8 hours Ago By Guardian Nigeria
Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations has identified poor regulations and inadequate enforcement of standard guidelines on general aviation services. The committee, led by Captains Ado Sanusi and Roland Iyayi, fingered the same old loopholes of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) system, inadequate oversight, and security vulnerabilities at major airports. It would be recalled that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has threatened to shut down the Abuja Airport’s General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which is allegedly the most complicit of the infractions.
However, the problem is not new. Some four years ago, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) raised similar complaints, though with high expectations that the pending Civil Aviation Act would address irregularities in the sector, especially the sharp practices by private jet operators. The then Director-General of the CAA, Capt.
Musa Nuhu, had said business aircraft in the country are 95, out of which 72 are still not registered in Nigeria, violating the extant rules. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2015, Part 18.2.
3,1 stated that Air Transport License (ATL) holders and Airline Operating Permit (AOP) holders with valid Air Operators Certificate (AOC) are the only ones authorised to carry out charter operations in the country as no person shall use aircraft in Nigeria for hire and reward without the above requirements. Nuhu confirmed the gross violation of the aviation rules with some private jet owners exploiting gaps in the Act. He observed that though regulating “the black market” was tough, the NCAA has not relented in carrying out due investigations and issuing sanctions to violators.
Though the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act 2022 has been activated, the “economic sabotage” in general aviation is far from over. Sanusi said their submitted report has far-reaching recommendations that would strengthen regulatory oversight, enhance security measures, improve compliance with aviation laws, and ensure that private charter operations were conducted transparently and in line with international standards. He declared that over the past months, the committee had conducted a thorough investigation into illegal private charter operations in Nigeria.
“As we submit this report, we remain hopeful that its recommendations will be implemented to ensure Nigeria’s safer, more transparent, and economically viable aviation industry. Thank you once again for the opportunity to contribute to this important cause,” Sanusi said. Charter airline operator and Chairman of West Link airline, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, had described operations of private jets in commercial services as economic sabotage.
Mshelia said the NCAA and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) should go after such people for security and economic infractions that deprive the sector of a mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), among others. Mshelia said even passengers of those illegal operators were endangering themselves, saying if anything happened to them, “the owners of aircraft would leave as the aircraft was not certified for hire and reward, and so would not even compensate them or their families.” SAHCO deploys new technology to deepen security in cargo operations.
Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC has acquired the Rapiscan Itemiser 5X, the newest Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) technology breakthrough. SAHCO said it made them the first and only ground-handling company in Nigeria to integrate this advanced system. Head of Corporate Communications, Adetola Uansohia, said the state-of-the-art machine would significantly boost SAHCO’s cargo screening capabilities, ensuring precise detection of explosives and narcotics—meeting crucial safety standards for importing and exporting cargo to the United States and other Western countries.
The Itemiser 5X is widely recognised and recommended by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for its superior security screening capabilities.
Uansohia said: “This investment underscores SAHCO’s unwavering commitment to ensuring safe, efficient, and internationally compliant cargo operations. “Furthermore, the Itemiser 5X represents a significant advancement in security screening, featuring an optimised detection library that can identify a wide range of explosives and narcotics. Its advanced software algorithm enhances accuracy and efficiency, making it a crucial addition to SAHCO’s security infrastructure.
“To further strengthen security measures, SAHCO has strategically deployed three units of the Itemiser 5X across its major operational hubs, reinforcing its commitment to global security standards,” she said. Designed for superior performance, the Itemiser 5X incorporates a fast clear-down mechanism that efficiently removes residual explosive traces after detection, ensuring seamless operations. Its innovative desorber design and sample wand improve sample collection accuracy, while remote monitoring capabilities allow real-time system oversight through a dedicated console.
Engineered for ease of use, the machine is lightweight, portable, and equipped with a built-in handle for convenient transport. Its advanced features include stable humidity control, a high-capacity hard drive for reliable performance, and an automated internal calibration system that reduces consumable usage while maximising detection accuracy. Additionally, the non-radioactive ionization source eliminates the need for annual wipe tests and special licensing, simplifying compliance requirements.
World cargo symposium to showcase latest technology, innovation The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the 2025 World Cargo Symposium (WCS) will focus on digitalisation, sustainability, safety, and security as the key issues in helping the global air cargo industry as it adapts to unfolding geopolitical shifts. IATA’s Director-General, Willie Walsh, said air cargo demonstrated its resilience in adapting to the post-pandemic world, leveraging new technology. Walsh said: “In 2024, more cargo was transported by air than ever before.
