• The African Aviation Tribune •

■ NIGERIA: Akwa Ibom State approaches Bombardier, Lufthansa Technik over possibility of MRO facility, new regional airline.

2013-05-23T09:00:00.000+02:00

The local government of Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State has approached various international firms among them Canadian aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik, over the possibility of them partnering the government in its project to build and operate an MRO Hangar facility at Uyo's new Ibom International Airport, currently under construction. A new regional carrier, Ibom Airlines, is also planned.

Uyo's new Ibom International Airport Terminal (3TI Architecture)

State governor Godswill Akpabio was in Canada recently to seek financial and technical assistance from Bombardier in completing the hangar before year end, while Lufthansa Technik has been approached apropos the hangar's management. Bombardier was also asked to help assist in the setting up of a planned new carrier, Ibom Airlines, to be based out of Uyo International Airport.

He said cooperation from technical and financial partners would enable the state to complete the hangar centre before the end of the year, describing lack of a major maintenance facility as a problem for aviation development in the country.

"The MRO is a huge facility that can take two wide body aircraft, Boeing 747s or four Boeing 737s with all the dormitories, the spacing and the equipment and all the configurations that will make for effective aircraft maintenance. It is going to be the biggest MRO facility in West and Central Africa. We don’t have proper MRO facility in these regions.

Some people have come to look at it, like Lufthansa Technik and some groups are beginning to talk to the state government, but of course, this opportunity was also thrown open to Bombardier because Bombardier has over 40 aircraft in the country right now, so the facility is a major hangar for aircraft maintenance. So we need collaboration. This is a big facility waiting for Nigerians to take advantage of.”

Source [The Nation]

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah said plans to establish Ibom Airlines were in line with government policy of developing the region as a major economic hub in the Gulf of Guinea.

Ideally, Ibom Airlines would service the sub-region using Bombardier CRJs using Uyo as a hub for flights to Equatorial Guinea, Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola.

Boeing, Bombardier and Lufthansa Technik have all been approached by Arik Air (WB) regarding their participation in Arik's planned MRO facility, set to be built at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

■ ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian set to become Africa's first pan-global carrier - report.

2013-05-23T08:00:00.000+02:00

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) could well become Africa's first Pan-Global carrier having already realised its initial goal of being the continent's first truly Pan-African airline. In an interview with industry standard, Airline Weekly, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam set forth his airline's future expansion plans which include the possibility of hubs in the West Coast of the US and a direct Mozambique - Brazil route amongst others.

Regarding plans for Africa, Gebremariam stated that Ethiopian would proceed with its previously outlined objective of establishing hubs throughout the continent namely in:

West Africa - now successfully operating out of Lomé, Togo through its ASKY Airlines brand (KP). In the long run ASKY has plans of launching flights to South Africa and Angola with Europe to come in 2014/2015.
Central Africa - still a toss up between Brazzaville and Kinshasa according to Gebremariam though in practical terms, given Brazzaville's recently opened Maya Maya International Airport and Kinshasa N'djili's ongoing makeover, Brazzaville may be a more likely choice;
Southern Africa: both Zambia and Malawi have been considered. ET is still in the process of starting up a revived version of Air Malawi (QM) while talks with Zambia apropos its much desired relaunched Zambia Airways 2.0 are also ongoing

Ethiopian Airlines DC6B

Regarding plans for North America, Gebremariam stated that, given the good loads the airline had seen on its Toronto and Washington flights, a possible further push into North America was being considered with potential hubs in either San Francisco or Los Angeles being considered; LA appeared the stronger potential market of the two as it has the highest concentration of expat Ethiopians in the region.

Regarding South America, Gebremariam stated that flights to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, set to début with 787 flights in July, will be a means of "testing the waters" via its Lomé hub with even the possibility of direct flights being considered should market demand prove strong enough. ET is developing its South American network with primarily West Africa in mind. Reference Nigeria's Arik Air's pending entry into the market.

Following on from that, and most surprisingly of all, is the revelation that Ethiopian have been granted rights by the Mozambican government to operate flights between Mozambique and Brazil (Reference Brazil's pending ratification of a new BASA with Mozambique).

► MALAWI: Presidential Jet sold to Bohnox Enterprises of the British Virgin Islands for $15mln.

