Merry Christmas!!

HO HO HO! says the boeing 747-400

Names of Victims in Nigerian Navy Helicopter Crash

Pix of the Chopper involved in the Crash was a Nigerian Navy Augusta A109E code name Helo 07.

Commander Muritala Mohammed Daba of the Nigerian Navy, Pilot.

Others who were involved in the Crash are.

1] Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Governor of Kaduna State.


2] Rtd General Andrew Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser to the President

3] Dauda Tsoho (aide to Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna).

4] Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal, (aide to Owoye Azazi).

5] Lt. Adeyemi O. Sowole. (co-pilot).

 May their souls rest in peace.

Gov Yakowa and Gen Azazi Feared Dead in Helicopter Crash

Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi
apparently died in a helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Navy that crashed today in Bayelsa State, between 3:30pm this evening. The chopper was said to be on its way to Port Harcout Airport, but Crashed 5-10mins after take-off. Governor Yakowa of Kaduna State and Rtd General Andrew Azazi, who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter.
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had earlier indicated that the agency had activated a search for a crashed helicopter. The crashed chopper was carrying “some major political figures.” The identity of any other passengers in the ill-fated chopper has not been identified. 

Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of the father of senior presidential aide Oronto Douglas. The funeral event took place in the Nembe area of Bayelsa State earlier today. The crashed helicopter was one of several helicopters that some well- connected people to the funeral. There has been no reports to what caused the crash but there has been confirmed reports that all Six(6) passengers and crew were killed.

Nigerian Aviation Industry Has Created 60,000 Jobs so Far

Nigeria’s aviation sector generated more than 60,000 jobs in the last 12 months, according to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku.

The Nigerian Aviation sector went under scrutiny since it experienced its last plane crash on the 3rd of december this year, which claimed the lives of about 153 crew and passengers. There has been significant improvement in the installation of highest safety standard equipment comparable to those available in any developed countries in the world and because of the automation of the airports, there would be reduction in flight times from 2013.

Meanwhile Minister of Aviation. Princess Stella Oduah has proposed the expansion of six new international airports in 2013 while the Murtala International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja would be turned to regional hub of aviation in West Africa.

The Minister of Information Dr Labaran Maku said the plan to have a national carrier that would be private sector driven was on-going and special cargo terminals would be constructed in some States to promote the agriculture sector.

"The state of our airports has received uplift in the last one year particularly with the state of aviation safety equipment that has been installed to ensure the highest safety standards as compared to any other place in the world.”

He also added, "Travelling  by air anywhere in Nigeria, you have radar coverage, a plane entering Nigerian airspace from any angle day or night would be seen and there would be instantaneous appearance on radar as well as communication between the various airport facilities and the pilot.

"Some of the facilities that are manual before such as reading weather by pilot is now automated so there is no reason for any pilot to take off without knowing the weather condition throughout his own route, so if any pilot took off and return to base because of bad weather, that pilot should be sanctioned, it only means the pilot disregarded weather advise given before takeoff.

"Because of the automation of some of these facilities, by next year, flight time would reduce between the various airports

"She also talked about plans to expand airports in Lagos, Nnnamdi Azikiwe airports while there would be about 20 international hotels that would be built around the various international airports in the country to create a hub of services within the airport that will almost make them look like modern cities."

On the plan to have a national carrier, the minister said it was going on smoothly and also unveiled fresh initiative to ensure the national carrier would be private sector driven to eliminate inefficiency associated with government involvement

American Airlines gets new B777-300ER. Pictures:

Its funny to think that out of the 605aircrafts in American Airlines fleet, they didn't have a Boeing 777-300ER. Well i'm surprised also. Well its all been solve they recently got livery of two out of ten(10) B777-300ER orders, sometime in october (i think). The other eight are expected to be delivered sometime in 2013.
Although they decieded to give the world a glimpse of what their 77W interior looks like.

American’s 777-300ER is set up with three classes. Both Business and First have lie-flat seats. The plane will offer Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as a Panasonic entertainment system with 120 movies, 150 TV options and 350 audio selections available in all classes. Every seat will also include a 110-volt AC power and USB outlets. Sweet!

Okay aircraft Interior is something we need to talk about, because these interiors have me teary already. This is America's 77W walk-up bar. It is stocked with snacks and refreshments, situated in the premium cabin. The first of its kind in AA.

Okay, now i'm hungry. Great Airplanes come with beautiful interiors.
The airline plans to operate the new planes to London Heathrow, New York’s John F. Kennedy and Los Angeles after additional deliveries.

Pictures were gotten from AA website and courtesy David Parker Brown.

