Analysts Explain Eight Years of Zero Commercial Airlines’ Accident in Nigeria

Hail regulator, operators

Chinedu Eze

Aviation experts have identified factors responsible for the longest period in the history of air transport in Nigeria without any record of accident involving commercial airliners.

They, however, hailed the federal government and operators in the industry over efforts to ensure that the positive record was sustained.

The last accident recorded by any commercial airline in the country was the Associated Aviation Flight 361, a domestic charter flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, whichoccurred on October 3, 2013, in which 16 persons on board died, while four persons survived.

Commenting on factors responsible for the eight years zero-accident record, the Commissioner/CEO of Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N), Akin Olateru, attributed it to improvement in air safety as well as efficient activities of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and that of AIB-N.

He explained that NCAA had oversight function of regulating the operations of airlines, while AIB-N investigated serious incidents and made safety recommendations to the regulatory authority thatimplemented those recommendations and why Nigeria’s civil aviation industry had enjoyed the longest period of zero accident so far.

Olateru also noted that accidents don’t just happen, saying they build up over time, “but because AIB-N carries out investigations and makes recommendation to NCAA, which implements those recommendations, the possibility of an accident is nipped in the bud.”

He, however, added: “When it comes to safety matters you credit it to NCAA and AIB-N. NCAA has oversight responsibility and AIB-N investigates serious incidents and accidents and makes recommendation to NCAA, which implements those recommendations. So, possible accidents are averted with the implementation of AIB-N recommendations.

“This is why it is important that the two agencies are working together. And that is why we have independent AIB-N so that it would be free to carry out investigations and come up with safety recommendations.

“Also, airlines have come to realise the huge cost of having an accident so they have also imbibed the safety culture and ensure that they operate safety and also abide by the standard set by the regulatory authority, which oversights their activities,” Olateru said.

In his opinion, the Accountable Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo, told THISDAY that education, better training and efficient regulation have contributed in improving air safety in Nigeria, noting that operators have become more conscious about safety and the introduction of Safety Management System (SMS) has also contributed in improving safety in airline operation in Nigeria.

Mbanuzuo noted that the training of engineers and the introduction of Flight Crew Resource Management, which empowered personnel to voice out their fears and recommendations, have helped to improve safety in the airspace.

“The issues that have led to improved safety in Nigeria air transport are complex. But I think education and training have contributed to that. There is better training and regulation and operators have become more conscious of air safety with the introduction of SMS.

“There is also improved training of engineers and the introduction of Crew Resource Management, which had led to the training of people on how to speak up and take action.

“Overall, training has been much better. We actually operate in a more hostile environment, but training and management of the airlines have been top notch. So, people speak out about issues before they explode and in that way, problems are averted.”

To the Senior Executive of the upcoming airline, NG Eagle, Captain Ado Sanusi, operators have imbibed safety culture and regarded it as top priority. He also hailed the NCAA which ensured that airlines strictly follow laid out regulation in its safety oversight, adding that such regulation has improved tremendously.

Further, he identified the passage of new regulation by the National Assembly, which has aided the improvement of oversight function of NCAA, the predilection of airlines to acquire more modern aircraft and the improvement of airport infrastructure, especially, navigational aids by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which established the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), the improvement of communication in the airspace and Instrument Landing System (ILS).

“Operators have imbibed safety culture. There is improved oversight function by NCAA, which ensures that airlines strictly follow the rules and this has improved tremendously and airlines now acquire modern aircraft, which have improved systems and there is also improvement in infrastructure with the establishment of TRACON, Voice Ominidirectional Radio Range (VOR), which has improved communication in the airspace and the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS).

“Also, the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) by Aero Contractors has helped because technical issues developed by aircraft like snags are taken care of in that facility instead of leaving it until the time the aircraft will go for major checks. So, when there is technical problem they take it to Aero and get it repaired.

“Then, we have to acknowledge that the Boeing 737 Classic is a more reliable aircraft and the main operational aircraft among Nigerian airlines. They have contributed in the improvement of safety,because they are more reliable aircraft,” Sanusi said.

A senior official in the Aerodrome Engineering Department in NCAA told THISDAY that there is increased oversight by the agency.

The spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, attributed the success recorded in the past eight years to strict enforcement of compliance to safety regulations, operators’ adherence to rules of the game, training and retraining of personnel on both sides and increased surveillance and inspections.