Flight diversion: Worrisome development, says Pilots’, Aircraft Engineers’ Association president

…Air traffic controllers flays FLIDAN on development

The President of National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Engineer Abednego Galadima has described as worrisome a situation in which an aircraft dispatched to Abuja found itself in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Galadima said such development not only puts Nigerian aviation in a negative light , but constittute serious safety and security tendencies and breach for the country’s travel space and eco- system.

This is just as the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has warned the Flight Dispatcher Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN) against making allegations that would impede the investigations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) into the flight diversion that occurred on Sunday, November 26th involving a United Airlines Flight NUA 0504 departing Lagos to Abuja.

NATCA’s National President Mr. Yomi Agoro, accused FLIDAN of demonstrating ignorance on the matter , because a flight plan is subject to amendment.
He said NATCA would not respond to the allegations but would wait for the outcome of the investigation by the NCAA.

“They are ignorant of this fact: Are they aware that a flight plan is subject to amendment? The investigation is on course. Let us not preempt the exercise. They have exposed their conduct and at the appropriate time, NATCA will speak,” he said.

Speaking in an interview, Galadima revealed that development has exposed the underbelly of the influx of foreign pilots operating in the Nigerian airspace, a trend the pilots/aircraft engineers’ association has consistently kicked against.

Galadima said: “We see it as a flagrant disregard of the expatriate quota. I will see it as a situation whereby because some people have Air Operators’ Certificate, they will just go and enter a lease agreement, they call Aircraft Crew Maintenance Insurance (ACMI) with nothing other than the commission they get on their routes.

“But nothing accrues to Nigeria. The Nigerian pilot doesn’t gain in terms of training or improvement of the skills or type rating, the engineers do not gain. “They just come with their aircraft with everything and begin to do business without regard or interface with our own professionals. I don’t think it is accepted.”

On the controversy over the flight plan filed by the flight dispatcher of United Nigeria Airlines, Galadima said the problem of diversion could have emanated from the error in the code of the document sent.
He said : ” . Instead of using the IATA call sign of ADB there was a change from V to B. But you begin to ask yourself questions. Flight plan is one document, there is what they call loadership, that gives you the number of passengers onboard and other things. And then, the information we had was that the controller that gave the start up reminded the captain that look, the flight plan is planned for Abuja but the pilot said no, it is Asaba.

“You ask yourself what was the company’s programme when the pilot came in that morning. Was there any change in the company’s programme? So there are more questions unanswered that we need to know.

“Another critical thing is the fact that when the controller reminded the captain that the flight plan before him was Abuja, why didn’t he refuse to give him start up. And that is why the human factor is highly emphasised in Nigeria.

” If it were to be a Nigerian crew, that would never happen. Before now, there was a programme that was put together for Foreign pilots. It was called the Environmental Familiarization Course in NCAT.

“Over time it was jettisoned but this is what we are seeing. That programme needs to be reintroduced with immediate effect so that they will get to know the Nigerian Airspace and there should be a way to evaluate that they really know it. There was also a policy of 60: 40 crew.

“What happened to that? We have been crying about disregard for the expatriate quota in this country.”

He further said : ” I commend the Minister for taking swift action on ensuring that every flight will have a Nigerian pilot but we want to see the details.

” The details should be such that the Nigerian pilots are not subjugated under these foreign pilots because he is also a professional in his own right. Sometimes, the expatriates that comes to this country are not the best out there. Nigerian pilots are better and doing very well and are abroad too. They shouldn’t be relegated to the background.

” They can have a pilot in command and issue us a monitoring pilot. We commend the NCAA but the programme should be returned. The issue of the human factor must be corrected.”

On the poor destination, weather cited by United Nigeria Airlines, Galadima said : ” Denial is not a strategy. It is condemnable to have issued a statement attributing it to weather to confuse the public. It is not good for a safety critical sector like aviation. Safety has to do a lot with trust.”

Galadima also spared a thought for over 200 jobless indigenous pilots. He said : ” There are over 200 jobless pilots in Nigeria. The truth of the matter is that like you see, wet lease is done to bridge a gap for the carrying capacity. The airlines don’t have it. Most of their aircraft are either outside or in one of the maintenance issue or that.

“These aircraft come and there is no serious value addition in terms of employment for Nigerians. Agreed that they have gotten more aircraft but how has it enhanced the life of Nigerian people. We are saying that the operators are looking for ready made hands. And these people we are talking about can’t even afford the type rating that is very expensive. Most of them are young graduates.

” Airlines can only be strengthened by proper regulation, they should not be over regulated. The NCAA should be on top of their game. They should investigate any violation that we bring to their notice. And we are ready to work with the government and the regulator especially in the areas of pilots and engineers employment so that we can fashion a way where they can retain currency and be more marketable. Some are now going abroad and some of the good hands are already moving to the Middle East and they are doing very well. We need to be forward-looking so that we have a succession plan because we have aging manpower.

“The thing we need to do is to invest more in the instructors to train and retain them. You do that by motivating and giving them commensurate compensation. “It is not only in NCAT, it is happening in NCAA, and others because what the industry is paying is far far higher than what government organizations are paying.”