The inability of wide bodied aircraft to take off and land at the Port Harcourt International Airport, on Thursday and Friday over inadequate fire risk preparedness will increase insurance premium of foreign airlines into Nigerian airports.
It was reported that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to airlines, showed that the airport downgraded its fire category from level 7 to level 6, meaning large aircraft could not operate at the airport.
Meanwhile, the NOTAM also indicated that the airport also downgraded the approach lighting capability which means higher visibility will be required for landing in bad weather.
However, another NOTAM was issued on Friday evening stating that the fire coverage has been upgraded back to Category 7.
While speaking exclusively to over the inadequate fire risk preparedness, the Director of research, Zenith Travel Consult, Olumide Ohunayo, said inadequate fire tender at the Port Harcourt airport is an embarrassment to the nation and its aviation sector.
He, however, posited that the NOTAM would lead to increase of insurance premium to the Port Harcourt airport and others in the country.
The NOTAM would lead to loss of revenue to the airports and not a good look for insurance into the airport because an insurance company will cite it and use that to increase premium. We have an opportunity to improve our image because that shouldn’t have happened, we shouldn’t have an issue of serviceability and not providing an alternative for an international airport like Port Harcourt.”
He continued, “It was an embarrassment but kudos that we are adhering to safety standards by issuing necessary NOTAM and all parties are informed ahead so that their won’t be surprise during an emergency just like the Sossoliso crash. I think I want to take the positive side of the NOTAMS that they have issues with the fire fighting equipment and they had to downgrade because of the lack of service. That they won’t be able to have appropriate fire cover and why will alternate plans and serviceability be an issue if we comply with the maintenance schedule.
“Also, the FG approved money for the purchase of fire tenders and was that airport not considered as one of the airports to get one of the new fire tenders. There are lot of things to look into and appropriate investigation will reveal what transpired to know where to put the blame.”
Ohunayo applauded the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), over the release of NOTAM, saying before now, notice are not issued and that affected the ratings of the nation’s aviation sector internationally.
“It was good that they passed the NOTAM, in the past no NOTAM until the aircraft lands and you find out there is no fire cover. We have shown that we can be responsible by notifying appropriate organisations and I know the airlines especially Lufthansa airline suffers some loses because they have to divert their flight and lodge their passengers in the hotel and provide another mode of transportation at their cost,” he explained.
Corroborating Ohunayo, security expert and former military commandant at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Capt. John Ojikutu, said insurance premium on aircraft into Nigerian airports will be increased.
He, specifically said the incursion into the Lagos airport is of great concern to international airlines, saying that’s evident in their air fare into Nigeria compare to other neighboring African countries.
“It does increase the insurance into Nigerian airports not only into Port Harcourt but to all others. Go to other airports and see that the situations are not same or similar. While you talk of safety services in airports like Port Harcourt, the incursions into the Lagos airport is of concern to airlines like British Airways that why its air fare to London from Lagos is higher than the fare from Accra to London.”
Ojikutu who is also the chief executive officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, said purchasing fire trucks alone without training requisite manpower and other anxiliary service providers is still not sustainable.
“The purchase or supply of tens of fire trucks for an airport is not sufficient to sustain or upgrade the level of the safety standards of an airport. There are other allied services like manpower, communication, water and hydrant services which are very necessary to complement the acts of the emergency services.
“During the Sosoliso crash of 2006 in Port Harcourt water was not in regular supply, hydrant was not available and so was communication between the fire and its allied services even when the crash was directly in front of the fire services building,” he stated.