airline would commence its inaugural flight first week of next month after its in-house orientation scheduled for this week.
As part of its Unique Selling Proportion (USP), Bankole said on-time departure and arrival would be its watchword as he observed that most of the carriers currently flying in the industry were not time conscious, adding that its safety and in-flight services would be distinct from others.
He said, “What we achieved today was not a child’s play. First and foremost, I want to commend the NCAA and the Director-General who probably in his own wisdom decided to enforce the compliance. It is a good thing for this nation and the industry. On the record today, we are the fifth airline that will get this certification by NCAA. I’m talking here about re certification since this AOC has commenced.
“Demonstration flight, we will not condemn it, it is the best because you don’t carry commercial passengers when you are not sure that your aircraft is safe for flying. They insisted that we must fly 50hrs and we flew 50hrs35minutes and it on record that we gave them 7hrs39minutes extra. If anybody is talking about flying compliance, I should be able to say that I’m complaint. I’m very proud of this, there were no cutting corners, we went for it and we earned it. The airline has opened; the door has opened by God.”
The airline hopes to fly to at least four routes in the country namely; Lagos-Abuja, Abuja-Port Harcourt, Maiduguri -Yola and Lagos-Port Harcourt with the two aircraft while its intend to expand its operations with the arrival of additional aircraft scheduled to arrive before the end of the year.
In a bold step to strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Governor Umo Eno announced the addition of two new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to the fleet of the state-owned airline, Ibom Air, on Friday.
The two aircraft, registered as 5N-CED and 5N-CEE, mark a milestone in the state’s commitment to strategic investment, with the governor stressing that the acquisitions were fully funded by state resources without loans from financial institutions.
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At a welcoming ceremony attended by local officials and residents, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s mission to drive revenue-generating ventures for Akwa Ibom rather than relying on debt.
He called the move a step toward breaking the cycle of government investments that only serve to pay off loans, vowing that the state’s funds would go towards projects that bring returns to the people.
The governor challenged Ibom Air to turn a profit by 2025, stating that the airline’s management should ensure routes in and out of Uyo remain dependable to prioritize the needs of Akwa Ibom travelers.
“As long as I remain governor, we will continue to use state funds for the benefit of all, not for private gain,” he said, noting that his administration aims to ensure that public investments deliver real value to the state.
Governor Eno also provided updates on several ambitious state projects, including an 18-story commercial complex underway in Lagos and an upcoming 4-star hotel in Abuja, both designed to generate revenue for Akwa Ibom.
Plans for an international market in Ikot Ekpene and the phased opening of a new terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport were also announced, with the airport terminal set for partial operation by December and full activation in early 2025.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended Eno’s financial management, highlighting that the administration has avoided seeking loans over the past 18 months despite launching significant development projects.
Ibom Air’s Chairman, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, expressed appreciation for the state’s investment in the airline, which has seen its fleet grow to nine aircraft.
Jacob credited the governor’s support with enabling Ibom Air to boost flight capacity, meeting demand on popular routes such as Uyo-Lagos-Abuja.
Captain Mfon Udom, CEO of Ibom Air, stated that the expanded fleet will improve efficiency and allow the airline to scale up its operations in time for the Christmas travel season.
Udom also noted that the airline anticipates the delivery of nine additional Airbus planes, which will further strengthen Ibom Air’s market presence.
Traditional leaders, including HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon III of Okobo Local Government Area, lauded the governor’s leadership, pledging continued support from the traditional institutions.
Anie Essienette, Group Manager for Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, noted that demand for the airline’s services has surged nationwide, with the new CRJ900 aircraft helping meet this increasing need while the airline awaits further fleet expansion.
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo is of the view that there’s no cause for alarm over the approval of a private airstrip for a religious organisation, which attracted the attention of the House of Representatives.
He took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday morning to shed light on the subject, and explained that it could be a great source of revenue for Federal Government.
Keyamo asserted that the issue was raised by an honourable member at plenary, out of ignorance, but was “unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into.”
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Keyamo expressed confidence that by the time his Ministry was done enlightening them, “they will be satisfied”.
He added that “the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.”
Keyamo wrote, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip.
“I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.
“By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.
“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations.
“It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.
“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land.
“And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go. So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation.
“I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion.
“I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA.”
The NNPC Ltd has clarified that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other bodies have been recovered.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye.
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“The Company further notes that intensified search and rescue operations for the remaining bodies along with relevant authorities is still ongoing.
“Once again, our hearts and prayers are with family members of this unfortunate incident,” the statement added.
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