Aero Contractors Sacks 100 Workers Outsourced by Skyborne

Some Nigerians working with Aero Contractors have lost their jobs following a structural process that took place in the establishment. Not fewer than 100 workers outsourced to Aero Contractors by Skyborne Ltd have been sacked following the airline’s decision to review its relationship with the company. The airline confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its Media Consultant, Mr Simon Tumba, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), which owns 60 per cent of the airline’s shares, had dissolved the previous management and appointed Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, as its Managing Director. Akinkuotu, the immediate-past Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has been given the task of rebuilding the airline and helping it to regain its position as a key player in the industry. (NAN)

The statement said: “In the course of reorganizing and repositioning its business, Aero Contractors has reviewed its relationship with Skyborne by cutting down some of the services required from the company. “This will help the company to invest more resources to enhance customer service. For the records, Aero has not sacked any of its staff.’’ NAN, however, gathered that most of the affected contract workers had spent some years with the airline. A letter to one of the affected workers which was obtained by NAN claimed that the sack was as a result of the ongoing restructuring in the airline.

The letter reads in part, “Dear colleague, in the light of the ongoing restructuring at Aero, we regret to inform you that your services are no longer required and employment with SBL terminated with immediate effect. “Please, return all company property to your Manager/Supervisor by 8:00 a.m. on April 28. We regret any inconvenience caused.’’ NAN reports that Aero Contractors had been in the news in recent times as allegations of corruption and diversion of funds were levelled against the past management.

F-22 Raptor's Helmet

F-22 Raptor's Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), said to be the most sophisticated of its kind.

Ban On Drones!

Due to the recent security challenges faced in Nigeria,  the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority commonly known as NCAA has hereby placed a ban on all forms of drones in the country .

However, Drones can only be flown with special permission be gotten from the Aviation Authority here in Nigeria.

Drone owns, be advised on the update. Stay turned....  follow me on IG@aviatorcruz

Flying in a Sunny Day???

Most of us wonder that is it about flying on Sunny days! In aviation, Air density decreases with increasing temperature and altitude. At any given true airspeed, lower air density reduces the amount of lift generated by the wings or the rotors of an aircraft, which may hamper an aircraft's performance and hence its ability to operate safely. The reduced density also reduces the performance of the aircraft's engine, compounding the effect. Aviators gauge air density by calculating the density altitude.

On sunny days, you will noticed that the level of TURBULENCE is greater than on a cooler day. However,  this is no problem for pilots. In hot days,  Airplanes require a longer takeoff run, potentially exceeding the amount of available runway. It's can also be a problem cause small airport got short runways.  While unsafe at any altitude, an overloaded aircraft is exponentially more dangerous under hot and high conditions. One notable crash was that of Jessica Dubroff's plane in 1996, flying out of the Cheyenne, Wyomingairport (elevation 6,159 ft / 1,878 m)....

So when next you think of making a trip, try choosing a cooler day.

Follow me on Instagram @aviatorcruz

12 Things Most People Don't Know About Flying

There are a lot of secrets that pilots know but keep to themselves. A few of them are things you're probably better off not knowing. And a few are secrets that, once you know them, can make air travel a little bit better. Flying in the coming months? Here are 12 secrets pilots won't tell you, but I will!!



1. Morning Flights Are the Smoothest


On one hand, morning flights are a drag simply because you have to get up so early. No one likes the alarm going off at 3 a.m. But if you're a nervous flyer, you should know that morning flights are the smoothest. According to the Daily Mail, lighter winds and fewer storms mean less turbulence.

2. Breakdowns Happen


Planes are no different than any complex machine in that they occasionally break down. It happens more often than you might think, but thanks to rigid inspections, these problems are rarely life-threatening. And, says the Daily Mail, more serious troubles like power failures and engine problems are either fixed before take-off or dealt

3. Pilots Sleep while flying


The Daily Mail reports that half the pilots surveyed in a 2012 study admitted to nodding off. That's not as big a deal as you might think. First, the autopilot takes care of much of the flight, and second, there's a co-pilot. On long flights pilots often take breaks and put the co-pilot in charge. Some newer planes even have designated sleeping areas
 

4. Pilots Eat Different Food


Another pilot secret, according to the Daily Mail, is that pilots don't eat the same food as those of us back in economy. They either chow down on special meals or enjoy the same fare as those in business class. Sometimes they even bring their own food. Another secret: the captain and co-pilot will eat different meals, just in case of food poisoning.

