Aircraft age limit: Four airlines may close down

The Federal Government’s new plan to announce 15 years as the new age limit for commercial aircraft that could be allowed to operate in the country may force, at least, four Nigerian airlines to shut  up shop, investigation by our correspondent has revealed.

The policy, which has been described by industry experts as unrealistic, will lead to the banning of no fewer than 38 jets, representing about 60 per cent of scheduled commercial airlines’ planes in the country. The 38 planes are currently flying for eight domestic airlines.

At least, four airlines will have their entire fleet grounded by the planned policy, which has been described in some quarters as a  knee-jerk approach to safety.

They are FirstNation Airlines, Dana Air, IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines.

The Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, had at the Safety Conference of African Aviation Ministers in Abuja on Thursday said the government was already considering lowering the age limit of aircraft that could operate in the country to 15 years.

She admitted that the policy could have a short-term negative impact on the desire to encourage the growth of domestic airlines but added that the issue should be how to strengthen and enhance airlines’ viability as business concerns.

She added, “We will continue to encourage domestic airlines not only to grow in their individual capacities but also to consolidate wherever possible, so as to pool resources together for the emergence of more stable, viable and profitable airlines.”

Statistics on age and histories of Nigerian airlines’ planes obtained from planespotters.net showed that at least 38 out of the 64 Nigerian commercial planes were over 15 years old.

It means that approximately 60 per cent of commercial planes being flown by the domestic airlines face ban over the proposed policy.

The statistics from the planespotters.net showed that apart from the plane that crashed, Dana currently has four Boeing McDonnell Douglass 83 planes that are over 15 years.

All the three Airbus A320-200 in FirstNation’s fleet are over 15 years, according to planespotters.net. Also, all the five Fokker 100 planes in IRS’s fleet are over 15 years old.

All the four Boeing 737-200 and two Boeing 737-300 in Chanchangi’s fleet are over 15 years old.

The three ATR 42 planes in Overland Airways’ fleet are also over 15 years. The age of the two Beechcraft 1900D could not be determined from planespotters.net as of press time.

According to planespotters.net, 11 out of the 12 planes registered under Aero Contractors are over 15 years old. These are seven Boeing 737-500s and four 737-400s. The 12th plane, which is a De Havilland Canada Dash 8, is 12.9 years old. 

Also, four out of the 12 planes registered under Air Nigeria are over 15 years old. These are three Boeing 737-300s and one Boeing 737-400. The other planes in the airline’s fleet are less than 15 years. These are five Boeing 737-300, one Airbus A330-200 that is just 6.7 years and two Embraer 190 jets that are about three years. Air Nigeria has, however, returned about four Boeing 737-300 to its lessor, GECAS.

All the 21 planes registered under a major commercial airline in Nigeria are less than 15 years, according to planespotters.net.  The ages range from two to 11 years. The airline has Boeing, Airbus and De Havilland Canadian-made planes.    

Associated Airlines has two of its Embraer 120 planes, which are over 14 years old.

Reacting to the proposed policy, the General Secretary, Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Captain Muhammed Joji, told our correspondent on Sunday that the body would challenge the minister’s decision.

Joji, who said the decision was wrong, said international regulation did not impose any age limit on aircraft to be used for any operation.

He said, “We will challenge it. The policy is not part of any international regulation. We will hold a press conference on it. Where do we get money to buy new planes? Some airlines may like it because it is designed to favour them. The National Assembly had mentioned it during the public hearing on Dana crash but we challenged it. International regulation does not impose any age limit on any aircraft. All they say is obey the standard recommended practices on the aircraft. That means that as far as you are doing the maintenance, no problem.”

CULLED FROM PUNCH NEWSPAPER