Thursday, 31 January 2013

Senate Says Dana AOC be revoked and sack NCAA Boss

The Nigerian Senate has since been hammering that, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) boss Dr Harold Dumuren be sack for giving back Dana Airline its Airline Operators Licence AOC, 6months after the crash of one of its Aircraft. The senate also said the AOC be revocked because it was not issued with compliance of the Nigerian civil refulatory law of the 1999 constitution.
The Senate also mentioned that the intervention funds given by CBN to some airlines was diverted for order issues.
Watch this interview.

Sunday, 20 January 2013

Nigerian Troops; Deployment to Mali.


So 1,200 Nigerian Troops arrived Mali yesterday to help curb insurgents from Northern Mali (supposedly were the violent Boko-Haram sects are being trained). Included in this battalion of soldiers are the air-wing of the Nigerian Airforce, flying and transporting our troops as well as their equipments to Mali. The transport plane for this job is the Nigerian Airforce, United States made Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Pix below:-
This transport plane has a capacity for 92 passengers, 72 combat troops or 64 paratroopers in a cargo compartment that is approximately 41 feet (12 m) long, 9 feet (2.7 m) high, and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide. Unlike passenger airliners, the hercules is designed from the ground-up as a combat transport with loading from a hinged loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage. The Lockheed cargo plane design possesses a range of 1,100 nmi (1,300 mi; 2,000 km), takeoff capability from short and unprepared strips, and the ability to fly with one engine shut down.

Another Aircraft deployed to mali are the Nigerian Airforce Gunships. The Aerospatiale SA 330 Super Puma helicopters.

This is a four-bladed twin engine medium transport helicopter. She has 3crew members and carries 16passengers or troops. Its has well placed defense. Two of these babies were deployed to mali to give Nigerian troops ease of transport support.

The next aircraft are the deadliest of all the aircrafts deployed, there are fast and incredibly swift. They are the light attack Dornier Alpha jet E.

There are low support jet aircraft with a crew of 2(Pilot and Navigator) it has a combat radius of 610 km (329nmi 379mi) lo-lo-lo profile, gun pod, underwing weapons and two drop tanks. It has got a Maximum Speed of 1,000 km/h (540kn 621mph) at sea level. Its Weapon stock comprises of:-
  • Guns: 1× 27 mm (1.06 in) Mauser 27 Revolver Cannons in centreline gun packed with 120 rounds or 1x 30 mm DEFA in centerline pod with 150 rds
  • Rockets: 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each; 2× CRV7 rocket pods with 19× 70 mm rockets each
  • Missiles: 2× AIM 9 Sidewinders 2× Matra Magic II; 2× AGM-65 Maverick;
  • Bombs: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of payload on five external hardpoints including a variety of bombs (such as the Hunting BL755 Clusterbombs) or Drop Tanks for extended range.
one of our alpha jet pilot preping to leave for Bamako yesterday, at the Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after flight brefing.

Friday, 4 January 2013

Dana Airline Resumes Flight Ops Today


Its been a major loss for Dana and Nigeria, because june 3, 2012 came as a shock when a Dana plane McDouglas 80 came crashing down into residential homes in lagos, just before landing. 6months have passed and Dana airline has finally resumed flight operations today after passing through regorous screenings, investigations and test to satify that they are save to fly. The airline had its first flight departing from Lagos-FCT Abuja around 7:20am this morning. Reports say the airline sold a few tickets, for about N14,400 and plans to make a trip with government officials and celebrities to the capital to assure Nigerians that its aircrafts are safe to fly.
The airline still has pending issues with its insurers concerning compensations for the relatives of the june 3 2012 crash.
Safe Flight people!

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Into the world of private Jets.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Private Jets air as the name implies are aircraft bought buy individuals, companies and even state govnment for private use. Private jets range in Sizes from Very Light Jets, Light Jets, midsize jets to Heavy Jets‪. Usually a typical Gulfstream, Cessna Citation, Challengers, LearJet, are regular business jets that wealthy people can buy and trick out for either business or personal use, buying comfort you can get in 5star hotels, eliminating long queues at the airports, delays, stop-overs, stale and tasteless foods.
Private jet owner statics continue to grow every year. In Nigeria over a period of about 7yrs has recorded over 200 private jet owners.
According to statistics obtained from FAAN's website, the rate varies for Day landing $0.00909/kg ; Night landing $0.01364/kg. Parking for the first three hours does not attract any fee. Montly parking fee cost about $10,000 every month but depending on the size and weight of the aircrafts, parking and landing fees varies.
For the Gulfstream G450 aircraft, with landing weight of 29,935kg, the airport authority will charge the owner about $273 or its naira equivalent for day landing while it will take $408 for night landing.Some Nigerians who have been associated with owning private jets include Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga, and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim. Others are Sir. Joseph Arumemi-Johnson of Arik Air, Chairman of ThisDay Newspaper NdukaObiagbena, Dr. Babatunde Fagbemi of Maevis Nigeria Ltd, and award winning singers, P Square .
Some of the companies with private jets include Zenith Bank, Oceanic Bank, Dangote Group, NNPC, among others. Some state governments like that of Akwa Ibom, Rivers among others are believed to have acquired private jets.
The world of business aviation has spread its tentacles beyond 8seater luxury gulfstreams to Heavy and wide bodied commercial passenger jetliners like the Boeing 737NG, 747-400 & 800series, 757, 767, Airbus A330, A340, some of these planes seat up to 356 passengers for commercial use.