5. Bumpy Landings Are Often Done on Purpose


When you experience a hard landing, it doesn't mean that it was a bad landing. The Daily Mail says that if the runway is wet, the pilot will bring the plane down hard to prevent the it from skidding.

6. Planes Get Hit by Lightning


Planes get hit by lightning all the time. According to the Daily Mail, it happens at least once a year to most planes and does no damage.

7. Limited Emergency Oxygen


In case of an emergency, oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling. But did you know that there isn't an endless supply of air? The Daily Mail says that there's enough for about 15 minutes. But don't panic, that's more than enough time for the plane to descend to an altitude where you can breathe without a mask.

                                          




8. Avoid the Coffee (and tea and water)


A pilot writing on Quora advises that you should avoid airplane coffee, calling the on-board potable water used to make it 'disgusting'. The Wall Street Journal investigated the quality of on-board water in the past and found all sorts of nasty critters swimming around. If you want to be sure that your water is just water, buck up for something in a bottle or can and avoid anything that uses airplane water.


                                        

9. Seatbelt Sign Errors


Ever wonder why the 'fasten seatbelt' sign is on, even when the flight is smooth? It's because the pilot forgot to turn it off. Whoops!..




                                 

10. Guns Are Allowed in the Cockpit on US Flights


In the US, Federal Flight Deck Officers (a program of the US Federal Air Marshal Service) can carry a firearm in the cockpit. However, they have to undergo rigorous training and screening.


                                                 



11. Germs Are Everywhere!


You already know to avoid an aircraft's on-board water. But it's much harder to avoid germs in the cabin. According to Reader's Digest, they're on every surface. When people get sick after flying it's generally because of something they touched, not something in the air. Pack some disinfectant wipes to clean your tray, armrest, touch screen, and seatbelt buckle.

                                          


12. A Baby on the Lap is Dangerous


Think you can hold on to your child if there's an impact or sudden deceleration? Not a chance, reports Reader's Digest. Your kid is going to become a projectile. If you want to ensure her safety, use safety seat.

What the Germanwings final report tells us!

In summary, the report reveals that Andreas Lubitz, taking advantage of the absence of the commander in the cockpit, took the controls of the aircraft and modified flight parameters to lower the plane to get it crashed. He blocked the door of the cockpit and ignored the 11 calls from air traffic control in three different frequencies, as well as calls and knocks on the door of the passenger cabin.

The co-pilot was in a state of medical leave and just a few days earlier a doctor had recommended Lubitz a treatment in the hospital. However, neither this nor other sick leave recommendations were referred to Germanwings and no doctor reported Lubitz state, so neither the company nor the authorities could take any action to prevent him fly on the day of the accident.

"Following the report, debates and questions on aviation security are flamed up"

On the other hand, the relatives of the victims claimed that the legal changes are necessary to improve the system while asking that appropriate measures must have been taken to ensure that companies comply with the obligation to have efficient mechanisms to control their employees. Furthermore, medical professionals are calling for clear rules to find a balance between patient privacy and public safety.

The report cited possible reasons that could have led the First Officer Lubitz to hide his medical state from the company: the fear of losing its accreditation and flying license as a professional pilot and the possible economic consequences.

Although this case is very particular, It should be taken into account that the poor working conditions and the continuing pressure on the crew in some cases by the airlines, may have direct effects on the security of operations and hence passengers.

It is recalled that only two days after the fatal accident had happened, the University of Ghent (Belgium) denounced a study "anomalies in the aviation business" at the request of the European Commission. This report showed that an alarming number of pilots are flying on the low-cost airlines, who are not directly connected with the company. In most cases, these economically dependent airlines rely on the crew support from third parties or their parent companies to avoid paying taxes or social security of their workers.

These practices contribute to the distortion of the aviation market's competitive advantage. The report determines that the business model of the airlines should be reviewed essentially in terms of the safety of operations.

The study also points out the immense importance of the selection processes and training. A comprehensive selection process, Improving the education of pilots, focusing on awareness of mental health during training, recognition of problems with peers and mechanisms for reporting them are considered as vital instruments to prevent future accidents.