2013-05-22T15:00:00.000+02:00

Malawi's presidential jet, a 15-year-old Dassault Falcon 900-EX (MSN 38 | 7Q-ONE), has been sold to Bohnox Enterprises of the British Virgin Islands company for USD15million .

Malawi's 7Q-ONE

In an announcement made today, the Malawian government said Bohnox had beaten out General Aviation Services from the US and African Dune Investments from South Africa in the battle to acquire the jet.

"We have accepted their offer and we are waiting to hear from them," Cabinet clerk Ernest Katchetche said in a statement on Tuesday.

Source [M&G]

The 15-year-old Dassault Falcon 900-EX had been described as being in "perfect flying condition".

Originally bought by incumbent Joyce Banda's predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika for USD22million in 2009, the jet had carried a USD20million minimum bid tag.

■ EGYPT: Government to refloat tender for lease of Cairo Airport Terminal 1's "Hall 4" GA facility.

2013-05-22T13:30:00.000+02:00

Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Engineer Wael El-Maadawy, has announced the impending launch of an international tender for the lease of Cairo Terminal 1's Hall "4"; a facility dedicated to private and executive jet services.

Cairo Hall 4 (Cairo Airport)

In a statement released by the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN), Minister el Maadawy said that the tender is open to private companies with the opening of bids due next month. To ensure fair pricing, a specialized committee, taken from various areas in the Civil Aviation ministry, would be formed in order to develop the necessary benchmarks and specifications needed to accurately determine a fair bid price.

All bidders will also be vetted by the country's local security agencies.

The Ministry originally put Hall 4 up for private investment in January with an evaluation of EGP17million. Despite six firms showing interest, none submitted a satisfactory bid resulting in the re-issuance.

Even though it is referred to as a 'Hall' under Terminal 1, Hall 4 is infact operated independently from the commercial passenger terminal. It has proven to be one of the most successful general aviation halls in the Middle East.

■ MOZAMBIQUE: UAE, Mozambique sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

2013-05-22T12:30:00.000+02:00

On Thursday 16 May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) аnd Mozambique signed a bilateral air services agreement; the culmination οf more than seven years οf negotiations аnd consultations. Thе treaty was signed bу UAE’s minister fοr nation Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Mozambique’s Transport minister, Paulo Zucula.

Thе agreement provides for reciprocal air services to be provided by the UAE's five designated carriers which includes Emirates (EK), Etihad Airways (EY) and Rakairways(RT), and Mozambique, which will soon name its designated carriers in the agreement.

At present, the UAE is the largest foreign direct investor in Mozambique with investments totalling more than USD250million in 2012, according to the Investment Promotion Centre of Mozambique, or CPI.

■ KENYA: KAA deploys new ID management system to Kenyan Airports.

2013-05-22T11:30:00.000+02:00

The Kenyan Airports Authority (KAA) has launched a state of the art, Identity Management Security System (IDMS) that will not only ensure security is heightened at its airports, but also improve customer experience. Managing access throughout its airports is critical not only for operational reasons but also for security in general.

The new system is networked to other airports enabling security officers to share vital records between the head office and the other airports in Kenya; this means that if an applicant at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is banned or blocked from getting a pass to access the facility for one reason or the other, the person cannot get a pass in any of the other networked airport. One of the great features of this identification pass is that it will now have a UV stamp print as an added security feature making it difficult for one to forge or make a duplicate of the same. The system also has the provision to connect to other security databases to allow cross-checking of wanted persons on those networks.

In his address, KAA Managing Director, Eng. Stephen Gichuki noted that the KAA as an organization is taking the right steps to ensure we embrace technology to enable us to provide the best services to our customers.

The IDMS system is a small step on a long journey KAA has undertaken, in order to ensure that the airports authority is a beacon of cutting edge technology. KAA has implemented an information technology Systems in areas of Integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) And Airport Operational Database (AODB). The Integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System comprises of SAP products that covers Human Resource, Finance, Procurement and logistics. This has made our processes faster, safer and more efficient

The Airport Operations Database System (AODB) system is responsible for the management of every aspect of airport operations from the previous flight planning process to billing, including realtime management, reporting, and airport entities management. This is the core of airport operations, since it consolidates every piece of operational information received from other airport systems it interacts with.

► EGYPT: Turkish Airlines boosts Cairo, Alexandria frequencies from June.