Aero Confirms AMCON as part owner of airline

Aero has now confirmed that AMCON is now the majority shareholder of the airline while the Ibru family, known as the legacy shareholders maintain a stake in the business.
“The Legacy shareholders have first right of option to buy-back the shares owned by AMCON through the financial investment for equity,”
As a result of the takeover, several changes have been made in the past few weeks to help AERO achieve its set objectives.
Captain Akinlawon George resigned on 30 November to pave way to a new management.
“The incumbent Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Obaro Ibru, has been temporarily appointed as the Acting Managing Director while Captain Russell Leefoon who is in charge of Flight Operations has been appointed as the Acting Accountable Manager, pending the conclusion of the ongoing recruitment exercise,”
The airline said the following positions, Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Head, Internal Control & Audit, will all be affected by the takeover.

Photo: Like a Boss!

for the love of the greatest job in the world.

Capt. Akin George Resigns as Aero Contractors MD

Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s on Sunday night said that its Managing Director, Captain Akin George, had resigned and replaced with (tush-boy) Mr Obaro Ibru, who currently acts as the Airlines Acting Managing Director. Mr. Obaro Ibru, used to be the airline’s Deputy Managing Director. He is said to have a wealth of experience in Business Aviation and banking.

The airline however said in a statement today that George resigned following the commencement of a restructuring exercise initiated by AMCON.
“This is the beginning of a restructuring exercise that will make the airline slimmer and stronger with the aim of making it more competitive.
Since AMCON took over the airline few months ago over bad debts, a new management was expected.
Aero Contractors airline is the oldest airline in Nigeria. The 51 year old Aero Contractors airline is one of the four major commercial airlines in Nigeria.
Two other, Dana Air and Air Nigeria are not in the skies.
While Air Nigeria has suspended operations for a year on account of bankruptcy, Dana Air has not resumed operation since the 3 June plane crash, although dana air has completed neccessary documents and test and has been given its Airline Operators Licence AOC.
The Central Bank of Nigeria had announced that all credits to Aero should be halted because of its $200 million loan.
“We can confirm that Aero’s debt has been taken over by AMCON. Currently Aero is going through a restructuring exercise under AMCON, pending final approval by AMCON board which is expected very soon,” said Mr. Omoke Enyi, Aero Contractors Chief Financial Officer.
Aero, the preferred airline by multinational oil companies, is Nigeria’s oldest private airline. With technical support offered by the Canadian Helicopters Corporation (CHC), the world’s largest commercial helicopter operator, Aero has played a key role in the oil and gas operation in Nigeria.
On its website, Aero, based in Lagos, says it operates a “combined fleet of around 20 helicopters and 15 fixed wing aircraft ranging from 50 seat Dash 8 to 144 seat Boeing 737-400/500, employing about 1,300 personnel”.
Aero Contractors of Nigeria was formed in 1959 as a wholly owned by Schreiner Airways B.V of the Netherlands. It became a company with initially 40% Nigerian holding in 1973 and subsequently 60% in 1976.
In January 2004 Schreiner Airways was bought by Canadian Helicopter Corporation(CHC) which acquired 40 per cent holding of Aero contractors while 60 per cent majority share remained within the Ibru family group.
Currently, Aero is wholly owned by the Ibru family and is said to be managed by Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, the former managing director of defunct Oceanic Bank.
The Company started in the early 1960′s as an air charter operator.From this beginning in the 1970′s,Aero has gone-on to provide both rotary and fixed wing services to all the major oil,gas and related support companies working in Nigeria and in West Africa sub-region.

Arik Begins Congo, Kinshasha Routes

 

Arik Air(W3): Lagos, Nigeria - Douala, Cameroon - Kinshasa, DRC

- Effective 5 December 2012

• W3121 LOS 1110 - 1240 DLA 1325 - 1525 FIH 73G | 37
• W3122 FIH 1610 - 1810 DLA 1855 - 2025 LOS 73G | 37

According to the CRS, Arik Air has 5th Freedom rights between Douala and Kinshasa.

Arik Air (W3), has announced the start of twice weekly flights from Lagos to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo effective 5 December 2012.