What is not in doubt is that the sector should study more and better measures to identify all factors that lead to an accident and ensure flight safety, not only the technical factors but also the human factor.

Business and private jets based in Nigeria

In recent months, wild guesses have been made in the Nigerian press about the number of private and corporate jets based in Nigeria and/or owned by Nigerians. The NCAA will not provide the accurate numbers, but a list of identified active private and business jets is provided below. The list is not complete and might not be entirely accurate, but it does show that the numbers circulating in the press are slightly exaggerated.

Aircraft on the Nigerian register:
Boeing 737-700/BBJ (5N-FGT) – Nigerian Air Force
Dassault Falcon 7X (5N-FGU) – Nigerian Air Force
Dassault Falcon 7X (5N-FGV) – Nigerian Air Force
Gulfstream G550 (5N-FGW) – Nigerian Air Force
Gulfstream GV (5N-FGS) – Nigerian Air Force
Cessna Citation II (NAF 050) – Nigerian Air Force
Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (5N-RSG) – Rivers State Government
Embraer EMB145LR (5N-BJM) – Bauchi State Government / Associated Aviation
Embraer EMB145EU (5N-BOZ) – Taraba State Government / Air Taraba / OAS Helicopters
Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel + (5N-HAR) – Nigeria Police
Cessna 525C CitationJet CJ4 (5N-DIA) – Nigeria Customs Service
HS 125-700 (5N-AVK) – Nigerian Airspace Management Agency
Hawker 4000 (5N-NOC) – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
BAe 125-800 (5N-NPC) – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
Hawker 800A (5N-BNE) – King Airline
Hawker 800A (5N-BMR) – King Airline
Hawker 800XP (5N-BNM) – SkyJet Aviation
Learjet 45 (5N-BLW) – ARM Investment Managers / Associated Aviation / Hangar8
BAe 125-700 (5N-BFC) – Associated Aviation
BAe 125-700 (5N-DAO) – Associated Aviation
Hawker 800XP (5N-JMA) – Arik Air
Hawker 800XP (5N-JMB) – Arik Air
Learjet 45XR (5N-LDM) – MaxAir
Gulfstream GIV (5N-BOD) – SkyBird Air
Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (5N-BJS) – Pan African Airlines
Cessna 560XLS Citation Excel (5N-BOQ) – Pan African Airlines
Learjet 45 (5N-DAL) – Dana Air
BAe 125-600 (5N-EMA) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air – stored at Lagos
Hawker 800A (5N-QTS) – S. Iwuajoku / Quits Aviation
Hawker 800XP (5N-IZY) – A. Izinyon / Izy Air
Cessna 550 Citation Bravo (5N-IZZ) – Izy Air
BAe 125-700 (5N-BEX) – A. Dangote
BAe 125-1000 (5N-DGN) – A. Dangote
Gulfstream GII (5N-BGV) – R. Okorocha – for sale
Gulfstream GIV (5N-PZE) – A. Eze / Oranto Oil / Triax Airlines
Hawker 800 (5N-BMT) – Ocean and Marine
BAe 125-800 (5N-BOO) – unidentified – stored
Dassault Falcon 900 (5N-FGE) – unidentified – stored
Dassault Falcon 900 (5N-BOH) – unidentified – stored