2013-05-22T10:30:00.000+02:00

Following the conclusion of a revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Egypt, Turkish Airlines (TK), will from 15JUN13, increases its Istanbul Ataturk – Cairo services, where it’ll operate 21 weekly flights. The Star Alliance member currently operates 17 weekly flights. Additionally, Alexandria will be boosted to daily effective 13JUN..

Turkish Airlines(TK): Istanbul - Cairo

-Eff 15JUN

TK692 IST0025 – 0150CAI 321 D
TK690 IST0645 – 0755CAI EQV D
TK694 IST1810 – 1925CAI EQV D
TK693 CAI0305 – 0615IST 321 D
TK691 CAI0855 – 1205IST EQV D
TK695 CAI2025 – 2340IST EQV D

Source [AirlineRoute]

Istanbul - Alexandria
-Eff 13JUN

TK696 IST0040 – 0155HBE EQV D
TK697 HBE0305 – 0610IST EQV D

Source [AirlineRoute]

■ NIGERIA: Gulfstream Aerospace appoints Evergreen Apple authorized sales reps.

2013-05-22T09:30:00.000+02:00

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced that it is increasing its sales and marketing efforts in Europe and Africa with the June opening of a sales and design center in London and the appointment of company-authorized independent sales representatives in the United Kingdom, central Europe, Turkey and Nigeria.

In addition, the company has positioned Pete Buresh, its regional vice president for International Aircraft Sales/Africa, in Cape Town, South Africa.

“These additional resources put us closer to our customers and position us for growth opportunities in these regions,” said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. “The momentum we carry following the entry-into-service of our two new aircraft, the G650 and G280, makes this an ideal time for renewed focus, particularly in Europe, a traditionally strong business jet market.”

The London sales and design centre will give European, African and other international customers convenient access to the acquisition and design stages of a Gulfstream business jet. Its centrepiece will be a showroom filled with a range of veneers, leathers and fabrics from which to create an aircraft interior.

The facility is located in the Mayfair district of central London.

Gulfstream’s new authorized sales representatives for aircraft transactions in Europe are Tim Leacock Aircraft Sales in the United Kingdom, ATP Aviation in Ankara, Turkey, and Loyd’s Aviation Group in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Gulfstream appointed Evergreen Apple Nigeria in Lagos to the same role.

Each firm has access to a network of entrepreneurs and operators that value and utilize business aviation. ATP Aviation and Loyd's are Gulfstream operators. The latter has served as Gulfstream’s authorized sales representative in Russia for many years.

“All of these partners have extensive knowledge of Gulfstream aircraft and what models are the best fits for their respective markets,” Neal said. “Customers will appreciate their expertise and attention to service.”

Buresh, a 20-year Gulfstream employee, was named sales director for Africa in March 2010. He split time between Savannah and various locations in Africa before establishing a residence in Cape Town.

Gulfstream has approximately 65 aircraft based in Africa, including more than a third that are G450s or GIVs. Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are each home to more than 10 company-built aircraft.

► COMOROS: Inter Îles Air resumes flights with Saab 340; eyes Madagascar, Tanzania ops from June.

2013-05-22T08:30:00.000+02:00

Comorian carrier, Inter Îles Air (ZXA), has resumed services with a Saab 340. The airline had suspended operations following the crash of its Embraer 120ER (MSN: 120-149 | D6-HUA) off the coast of Hahaya, Grande Comore on November 27, 2012.

Ouani Airport, Mutsamudu

Local paper, Habari za Comores, reports that aboard the airline's inaugural flight over the bay of its home base, Mutsamudu, the second largest city in the Comoros, were the governor of the autonomous island of Ndzuwani Anissi Chamsidine accompanied by members of his cabinet including the Chief of Staff, Mohamed Mahamoud Elarif, and various government department heads including the Regional Director of Civil Aviation.

According to company director, Saifiddine Inzoudine, using the new aircraft, Inter Îles Air plans to start scheduled flights to Madagascar and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by early June. In anticipation of the upcoming tourist season, a second unspecified aircraft is expected shortly.

■ QATAR: QCAA signs Open Skies deals with Chad, Tunisia; BASAs with Burundi and Egypt.