Kinshasa now becomes Arik Air’s third destination in Central Africa, with the new route set to operate each Wednesday and Sunday via Douala, Cameroon using a Boeing 737-700. Meanwhile First nation Nigerian Airline is to resume domestic operations sometime next year 2013

Cargo Plane Crash In Congo, Brazzaville

A cargo plane has crashed at Brazzaville airport while trying to land in a storm, killing around 30 residents and also the crew, emergency services and witnesses said.
Around 30 local people had been killed as the plane skidded off the runway and crashed into houses and a bar in the Congolese capital before crashing into a ravine, said Georgelin Massemba, head of the emergency services. Earlier Friday, emergency services had spoken of around 20 dead.
The crew, numbering three or four people, are thought to have died in the ensuing fire.
Another 20 or so people had been injured in the crash and taken to nearby hospitals, witnesses said.
The Ilyushin plane, registered with local company Aero-services, was flying in from the western port city of Pointe Noire carrying cars and other goods.
A journalist at the scene said the crash happened during a violent storm.
Two hours after the crash, firefighters were still scouring the wreckage to look for victims. Although the plane was to carry freight, they sometimes also carry people other than the crew.

Aviation Safety is reporting that the aircraft involved was likely an Il-76 (MSN 073410300-EK76300)

Women In Aviation: Female Pilot Achievers

In the world of Aviation if you think just because your a man you can have your way as an aviator. Think again! Unlike before aviation is fast growing with women Pilots or Aviatrices. You would have to work twice as hard inorder to break the ground breaking records our women of today are setting.
As of 2010, just over 7% of certified civilian pilots (both private and commercial) in the United States were women.
Let's see the Pioneer Pilots, of the past, present and future.

Above is Captain Berverly Burns !st woman to captain a Boeing 747
-Raymonde de Laroche, the world's first licensed female pilot on March 8, 1910; Belgian,
-Helene Dutrieu, the first woman to fly a passenger, first woman to win an air race (1910), and first woman to pilot a seaplane (1912); French,
-Marie Marvingt the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel and the
North Sea in a balloon (October 26, 1909) and first woman to fly as a bomber pilot in combat missions (1915); Russian,
-Eugenie Shakhovskaya was the first female military pilot; American,
-Harriet Quimby, the USA's first licensed female pilot in 1911, and the first woman to cross the English Channel by airplane; American
-Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic (1932);
-Bessie Coleman, the first African American female to become a licensed airplane pilot (1921);
-German, Marga von Etzdorf, first woman to fly for an airline (1927);
-Opal Kunz, one of the few women to train US Navy fighter pilots during World War II in the Civilian Pilot Training Program; and the British
-Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from Britain to Australia (1930).
-Valérie André, a French neurosurgeon and member of the French army, became the first woman to fly a helicopter in combat, while serving in Indochina (1945).
-Jean Batten, a New Zealander, made a number of record-breaking solo flights across the world, including, in 1936, the first-ever solo flight from England to New Zealand.
-Sabiha Gökçen, born in 1913, Turkey, became the world's first female fighter pilot at the age of 23. She is also turkey's first female pilot.
In 1979, a Jamaican, Maria Ziadie-Haddad, became one of the first women in the Western Hemisphere to become a commercial jet airline pilot when she was hired by Air Jamaica 1968 Ltd as a B727 Second Office
In Japan, the first female captain for commercial passenger flights was Ari Fuji, who began flying as captain for
JAL Express in July 2010. Fuji was rejected from admission to Japanese pilot training school on the grounds of being too small (155 cm; standard was previously 163 cm, currently 158 cm as of spring 2010), so she got her pilot's license in the United States. There are currently a few other female pilots in Japan, though, as of 2010, no others in a captain role.
Hanadi Zakaria al-Hindi is the first
Saudi woman to become a commercial airline pilot
The Israeli Air Force's flight academy is open to female pilots. 24 female pilots have completed the course as of 2011.

In Nigeria, Captain Chinyere kalu is the 1st female pilot in Nigeria, currently heads the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology NCAT.

Adebule imoleye is the youngest licenced commericial airline pilot at 23,

Blessing Liman Nigerian Airforce first female fighter pilot, 25yrs old.

Kimberly Anyadike a born and based in the US is a Nigerian, she is known as the first African American teen to fly across the United States. She flew from
Compton, California to Newport News, Virginia in 2009. It took her 13 days to complete the flight The miles flown were 2,342miles. The plane used was a Cessna C-172. She was accompanied by safety pilot Ronnell Norman, a certified commercial pilot and Major Levi H. Thornhill, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who at age 87, is a member of the elite
Tuskegee Airmen who flew during world war II.
One of my personal favourite woman achiever who i would proudly say i'm in contact with is Karlene Petitte although i have not meet her in person, yet, but she is one of the leading women in aviation in the USA she is type rated on a B727, B747, B747-400, B757, B767, and A330. Visit her blog karlenepetitt.blogspot.com for more about kerlene petitte her remarkable achievements and incredible donations towards aviation especially women, and drop your comments.
Never Underestimate a woman!!!

