Reps, stakeholders to investigate alleged recurring contamination of Aviation fuel
..Stakeholders urge NCAA to revive former AIB unimplemented Safety Recommendations
By Seun Ibiyemi
The House of Representatives is set to investigate alleged incessant incidences of aviation fuel contamination, associated air travel risks and possible non-adherence to standard operating procedures and industry best practices in the aviation oil industry.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep Tunji Olawuyi (APC-Kwara) at the plenary in Abuja on Thursday.
In his motion, he said the contamination of the main fuel tanks of Boeing 737-300 aircraft belonging to Max Air B737-300 led to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on July, 7 at the Yola Airport.
He said Max Air had reportedly confirmed that it got the contaminated fuel from certain undisclosed aviation refueling outlet.
This, he said, eventually led to the unfortunate incident and grounding of its 5N-MHM aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He noted that NCAA followed the incident via a letter NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 dated July 9, and suspended parts A3 Aircraft Authorisation and D43 Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd.
He said this was with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in their fleet.
He said NCAA noted several occurrences involving Max Air Boeing B737 aircraft including the loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
He said this occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria on May 7.
He added that many flight accidents in history were caused by fuel contamination resulting in abnormal operation of aircraft engines and water as a major contaminant.
He said in recent times, NCAA had been receiving series of mandatory occurrence reports from airlines and other aircraft operators with issues related to water being found in the aircraft fuel tank of the aircraft.
He decried the inability of NCAA and other associated aviation and oil regulatory agencies to address the increasing sharp practices in the aviation fueling industry.
This, according to him, is where some unregistered portfolio jet fuel marketers using the throughput arrangement to supply aviation fuel with little or zero traceability.
He said this is mostly in iats supply chain instead of the regulated Joint Venture (JV) model with negative impact on lives, properties, economy and the aviation industry.
He expressed concern that the Nigerian regulatory agencies in the aviation oil industry had demonstrated lack of capacity and failed to ensure certification of appropriate specification.
He also said that they have failed to ensure proper handling of fuels to remain essentially free of harmful contaminants during production, transportation and distribution.
The House in adopting the motion constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the increasing incidences of aviation fuel contamination.
The house also urged the committee to unravel associated air travel risks and possible non-adherence to standard operating procedures and industry best practices in the aviation oil industry and report to the House in eight weeks.
Also in a swift response, An aviation expert, retired Capt. John Ojikutu questioned the fuel contamination process.
Ojikutu in a chat with Nigerian NewsDirect said that “does the case of fuel contamination suggest that the fuel marketers too have no responsibility to check their fuel depot tanks, fuel dispenser tanks or hydrants?
“Are the fuel marketers not subjected to some level of safety regulations as the catering services and Cargo handling companies?
“Again, I’m aware that the NNPC former DPR once suggested to the NCAA and the marketers in about 2018 to establish a testing laboratory at the Airports fuel depot.”
He said that the marketers complained about the cost, and “I wonder what has the NCAA done about this since then.”
Ojikutu suggested that the NCAA revives all the former AIB unimplemented Safety Recommendations on fuel contamination and ensure that responsible marketers are enforced to implement the necessary Safety Recommendations or otherwise be stopped from commercial fuel services.