2013-05-22T07:30:00.000+02:00

The State of Qatar, through the Qatari Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), has announced the signing of various bilateral air service-related agreements and memoranda with various African countries over the past month. Agreements and Memoranda include: a finalized bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with Burundi that had previously been only initialled back in March 2010; a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia regarding its planned Open Skies treaty, a finalized Open Skies deal with Chad and an MoU pertaining to a BASA with Egypt.

The signing ceremony in Doha (QCAA)

Regarding its BASA with Burundi, the agreement provides for the national carriers of both countries to operate 7 weekly passenger and cargo flights through any intermediate or beyond points of their respective territories.

The Qatari Civil Aviation Authority has also announced that after a round of talks in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, an air service (MoU) between Qatar and Tunisia was signed allowing the national flag carriers of both countries to operate any number of weekly flights (passenger and cargo) between the two countries with fifth freedom on all intermediate and beyond points.

A similar, albeit finalized, Open Skies treaty was also signed with the Republic of Chad.

Lastly, following intensive talks that lasted for two days the QCAA signed an air services memorandum of understanding with the government of Egypt in which designated carriers from the two countries can operate 14 passenger flights weekly between Doha and Cairo in the upcoming period with plans to increase this to sixteen flights by the summer of 2013.

Thanks to RwandanFlyer

►► GHANA: Royal Jordanian to start Lagos, Accra from early July..

2013-05-21T15:08:00.000+02:00

[UPDATE 21 MAY] Jordanian operator, Royal Jordanian (RJ) is to venture into West Africa beginning late-June 2013 through the introduction of of a twice weekly Amman - Lagos - Accra set to be operated with an Airbus A330-200.

Onboard Royal Jordanian

Royal Jordanian(RJ): Amman - Lagos - Accra

- EFF 19JUN13.

- RJ does not have local traffic rights on Lagos – Accra sector

RJ521 AMM0100 – 0520LOS0620 – 0625ACC 330 3
RJ521 AMM1100 – 1520LOS1620 – 1625ACC 330 5
RJ522 ACC0800 – 1005LOS1105 – 1925AMM 330 3
RJ522 ACC1835 – 2040LOS2140 – 0600+1AMM 330 5

Source [AirlineRoute]

[UPDATE 21 MAY] According to Airline Route, the service début has been postponed to 03JUL.

■ SWITZERLAND: JETNET becomes AfBAA's 20th founding member.

2013-05-21T13:00:00.000+02:00

The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has announced at EBACE 2013, that JETNET, an international data and analysis company for commercial and business aircraft worldwide, has become its 20th Founding Member.

"We are delighted to welcome JETNET to our growing family,” said Rady Fahmy, Executive Director, AfBAA. "JETNET joins a strong line up of members and brings valuable intelligence and data to our expanding Association."

He reports that JETNET has seen a 35% growth in the total fleet of aircraft based, operated and owned in the African continent these past five years. With a total 1,425 business aircraft based in Africa effective May 2013 the top 10 leading countries by number operated are: South Africa; Kenya; Nigeria; Angola; Tanzania; Egypt; Morocco; Botswana; Algeria and Zambia.

Underlining this, numerous African based companies now feature in the top 10 worldwide civilian fleet operators of various wholly owned makes and models of business jets and turboprops, according to JETNET’s statistical analysis reports (STAR).

“While the aviation market research in some of these emerging countries has proven to be challenging owing to the lack of basic infrastructure as well as the absence of an established regulatory environment, JETNET has been continuously striving to monitor and reflect this dynamic market and industry changes as they happen through its 25 years of experience in business aviation market research,” said Karim Derbala, Exclusive Agent, EMEA. “We will continue to do so, through our mandate as the latest founding member within the African Business Aviation Association.”

The decision to invite JETNET to become a Founding Member was a strategic one on behalf of the Association as the data expert’s membership will add considerable value to future planned research projects.

It is anticipated that JETNET will steer the committee that will be responsible for overseeing the extensive research project agreed at this year’s general meeting in Rabat. The research will aim to establish the key areas of African Business Aviation that require major improvement and will make suggestions on how to best advocate for these changes.

Just like other inaugural members JETNET will retain membership until 2015. It will also adhere to the guiding principles, which focus on advocacy, safety, security, integrity, service and training. Launch Members will also have a strong voice within the association and will be responsible for contributing to the future of the Association's activity.