Picture Of The Day: Space Shuttle Cockpit

OMGod! The sight of this flight deck gives me a headache. Well this is the reason why i wanted becoming a pilot in the first place. It looks beautiful right? Its truly Amazing and a true work of Cockpit design Art!
That up there my friends is the flight deck of the space shuttle. ENDEAVOUR!

Nigeria Records Higest Airlift of Passengers This Year

By the end of December this year passenger movement on international routes would have risen to six million; the highest increase recorded in Nigeria’s air transport history.

By end of November the figure was already more than five million and it is estimated that over one million Nigerians would return from overseas during the Yuletide.

In 2011, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recorded over 12 million passenger movements and 234,235 aircraft movements and out of the over 12 million passengers only four million were international passengers.

So the figure has increased by 50 per cent but there are indications that passenger movement in the domestic routes would be less than what was obtained last year because there was a slump immediately after the crash of Dana Air flight 0992, which killed 163 people.

Passengers on domestic destinations deserted the airports and it was in September that there was discernible increase in passenger movement but by then fares had become exorbitant because few airlines were operating so those who could not afford the high fares chose alternative means to get to their destinations.

The busiest airport was the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, which from January to October last year recorded 3,257,738 passengers on domestic flights and 2,237, 991 international flight passengers within the same period, the number of passenger movement to international destinations has doubled this year.

Many in the industry attributed the increase to high mobility of Nigerians who travel out of the country to do business, attend conferences and others who travel to study and go to hospitals overseas.

Only few travel for leisure, but many Nigerians travel out of the country every day “for many other reasons but not for holidays. Few go for holidays,”
Industry consultant and former chairman of the Federal Government’s Technical and Administrative Review Panel in the Aviation Industry, Group Captain John Obakpolor (rtd) said that domestic airline operation has become unprofitable now due to the fact that operational cost has gone up astronomically.

“Cost of jet fuel (Jet A1) which used to be N35.00 per litre is now N240.00. This has led to increase in fares which directly affect passengers’ inflow into the airport. In a country where minimum wage is N18, 000 it is difficult for many Nigerians to travel by and I can say that the number of Nigerians that travel by air is not more than 5.5 per cent of the nation’s population.”
But he described Nigeria as the bread basket of international travel in West Africa and beyond, remarking that many international carriers that operate into the country record profitable airlift from Nigeria, but ironically Nigerian airlines record successive failures.

“We did not protect our local operations because we granted so many entry points but Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) allows one entry, so if you allow more entries it should be reciprocated,” Obakpolor said, adding that Nigeria is not benefiting from its huge passenger market.

Test Pilots

If you are the Captain of let's say Emirates B777 or A380 and you rake in up to $80,000-$100,000 a year. One would say yes you have reached the height of your piloting career. Its a dream come true. For some pilots they just scratch the surface. There are a group of special aviators that go an extra mile in the world of aviation, "TEST PILOTS"
Test piloting is a branch of aviation that requires a special and authentic skill, a vast and wealthy knowledge for aviation or airplanes. Generally we know test pilots as those who write the aircraft manual for airplanes. Well its true that's just a fraction of their job specification, but it goes a whole lot deeper than that.
Test Pilots are not your average commercial airline pilots, they are very well above average pilots. Test pilots may work for military organizations or private, (mostly aerospace) companies. Testing military aircraft, in particular, is regarded as the most challenging and risky flying.
Unlike commercial airline pilots, test pilots are required to have a degree in an aviation related course like, aeronautical Engineering or aeronautic sciences, Aerospace Engineering or science, flight science etc. Accompanied with an advanced degree. Test pilots should be able 2 understand and have an in-dept knowledge about airplanes.

A test pilot must be able to:

-Understand a test plan;
-Stick to a test plan, flying a plane in a highly specific way;
-Carefully document the results of each test;
-Have an excellent feel for the aircraft, and sense exactly how it is behaving oddly if it is doing so;
-Solve problems quickly if anything goes wrong with the aircraft during a test;
-Cope with many different things going wrong at once.
-Test pilots must have an excellent knowledge of aeronautical engineering, in order to understand how they are tested and why.
Test pilots must be above average pilots with excellent analytical skills and the ability to fly accurately whilst following a flight plan.

Let's take a look at a summary of my favourite test pilot. Captain Mark Feuerstein. His achievements usually gets my head spinning everytime.

