Monday, June 11, 2012

FG Invites ICAO To Audit aircraft In Nigeria



Princess Oduah- Minister of Aviation



...Inaugurates panel on Dana Air crash
Nine days after the fatal Dana aircraft crash in Lagos, the Federal Government on Monday in Abuja inaugurated a Technical/Administrative panel to investigate the cause.
The government has also invited the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) to audit the aircraft flying in Nigeria’s airspace.
Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, stated this while inaugurating the panel to investigate the Dana Air crash.


The panel, headed by Group Capt. John Obakpolor (rtd), was given six weeks to submit its report.




The minister said: ``Government is committed to doing whatever is humanly possible to prevent the re-occurrence of such calamity in future.’’.




Princess Oduah said ICAO had been invited to urgently undertake a thorough technical and safety oversight of the aircraft and airlines operating in Nigeria
She explained that the mandate of the panel was distinct from the statutory accident investigation by AIB which had already commenced work.




``The task of this panel is geared towards the intensification of the ongoing institutional reform of the entire aviation industry in Nigeria.
``We expect that the panel will make recommendations that will enable us to overhaul the entire industry for greater functionality.
`



This panel is not set up to indict anyone or any organisation, rather, the panel will be factual in carrying out the assignment.




``The accident that has occurred was tragic and most unfortunate. It was a setback on our improved track record of safety and the rising profile of the Nigerian aviation sector,’’ she said
She gave the terms of reference of the panel as follows:






*To review the maintenance practices of Dana Airline as well as the other four domestic scheduled operators




*Assess their level of compliance with regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).




*Examine the management practices and safety culture existing in Dana Airline and other domestic scheduled flight operators-THE NATION

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