But the world is moving even faster with technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, evolving risks, and changing customer needs. “At WCS in Dubai, we’ll collectively take stock of what’s next for air cargo, focusing on digitalisation, sustainability, safety/security, and e-commerce. The growing demand for air cargo underscores its critical role,” he said.
WCS is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from April 15 to April 17, hosted by Emirates SkyCargo and dnata. It is the second time the WCS is hosted in the United Arab Emirates, with the first in 2017. Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, Badr Abbas, said with its strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure, Dubai is a natural choice for the 2025 IATA World Cargo Symposium.
“As this year’s host airline, Emirates SkyCargo is set to showcase its expanding capabilities and commitment to driving efficiency, innovation, and connectivity across the air cargo industry. The symposium will be a key platform to shape the future of air cargo and align on the best strategies for growth,” Abbas said. dnata’s CEO – Airport Operations, Clive Sauvé-Hopkins, said they’re proud to welcome industry leaders to Dubai, home to our first and largest operations, during incredible growth and transformation in the cargo sector.
“With safety, innovation and sustainability at the core of our business, the IATA World Cargo Symposium offers an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and explore new solutions. We look forward to connecting with our partners and stakeholders to enhance both operational and environmental efficiency, driving meaningful progress across the industry,” he said. SAA appoints new Group CEO The South African Airways (SAA) Board has welcomed the appointment of Professor John Lamola as its Group Chief Executive Officer.
The Board is confident that Lamola’s appointment marks a turning point for SAA’s long-term financial health, who has the skill, track record, leadership skills, insight, and vision to guide the national carrier in its continued growth, ensuring that SAA remains a viable regional, continental, and global aviation operator. Lamola has been at the helm at SAA as interim CEO since May 2022. He is deeply conversant with the airline’s past and has been intimately involved in planning its future.
His proven leadership will ensure stability and continuity in SAA’s governance and operations. SAA Board Interim Chairperson, Mr Derek Hanekom says: “The SAA Board is delighted to be able to appoint a solid and dedicated leader well versed in SAA’s fortunes and eager to continue overseeing its take-off into better skies. We wish Professor Lamola and SAA safe flight into an even brighter future.
” In his position as interim CEO, Professor Lamola ensured SAA’s return to profit-making status. In the 2022/23 financial year, SAA reported a net profit of R252-million, marking its first profitable year since 2012. Revenue in the same year was R5.
7-billion, up from R2-billion in the previous financial year (2021/22). The airline has steadily added national, continental, and global routes, flying to 16 destinations by January 2025, in contrast with six destinations in 2021. It has expanded its fleet from six aircraft to 20 in the same period, including the addition of two Airbus A330s.
Since 2021, SAA has increased its workforce from 800 to approximately 2 000 (November 2024), including 140 pilots, at group level. The airline’s financial discipline and health continue to improve, and Professor Lamola’s appointment confirms the Board’s confidence in his leadership and aligns with the government’s vision for a commercially viable and globally competitive SAA. “Professor Lamola can now continue growing SAA with confidence, knowing that he has the full support of the SAA Board and its shareholders,” Hanekom says.
“We congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well in his leadership of SAA.” According to a study SAA commissioned from Oxford Economics Africa, a London-headquartered consulting leader in global economic forecasting and econometric analysis, SAA’s gross value add (GVA) to South Africa’s GDP in the 2023/24 financial year is R9.1-billion.
Oxford Economics Africa projects that the airline’s GVA to South Africa’s GDP will rise to R32.6-billion by 2029/30. The same report estimates that SAA is a powerful job creator for the South African economy.
It projects that SAA’s impact on the economy, through, for example, bringing tourists to South Africa and facilitating international trade with the country, will take off, sparking the creation of direct and indirect jobs, from 25 200 jobs in 2023/24 to 86 700 by 2029/30. SAA activities are anticipated to generate government revenue of R1.1-billion (actual) in 2023/24, rising to R4.
4-billion (projected) by 2029/30. Professor Lamola has solid experience in the aviation industry, having built and managed a proprietary private equity investment portfolio that included holdings in aviation and internet technologies. He was CEO at Denel Aviation between 1996 and 2001 and served on the Board of the Airports Company South Africa between 2012 and 2017.
Professor Lamola obtained his PhD in philosophy and religious studies from Edinburgh University in Scotland and a Master of Business Administration degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida in the United States..