Capt. Mark Feuerstein is currently chief pilot of 747 programs for The Boeing Company. In this position, Feuerstein is responsible for engineering flight-test activities related to all Boeing 747 airplane models. He is also involved in design activities of the new Boeing 747-8I and 747-8F. He was appointed to this role in October 2007. Feuerstein joined The Boeing Company in 1997. His previous assignments include chief pilot for new airplane product development, assistant chief pilot 747, assistant chief pilot 787, and deputy military and special projects pilot. He has more than 7,000 hours of flight time in over 100 types of airplanes, and holds an FAA type rating in the 707, 737, 747, 747-400, 757, 767, 777, A-320 and A-330 airplanes.

Feuerstein received his bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1981. In 1987, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as an engineering test pilot. In 1994, he received his Masters of Science in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He is also an associate fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is the Boeing Commercial Airplanes pilot representative to SAE International's Flight Deck and Handling Qualities Standards for Transport Aircraft committee (S-7).
Mark served as assistant chief pilot for both the 747 and 787 airplane programs, and as the deputy Military and Special Projects pilot where his responsibilities included flight-testing of Boeing’s commercial derivative military airplanes, including the KC/RC-135, E-6 and E-767.
Talk about an impressive CV.

AIB Signs Contract with Canadian Firm to Build FDR/CVR Laboratory in Lagos

The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, of the Aviation Ministry signed a contract with a Canadian firm CAE/Flight Scape  to set up FDR/CVR (Flight Data Recorder/Cockpit voice Recorder) laboratory in Lagos, for purposes of analyzing recorded tapes of crashed planes and also help with a prompt downloading of tape information.
The usual practice is Flight Data Recorder, FDR, and Cockpit Voice Recorded, CVR, of accident aircraft are taken overseas for analysis and interpretation, to facilitate investigation and report of probable cause of air accidents. Which terribly delays Investigative reports.

"The Bureau is recognized by ICAO as the most qualified/competent Air Accident investigation body in the sub region (Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation) and could render its expertise when needed and will be better placed within the sub-region

Meanwhile,

The Yakubu Gowon Airport in Plateau Stae, is being transformed into a cargo airport.
Yakubu Dati, the general manager (corporate communications) of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said that Federal Government was determined to make the country the hub of aviation in Africa.
He said the transformation is because of the rich agricultural potential of Plateau, adding that the airport would aid efforts to transport agricultural produce to other parts of the country and beyond.

“Aviation is the fastest and safest means of transportation and government is also working toward making it the cheapest”
I hope soooo....

How to become an airline pilot in Nigeria.

Personally i have always wanted to be a pilot since my 1st cockpit experience. I remember vividly when i was 5yrs i was really little.  I was at the airport (Murtala Mohammed Airport 2) the current new local. We were at the then Nigerian Airways office and i remember begging my dad that i wanted getting into one of the airplanes, he finally got a lady i remember her in a uniform like a flight attendant she took me around the airplane explaining the basics. I didn't know what she talking about and as a kid i was quite playful and restless. I remember the last place we entered was the cockpit. As i stepped in "my gosh" i was greeted by multiple buttons, dials and gauges, it seemed endless due to the nature of the cockpit. Given my knowledge now know it was a classic but i can't remember exactly what type of airplane it was. She put me on the captain's seat and for the first time i was relaxed and was listening.
The second cockpit experience i had, was a school excursion, a brief visit to the same airport, i was 7 or 8yrs then and we were taken around the airport i remember seeing air-force jets, control tower, helicopters, airplanes of different sizes. We were entertained with kiddies drinks and cookies in a Nigerian Airways plane that was undergoing maintenance in one of the company Hangers, we entered the cockpit in groups and i saw my teacher seating on the right seat playing with the control column. I'm sure he had no idea what he was doing. Lolz! We got back to class and my teacher had the same look i had the 1st time i entered a cockpit, he kept on telling and asking us at the same questions. "Did you'll see the buttons in that thing?" He said, "i wonder how they press it all at once." Hehehehe.
Since then i made up my mind to become a pilot i guess earlier i was too little to make up my mind on what i wanted to become.
Well I'm not a pilot yet but I'm close, i have since pursued the line of aviation ever since, i have met people who say i get emotional when i talk about planes, well can't help it, I'm in-love.*wink*. I have read aviation related books, stories, watched movies and documentaries, i have even taken the time to read pilot operating manuals/handbook for Boeing 737 Classics, Boeing 737NG and my favorite aircraft, The Boeing 777. Some people think I'm already a pilot (i wish) because of how much i know and how well informed i am about aviation.
 Let me share what i know, about how, as a Nigerian you can become a pilot. Just so you all know this information is based on my personal opinion and research.
Well being a pilot is fun and to be honest is not the kind of job you just wake up and say, yes i wanna fly planes. Well i think you have to be more determined than that, and really work towards it. If you honestly need or want something you have got to go for it no matter the barrier or obstacles at the end of the day its all about reaching that mark. Inspire yourself by reading stories like that of Adebule Imoleayo the youngest commercial female pilot in Nigeria flying for Aerocontractors or Captain Olumide Ayoola flying for KLM UK one of the most recognised international airlines in the world. They persevered and almost gave-up hope on flying because of how difficult it was but today they have stories to tell.