Foreign registered aircraft based in Nigeria:
Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS) – Rivers State Government
Gulfstream G450 (N224BH) – Akwa Ibom State Government
Hawker 800XP (N664AC) – TaK Aviation / TaK Continental
Hawker 800XP (N500AZ) – Azikel Air
Hawker 900XP (ZS-SME) – TopBrass Aviation
Hawker 900XP (ZS-KBS) – SkyJet Aviation
Hawker 4000 (N412TF) – SkyPower Express Airways
Dassault Falcon 900EX (N512TF) – SkyPower Express Airways
Cessna 525 CitationJet Cj1+ (N224BA) – SkyPower Express Airways
Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign (N2208L) – United Bank of Africa
Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (M-ANGA) – MaxAir
Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (ZS-LRK) – SkyJet Aviation
Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (ZS-UBS) – SkyJet Aviation
Learjet 45XR (ZS-KAA) – SkyJet Aviation
Learjet 60 (VP-BOD) – Caverton Helicopters – for sale
Airbus A318 Elite (VP-CKH) – Harry Akande
Bombardier Challenger 604 (VP-BJM) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air
Bombardier Global Express XRS (VP-CNA) – M. Adenuga / Southern Air
Bombardier Global Express XRS (VQ-BJA) – A. Johnson
Bombardier Global Express XRS (VP-CEO) – F. Alakija
Bombardier Global Express XRS (N104DA) – A. Dangote
Learjet 45 (N104DN) – A. Dangote
Dassault Falcon 2000LX (M-DARA) – Dangote Group / Dansa Juice
Bombardier Challenger 300 (VQ-BMJ) – Executive Jets Services – for sale
Bombardier Challenger 605 (3B-RGT) – GTBank / Executive Jets Services / OSA Aviation
Bombardier Challenger 605 (N605GF) – J. Ibrahim / Global Fleet
Bombardier Challenger 605 (VP-CSI) – I. Sanomi / Gembrook Energy Projects
Dassault Falcon 50 (M-SNSS) – S. Tommey / Osmoserve Global
Hawker 800A (N118KL) – M. Lawal / ACE / CAMAC Aviation / West Link Airlines
Hawker 900XP (N638MA) – Midway Airlines / Okin Travels
Hawker 900XP (M-SAPT) – T.Y. Danjuma / SAPETRO Aviation
Bombardier Challenger 605 (M-SAPL) – T.Y. Danjuma / SAPETRO Aviation
Hawker 900xp (ZS-SGV) – J. Okoloko / Notore Chemical Industries
Gulfstream GIV (N990EA) – E. Azudialu / Nestoil
Gulfstream GIV (N52MK) – M. Indimi / Oriental Energy Resources
Gulfstream GIV (M-PZPZ) – A. Eze / Triax Airlines
Gulfstream GV (M-USBA) – Namco Nigeria / Shukra
Gulfstream G550 (N169SD) – S. Dantata / MRS Group – for sale
Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ (N5UD) – Dantata
Embraer EMB135BJ Legacy 600 (N357TE) – I. Rabiu / BUA Group
Dassault Falcon 7X (VP-BGG) – Chagoury Group
Gulfstream GIV (N707EA) – E. Adeboye / Emmanuel Aviation
Bombardier Challenger 601 (N431CB) – A. Oritsejafor
Bombardier Challenger 604 (N664D) – D. Oyedepo / Dominion Air / World Mission Agency
Hawker 800XP (ZS-PCY) – Oando / Triton Aviation
Hawker 900XP (ZS-BOT) – Oando / Triton Aviation / Hangar8
Hawker 4000 (ZS-ZOT) – Oando / Triton Aviation / Hangar8
Bombardier Challenger 300 (VP-BJT) – Triton Aviation

Private and corporate propeller aircraft:
Beechcraft 1900D (5N-WCI) – Dominion Air
Beechcraft 1900D (5N-MPA) – Mobil Nigeria
Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-MPB) – Mobil Nigeria
Beechcraft 1900D (5N-MPN) – Mobil Nigeria
Beechcraft 350 King Air (N404SA) – Dantata / MRS Group
Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-FLS) – Julius Berger
Beechcraft 350 King Air (5N-FLY) – Julius Berger
Beechcraft 200 King Air (5N-IHS) – Wings Aviation – stored at Lanseria
Cessna 208A Caravan I Amphibian (5N-BIW) – Pan African Airlines
Pilatus PC-12 (5N-BNG) – Bala Ibn Na’Allah
Piper Aztec PA-23 (5N-BGZ) – Africa Contracts and Equipment / MishAviation

Corporate and private helicopters:
Agusta A109S Grand (M-AZKL) – Azikel Air
Sikorsky S-76C (5N-BQG) – Nestoil

Updates, additions and corrections are appreciated.

Please note that various foreign charter companies are also active on the Nigerian market, such as VistaJet, Hangar8, Empire Aviation Group, Elit’Avia, FAI rent-a-jet, National Airways Corporation, TAG Aviation, AVjet Corporation, and AmJet Executive. Their aircraft are not included in the list above. The same goes for the foreign registered aircraft operated by JetAlliance (Austria/Germany) for Prime Air Services and Izy Air.

SOURCE:  https://nigerianaviation.wordpress.com/tag/izy-air/