► DUBAI: Somalia's Jubba Airways eyes direct Mogadishu - Dubai flights from late June.

2013-05-21T12:00:00.000+02:00

Fresh from the recent launch of flights to Adado, Kismayo and Baidoa, Somalia carrier Jubba Airways (6J), says it intends to launch direct Mogadishu - Dubai flights with effect from late June, though timetable checks reveal a potential July 1 launch.

Jubba Airways flyer for Dubai flights

Founded in 1998 by two Calgary-based Somali entrepreneurs, Said Nur Qailie and Abdi Hashi Dalel, Jubba Airways offers flights across Southern Somalia including Mogadishu, Galkayo, Bosaso, Hargeisa, Djibouti, Dubai and Jeddah.

Jubba Airways also operates passenger flights to Hajj and Umrah as well as cargo flights.

► SOUTH SUDAN: Rwandair to start Juba flights from July 1.

2013-05-21T11:00:00.000+02:00

Rwandan national carrier, Rwandair (WB), will from 01JUL13 begin operations to South Sudan, with a 3x weekly Kigali – Juba service, on board CRJ900 aircraft.

Rwandair CRJ fleet

Rwandair(WB): Kigali - Juba
-EFF 01JUL

WB431 KGL0945 – 1215JUB CRJ 135
WB432 JUB1300 – 1330KGL CRJ 135

Source [AirlineRoute]

■ MADAGASCAR: Nosy-Be runway extension Phase 1 complete; now A340s and B777s can land.

2013-05-21T10:00:00.000+02:00

The first phase of renovation works at Nosy Be's Fascene Airport, a leading tourist destination on the island of Madagascar, has been completed. While it is still subject to regulatory approvals, the airport, in addition to its newly lengthened runway, can now accommodate large aircraft such as the A340 or B777. A second phase of work in the long term should see it capable of handling the A380, authorities claim.

Nosy Be (Fascene) Airport (P Lipinski)

Having begun in December 2012, the first phase of work at Nosy Be involved extending runway 05/23 from 2'190m to 2'230m with both ends extended to allow aircraft to turn. Added exit ramps to taxiways have also been added.

Forty runway lights were also added for night landings.

The upgrade now means that Air France A340 B777 or other land there will now subject to obtaining the approval of international bodies. The cost of this first phase of work has exceeded EUR1.6 million; 30% of the project was financed by ADEMA - Aéroports de Madagascar the rest by the Malagasy government.

A second phase will involve adding an additional 2cm of thickness to the runway with an added extension of 750m (2'890m).

► ALGERIA: Air Algérie details its planned Joburg, Sao Paulo and Amsterdam flights.

2013-05-21T09:00:00.000+02:00

Algerian national carrier, Air Algérie (AH), has hinted at possible dates for its planned new routes to Johannesburg, Amsterdam and Sao Paulo. The new destinations are part of the airline's reorientation plans which will see it transform Algiers into an international hub.

Among the revelations are: B737-800 flights to Amsterdam from July 2013, A330-200 flights to Johannesburg from December 2013 and A330-200 flights to Sao Paulo from February 2014.

Air Algérie plans to use a huge fleet renewal exercise with the imminent arrival of five Boeing 737-800NGs and three new Airbus A330-200s.

■ MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc set to rebound as operating profits hit $83million in 2012.

2013-05-21T08:00:00.000+02:00

Following a record USD50million (MAD499million) net loss posted in 2011 which necessitated a USD193million capital injection by the Moroccan government, Royal Air Maroc (AT), says it has generated an operating profit of USD83million (MAD718million) for its most recent 2012 Financial Year with turnover for the year rising 7% to USD1.6billion (EUR1.25billion).

Royal Air Maroc 787

According to the carrier's CEO, Driss Benhima, the result far exceeds goals set down in the airline's government-backed bailout's conditions stipulated in September 2011, which made provision for the cutting of its workforce by 30 percent to around 4'000, renewal of its fleet to reduce fuel consumption, and the renewal of its operations.

Speaking in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, during the 2012 review of RAM by the Moroccan Committee on Finance and Economic Development before the House of Representatives, Mr Benhima noted that the operating results "do not take into account the the transactions obtained by the airline in connection with the abandonment of unnecessary operations."