                                                            Arik air B737NG

Step 1
Being a pilot is not difficult, all you need is five o' level credits in science related courses including Maths, English, physics and 2 other courses. I would advice a good knowledge geography.
If you have a degree it also helps and also a big plus and boost to your career, you are definitely eligible to apply for flight school. Lastly a valid class one student medical certificate.
Step 2
Apply to a flight school. There are two of them in Nigeria:
Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria. NCAT, and
International Aviation College, Ilorin IAC.
You might be called up for an interview or exam and you would be required to know the basic principles of flight, or how an airplane flies, brush-up your maths and physics. Very important.
Step 3
Admission: when given admission the rest is up to you, read! read! read and work hard to maintain a good grade. Don't get carried away. Coming out top of your class increases your chances of getting a job with an airline quicker.
Well that's all it takes.

Licences & Ratings.
Private pilots licence PPL,
Commercial pilots licence CPL,
Certified Flight Instructors Licence CFI, and
Air Transport Pilots License ATPL, Others are Instrument Rating, Night Rating and Multi-engine Ratings
Private pilot licence: This is the least certificate you can get as a pilot but it has got restrictions on the types of aircrafts you can fly, time and even airspace you can fly in, it has even got restrictions on the amount of people you can carry. A PPLis a pre-quisite on getting a CPL.
In other to fly big jets, carry passengers and work for pay you need a Commercial pilots licence, during the course of training for your cpl you would undergo Instrument Rating and Night Ratings.
Instrument Rating IR i.e learning about the instruments in the airplane and how to use them esp during low visibility. You might have to rely on instrument just incase you can't view the runway due to weather conditions.
Night Rating NR: as the name implies it just about night flying, learning to fly at night.
Certified Flight Instructors Licence CFI: this is optional and is only required if you want to become Mr Lecturer lolz. All the instructors in flight schools anywhere in the world need this certificate in order to teach others how to fly. You need to have a CPL before you can get an Instructors Licence.
Air Transport Pilots Licence ATPL: is the PhD. of pilots licences. You don't need a CFI licence to get a ATPL with your is a CPL and 1500hrs of flying time you can get an ATPL.

The biggest challenge most people face when it comes to getting into flight school is finance. The cost of training to get a pilots licence is expensive i.e a CPL in Nigeria is about 7.5Million - 10Million Naira. Yup that's plenty right! Well for the most part at the end of the day its worth it and for some of us its priceless and we don't mind. But let's face it not a lot of people can afford that amount of money. I think to the best of my knowledge a few Nigerian airlines have cadet sponsorship programs. I know Arik air, Aerocontractors Nigeria, Bristow helicopters, and a few others have such programs. They pick selected and qualified individuals and train and pay for their tuition after which they come back and fly for the parent airlines. The Federal and state governments are not left out. We have state and federal government sponsoring students and aiding them achieve their dream of literally soaring through the skies. Like i know of Kaduna state sponsoring all its indigenes in flight school, some months back Kano pledged to send 50students to flight school. My cousin was fortunate to be a beneficiary of the Kaduna state sponsorship (proudly K.D).
 
Employment
There are Pilots jobs everywhere not just in Nigeria but all over the world and once you qualify and meet the criteria for employment you can apply. It might not be immediate but its there especially for the ladies, female pilots. Like i said earlier you just have to do your homework and keep an eye out for recruitment info and not lose focus. The total number of pilots in Nigeria i doubt is up to 3,000. Some weeks back there was talks about the dearth of pilots in Nigeria, and current pilots being old and the need for replacement with younger generation of pilots.
If you enjoy traveling, operating gadgets, not scared of heights, an adrenaline junky,  love meeting people well you would enjoying flying and seeing the world in a different perspective. If you are going in for the money you gonna be disappointed and frustrated cause being a pilot can be stressful and is highly demanding, that's to say good things in life don't come easy or cheap. For those of you considering being pilots hope this helps and i wish you'll the best.
Any questions pls drop your comments.

Beauty Of Aviation

Here are picture reasons why pilots love being pilots.

