Some commercial helicopters deployed for operations in and out of Abuja have remained stuck at the temporarily closed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for over a week. This is despite claims that the Federal Government has lifted the ban on their use around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It was learnt that as at Sunday morning, operators were still unable to move the choppers.Helicopter operators and other investors have continued to lose money days after the no-fly order was purportedly lifted. And while millions of dollars worth of aircraft are idling away, air travellers are still confined to hours of travel either by rail or road to reach Abuja from Kaduna International Airport.
The office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) penultimate Friday banned helicopter operations in Abuja, citing security concerns following the closure of the airport for runway repairs.
The
Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, however, said that the ban had
been lifted following reports on economic implications of such an order. But
till yesterday, nothing appeared to have changed.
The
Head of Operations of one of the airlines confirmed that they were yet to
resume operations because “we still have our choppers in Abuja and they have
not been released to fly.”
The
director, who would not want to be mentioned, said the ban or no-ban order
appeared to have been muddled up in controversy, such that operators really
don’t know what to believe.
The
President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Nogie Meggison, who
has been at the forefront of negotiations for the reversal of the ban,
confirmed that operations were yet to resume.
Meggison
explained that the plan was to immediately have the stuck rotary wing aircraft
freed for use following pronouncements that the ban had been lifted.“The
latest, as I have been told, is that letters (on suspension of ban) were only
sent out late Friday to airlines. Bristow flew today (Sunday). So, I’m hopeful
that operations will fully resume this week and things will get better,”
Meggison said.
A
top-rated official at Bristow could only confirm a communication from the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to resume operations, suggesting that
the ban has been lifted. He was hopeful that Bristow would resume operations
today.
A
source close to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the
helicopters had been freed to operate, though restricted to only two helipads
belonging to Julius Berger and Nigeria Customs, both in Abuja.
The
source said the challenge might be lack of clearance on the customs’ helipad,
but that of Julius Berger has been cleared for operations “from where Bristow
ran its Abuja-Minna operations today (Sunday).”
It
was reported that the operators were counting their losses in billions, with
leased special-purpose helicopters worth $20 million each sitting idle in Lagos
and Abuja, while operators continue to incur the cost of parking, crew and
maintenance.
With
the choppers unable to move, operators were forced to start refunding already
booked shuttle and chartered services to their customers. The costs of a direct
helicopter shuttle service from Lagos to Abuja went for between N150, 000 and
N200, 000 per head. A similar flight on Kaduna-Abuja or Minna-Abuja route cost
between N50, 000 and N100, 000. Charter services were booking in millions, it
was learnt.
Source:Guardian
Tags
Business