Aircraft engineer begs NCAA to tackle crashes

Following the recent helicopter crash in Rivers State, an aeronautical engineer, Moses Onilede, has called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that airlines in the country adhere strictly to the stipulated time for aircraft checks.

Onilede advised airline operators to also insure their aircraft with foreign financiers through Nigeria-based insurance companies.

The experts said this during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday.

Onilede, who was in the Presidential Air Fleet between  2003 to 2014, stressed that to achieve a crash-free aviation industry,  regulators must be alive to the discharge of their duties.

He stated that regulators play a critical role in ensuring safety by establishing and enforcing rigorous maintenance standards.

According to Onilede, conducting regular, unannounced audits, requiring detailed maintenance documentation, and certifying only qualified maintenance facilities can help ensure aircraft are truly airworthy.

He advised that using data from artificial intelligence-backed systems could assist regulators in monitoring trends and identifying potential risks more effectively.

“To prevent crashes, we need a proactive approach that combines rigorous regulatory oversight with cutting-edge technology like predictive maintenance,” Onilede stated.

He mentioned that ensuring that all operators adhere to high safety standards and fostering a culture of safety at every level of operations is vital.

“Encouraging investment in training and technology will also ensure that maintenance teams and systems are equipped to keep aircraft in optimal condition,” Onilede stated.

The aircraft engineer who became Wing Chief Engineering at the Presidential Air Fleet between August 2012 and June 2013 further noted that accidents can be put in check by doing the right thing at all times.

“For instance, employing competent and skilled pilots should be of utmost importance to operators at all times. The NCAA, too, has a list of works in their hands; by the manual, they must ensure that these airlines adhere strictly to their maintenance dates as expected,” Onilede averred.

It will also be recalled that recently, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo,  lamented that many of the insurance firms in the country cannot insure many of the aircraft in the fleet of Nigerian airlines.

The Minister noted that the lack of capacity and the high premiums by the insurance firms had also contributed to the hike in airfares.

He disclosed that the new rule of the National Insurance Commission is that every risk must be placed in the local market to enhance local insurance companies.

Offering solutions to the menace of lack of insurance for Nigerian aircraft, Onilede recalled that aircraft in the presidential fleet during his days in Aso Rock were insured with foreign financiers through a Nigerian-based insurance company, which stands as a middleman.

“When I was an engineer in the presidential fleet, I can remember that we insured all our fleets through leadway Assurance with the foreign Insurance financiers. Leadway was like their front person in Nigeria for such an assurance,” he said.

“Nigerian airlines too can adopt the method, because I doubt if foreign airlines will accept to insure them individually. They should insure their aircraft with foreign financiers through Nigerian insurance companies,” Keyamo added.

Advising young engineers, he stressed that, a message to young engineers is to focus on continuous learning and innovation, “aviation maintenance is a complex field, and those who push boundaries will lead the future. Dont be discouraged by challenges; instead, see them as opportunities to innovate. Our industry needs bold thinkers who are willing to develop local solutions that address our unique challenges. With determination and hard work, they can drive significant advancements in Nigeria’s aviation sector.”