NAMA Spends N15billion on Naviaids.

Nigeria is moving up in the world of Aviation as various aviation agencies in Nigeria have been doing some serious upgrades, in airports, airlines, aviation policies, shuffling of aviation management and board of directors for aviation parastatals and even the airspace in general. Clamping down on loop-holes and securing safer skies for passengers and airlines. 

Various aviation organisation have commended FAAN and NCAA on the directives on installing AFRIS devices on domestic airlines and even saying that the regulation bodies were being generous in giving the six months ultimatum in installing the device.

According to BusinessDay Nigerian Newspaper: The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has embarked on upgrade of various navigational aids (Navaids), spending a whopping N15billion.

NAMA is an Air Navigation service provider with mandate to manage the Nigerian Airspace to a level consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Safety and Recommended Practices (ICAO-SARP).

The Agency, which is saddled with the responsibility of  providing safe and functional air navigation services that will meet international standards apart from  increase Air Traffic Management  (ATM) capacity in order to manage the increasing air traffic volume and simultaneously reduce delays, says it operates its air navigation services with modern technology.

Supo Atobatele, general manager, public affairs of the Agency, said facilities like the Radar, Instrument Landing System (ILS), Very High Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) and the Very High Frequency (VHF) radio system are all digital and their installations at airports across the country over the years had enhanced the safety of the nation’s airspace.

“These equipment are all working at an optimal level while training of staff has been intensified to sustain the safety drive,"

The agency added that as part of the ongoing transformation of the industry, the Federal Government had paid almost 95 percent of the cost to the foreign contractor handling the Automation Information System, adding however, that “a high-tech industry in Nigeria cannot be operating with obsolete equipment considering the huge capital investment of over N15 billion by the Federal Government on various  air navigation safety critical equipment.”

NAMA recently completed the World Geodetic Survey (WGS-84) of Bebi airstrip, joining other major airports already prepared for satellite-based navigation system.

NAMA said it developed this capacity through competence transfer achieved by the WGS-84/Performance Based Navigation (PBN) project of 24 Nigerian Airports.

“With this development, NAMA now prides itself as having in-house experts in WGS-84 Survey, PBN Procedure Design and Cartography. NAMA has also acquired through same project, state-of- art digital survey equipment and GIS LAB.

“The Agency is very ready to collaborate with any organisation that requires this service within and outside Nigeria, with assurance of delivery in accordance with international standards to ensure Safety of Air Navigation”, Nnamdi Udoh,  managing director of the Agency, said while endorsing the report on the airstrip. 

Proudly Naija!!!

British Airways Partners With Nigeria

British Airways promised to partner with the Nigeria in ensuring the success of the transformation agenda in the nation’s aviation sector.

Mr Keith Williams, Chief Executive Officer of British Airways had a closed door meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo. BA has been operating in Nigeria for the past 76 years. British airways made its debut flight to Lagos in 1936 through its predecessor, Imperial Airways, one of the pioneering airlines in Africa.

The flight, an extension of a service from Kano to Khartoum, connected to the weekly Imperial Airways flight from Khartoum to Croydon in London. Imperial Airways was succeeded by BOAC, and at the end of World War II it opened the London-Lagos services via Casablanca, Dakar and Accra, with the flight taking 29 hours.

Commercial jet service will, however, start on the route on April 1, 1964, using a Vickers VC-10, flying London Heathrow-Kano-Lagos. These services were taken over by British Caledonian Airways in 1971, which later merged with British Airways.

"The future of Nigeria and the transformation programme has grown the economy and British Airways is an airline that supports the growth of that economy through air travels.

“So, as the Nigerian economy grows, British Airways will grow with Nigeria. If you look at British Airways, it has served Nigeria now for 76 years and we get a great partnership with Nigeria which has been a long one and an important one and it will always continue to be an important one between the two countries and the British Airways supports that. Nigeria has huge domestic and international markets for the growth of aviation industry and BA will explore the market for the general good of Nigeria and the airline."

Williams commended the Federal Government on the way and manner the Aviation sector was being managed in Nigeria. Nigeria needs to build its domestic and regional aviation industry.

He also described the ongoing merger activities between world leading airlines as a welcome development for the global growth of the aviation industry.

“The aviation industry, if I look at the global aviation industry, the global aviation is in a period of change and what we are seeing around the world is the growth of cooperation, and that is in the case with British Airways, which merged with Iberia, tying up with an American and the Japanese airlines.

“So, there are lots of merger activities happening to support global growth in the airline industry, and clearly, Nigeria is a huge important country with a huge population and it got important trade flows and the airlines need to support those important trade flows whether that is through Nigeria airlines or international airlines.”