Well it seems rich folks do experience the recession. As Donald Trump bought a Boeing 757VIP jet from paul Allen. Microsoft's co-founder for a reported $100million. Trump's “new” 757 is basically a 20-year-old 737, but with a fuselage that's five meters longer. With a poky floor-space of 125 square meters and a range of around 8,000 kilometers, it is tricked out with Gold interiors and state-off the art Avionics system. Although it's a far cry from the 747-8 VIP, whose range is over 17,000 kilometers and makes Mr Trumps jet look like a single engine prop cessna. Shet!

The 747-8 Intercontinental is the latest, longest and about the most expensive corporate jet in the world -- a shiny new, “green” (empty) 747-8 will set you back US$300 million, but with a VIP fit-out the figure is closer to US$500 million.

But what else is there out there for those with a few more hundred millions to splash? Actually there is. THE A380.
The official 'monster of the skies' accommodating over 750 Passengers. Recently a Saudi prince. Prince Al-waleed bin talal cousin to the sultan of Brunei who himself owns a Luxurious Boeing 747-400VIP jet. Prince Al-waheed ordered the A380 sometime in 2009 and has since been delivered but has been undergoing dynamic interior makeover by "Design Q" a British Worcestershire-based firm. The A380 VIP business jet is expected to be delivered to the prince sometime early this year. The airplane is worth about $485million. Prince Al-waleed's flying palace has been pimped with an on-board garage, so that the prince can be driven right to the threshold of the aircraft or better still. A lift drops to the tarmac and a red casrpet unfurls, with downlights to 'give the impression of turning up at the Oscars'. The belly of the A380 has been turned into a relaxation zone, including a Turkish bath lined with marble only two millimetres thick to keep the weight down.
Next door is a wellbeing room, with the floor and walls turned into a giant screen showing the ground down below. Guests can stand on a 'magic carpet' and watch the journey, a scented breeze blowing into the room.


If work really is unavoidable, the boardroom is on hand with iTouch screens and live share prices projected on to the tables. For conference calls, a business partner on the ground can be virtually projected on to the table to 'join' a meeting.
The five suites which form the owner's private quarters have king- size beds, entertainment systems and a prayer room featuring computergenerated prayer mats which always face Mecca. A lift shuttles between the plane's three floors, from the private quarters upstairs, down to the concert hall that seats 10peaple, featuring a baby grand piano. Hian!
  Paul Allen, had a gulfstream IV that ran off the runway and a helicopter that totalled when it struck a cable during take-off from his yatch. His pilots made a safe emergency landing only to be damaged by the company towing the chopper on water. Totally submerging the chopper (no one was injured), paul took it a nouch, left out luxuary and purchased speed. He got himself a Russian MiG-29 (wow, just when i was asking myself if individuals could own a fighter Jet).



Gadaffi uses an Airbus A340 worth almost $300millon. (picture above).
Google has got 3executives and they all have a total of 8 private jets, The google boys both have one Boeing 767 aircraft that is worth about $180million. Roman abramovich, chelsea's manager also owns a 767 but has a passion for sailing. He would prefer to travel by sea and experience the full extent of luxury. His missing out!

Governments and military organisations are not left out in this private Jet venture:-
The State of Kuwait got a Boeing 747-800i with kuwaiti airline colours


The United States, uses a 747-400 to transport her presidents popularly known as "Airforce one". It is customised to uptmost secrecy and the jet comes with its own defense as well as evasive mechanisim. It has a Business Jet style cabin, containing private quaters for the president, a personal office, confrence rooms, galley, as well as a media room should in-case d president needs to give a press briefing or address the nation. The Jet has got up 55workers and crew and its capable of mid-air refuelling. It can also endure flying 3days non stop.


The Federal Republic of Nigeria," jet-liner carries the inscription: "Nigerian Air Force" and the number "5N-FGT" BB (Boeing 737-700), has been described as "the ultimate in space, range, utility and productivity," with an interior that is nearly triple the size of the most popular large cabin business jets. With BBJ cabins laid out to include a full dining room/conference room table, plus a private bedroom with a shower, the plane is said to be more like "flying office with rooms.
" The cost is about US$48 million for BBJ1 (Boeing 737-700).
 The newest aircrafft to grace the skies. Boeing's dreamliner 'the 787' some days ago made its way into the business world as boeing officially stated that its first 787business jet is under construction for Hong Kong real estate tycoon Joseph Lau. The aircraft is worth $156million.
Owning a private Jet enables its owners to sneak in and out anytime they please.

Sunday, 16 December 2012

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.

Saturday, 15 December 2012

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.