The success of the restructuring programme is clearly reflected in the results, said the CEO. He further pointed out that due to the reduction of production costs and despite the cancellation of several routes and falling passenger numbers, the airline's added value had improved 40% with overall income improving by 52% on 2011.

Amongst other rationalization measures RAM has embarked on are the disposal of 10 aircraft including four Airbus A321s and five Boeing 737-500 which it hoped, would raise roughly USD100million.

■■ NIGERIA: NAMA strike to lockdown Nigeria's airspace from midnight as negotiations with management break down.

2013-05-20T23:40:00.001+02:00

[UPDATE 20 MAY] Employees of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) affiliated to the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), are to proceed with a strike beginning Monday 20 May at 00h01. The walkout has come about as result of an ongoing wage dispute with the organization's management.

Lagos Murtala Muhammed
Interntional Airport

The three aviation unions had on Thursday, May 16, threatened to shutdown Nigeria's airspace beginning Monday morning as a result of "the failure of the authorities to pay them higher wages," but later called it off pending the outcome of talks with management. However, a recently issued statement by the collective unions now says that effective midnight May 20, Nigeria's airspace would be locked down.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the ultimatum issued against NAMA shall expire 0000 hrs May 19, 2013. And appropriate actions shall commence thereafter.

In view of the reactionary, timid, (and) misleading press statement of NAMA management through Supo Atobatele, who in the first instance is not the author of the ultimatum, we wish to reassure all our members that (there will be) no retreat, no surrender, and until all grievances are sorted out, there is no going back on our cause of action,” the unions said.

Source [Panapress]

NAMA had earlier claimed that an agreement had been met and that the strike had been averted.

[UPDATE 20 MAY] Panapress reports that the strike called by the aviation workers in the employ of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to press for higher wages, started off as scheduled on Monday, but failed to shut down the country's airspace as threatened by the workers.

In negotiations that ended late on Monday between Government, the Unions and Management, two of the unions namely, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)resolved to shelve their strike, Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah has said.

The decision to shelve the strike action followed some Resolutions taken at the end of a meeting in Abuja convened at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu with the leadership of the two Unions and the Management of NAMA.

At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that due notification was not given to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the aforementioned dispute. The meeting consequently resolved that:

The issue of determination of the basic salary and other allowances for the staff of NAMA concerned shall be taken up by a Committee to be headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation
To be included in that Committee are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC). Other members are to be worked out by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation including the number of Trade Union membership.
The time frame for the work of the Committee shall be concluded within a reasonable time as was deliberated upon and agreed at the meeting.

Based on the Above, the proposed strike by the Trade Unions was shelved.

► CAMEROON: Nigeria's AeroContractors eyeing late May for inaugural Douala flights.

2013-05-20T13:30:00.000+02:00

Nigeria's AeroContractors (AJ) have announced Monday, May 27 as the date for its planned inaugural Lagos - Douala, Cameroon flights, its second international route after Accra, Ghana. According to the carrier, the flights will operate three times weekly.

Aero's flyer for its Lagos - Douala flights

AeroContractors(AJ): Lagos - Abuja
-Eff MAY27

AJ2002 LOS 1045 - 1215 DLA EQV 135
AJ2003 DLA 1300 - 1430 LOS EQV 135

Source [AeroContractors]

The airline is also readying itself for the arrival of two Bombardier Q400, currently in storage.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: NAC acquires South Africa's Piper dealership, Placo.

2013-05-20T12:00:00.000+02:00

South Africa's National Airways Corporation (NAC) has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares held in Placo, South Africa's Piper dealership, from Jeffery A Earle and Laurence M Nestadt.

According to Airnews, whilst Placo (Pty) Limited has grown from the Pretoria Light Aircraft Company, it has been struggling in recent years despite having a decent reputation as a parts business.

"Having been the longest serving Piper dealer in the world until we took over the Piper franchise, there is a loyal Piper customer base for us to work with. We intend to improve the service offering and re-establish a solid Piper Service Centre. Placo will continue to operate at Rand, Lanseria and Wonderboom airports."

Source [Airnews]

Placo had catered to the southern Africa, including the Indian Ocean, markets with their core core business being the importation and sale of new and pre owned aircraft as well as the service and supply of aircraft and aircraft parts.

NAC says it that it intends to reestablish a parts dealerships and a dormant propeller shop as part of its takeover plans, which will see Chris Boshoff as General Manager.