He further assured that BA would continue to meet its socio-economic obligations to Nigeria in furtherance to its corporate responsibilities in the country.

AERO COMMENCES FLIGHT OPERATIONS BETWEEN CALABAR AND ABUJA

Effective December 1, 2012,
Aero will commence flight operations between Calabar and Abuja.
The flight, which will be operated with a Boeing 737-500 series will Depart Calabar for Abuja at 09:50am and arrive 11:00am with flight number AJ175, while Abuja to Calabar flight departs at 11:35am and arrives 12:45pm with flight number AJ176.
Announcing these services, Captain Akin George, Aero Managing Director said: “The decision was taken in the interest and comfort of the airline’s loyal customers to give them more choices and flexibility in planning their business and leisure trips and also reduce the stress of travelling during this festive season”.
Over the years, Aero has become the first airline of choice offering excellent value for money and making travels easier and convenient.
Aero has grown to be one of the most reliable and reputable carrier in Africa, operating over 50 flights a day and covering more than 15 domestic and regional destinations.

Boeing increases 787 production rate to five per month:

Just some months back Boeing increased the rate of production of the Boeing 777 aka Triple-7 to about 7 a month. Now Boeing employees last week rolled out the first 787 Dreamliner built at the new rate of five-airplanes-per-month. The airplane is the 83rd 787 to be built. Boeing earlier this year increased the rate from 2.5 to 3.5 aircraft per month and is on track to achieve a planned 10-per-month rate by late 2013. The programme production rate accounts for aircraft built at Boeing South Carolina and Everett, including the temporary surge line that was activated earlier this year in Everett. To date, 35 787s have been delivered to eight airlines and the programme has more than 800 unfilled orders with 58 customers worldwide.
As just one example illustrative of the efforts happening across the production system, a team developed a small piece of protective equipment to cover the electronic actuators that help move the horizontal stabilizer. The plastic covering is now used across the program to protect the actuators during the production process. In addition, this small change has resulted in quicker production completion times.
"The work our teams are doing to continuously improve is making this program more efficient," added Loftis. "Their commitment to doing the job with high quality and making improvements to the system is outstanding."
Among the new tools being deployed to improve productivity in the Final Assembly areas are Orbital Drilling machines. The machines are used to drill holes to attach the wings to the center fuselage section of the airplane. The drilling technique is unique in that the cutter rotates in a circular motion to carve out the hole, rather than a conventional drill that cuts straight into the material. Benefits of the machines include improved precision and time savings for mechanics. A third benefit is improved safety as the machines require lower thrust and torque.
To date, 35 787s have been delivered to eight airlines and the program has more than 800 unfilled orders with 58 customers worldwide.

FAAN Gives Ultimatum to clear boneyards in Nigeria

The Nigerian Federal Aviation Authority (FAAN) has issued a 1 month ultimatum to the country's aircraft owners and operators, to remove all  abandoned aircraft that litter Nigeria's 8 major airports or risk legal proceedings as the country moves to cast off the stereotypical image of African aviationl, the obligatory aircraft bone-yard filled with rusting 707 hulks (and the occasional Antonov tossed in for good measure).

The move to clean up Nigeria's airfields come as the country relaunched its National Aviation Master Plan in April, which calls for Nigerian aviation to be " a world class secure, safe and comfortable air-transport sector viable for economic growth in Nigeria.

Whilst it may seem simple in principle, the entire process of removing the abandoned hulks involves numerous legal obstacles in addition to belligerence on the aircraft owners' behalves. In fact there has been several attempts in the past by FAAN to remove aircraft but it was met by a large opposition of aircraft owners who drag the case to court.

A recent statement from FAAN’s general manager Mr Yakubu Dati, explained that the exercise had become necessary because the aircraft have continued to constitute serious safety hazards. "Their abandonment has also become an eyesore at Nigerian airports, as some of them are abandoned for upwards of ten years. We are constrained to embark on this removal exercise because owners of these abandoned aircraft have deliberately refused to remove them despite all efforts by the Authority to make them do so," Dati said.

He said some of the owners of abandoned aircraft had taken FAAN to court over the issue and got court injunctions that made it difficult for the Authority to carry out the exercise before now. "Some of these cases have now been concluded hence the commencement of the removal exercise, at least for the abandoned aircraft cases of which have been concluded,"

Here below are various pictures found of Nigeria's ubiquitous airport bone-yards over the last 10 years. Some aircraft are still there, some have been scrapped. All credit goes the original photographers.