Metro
Aviation: Aging pilots must go –Senate
The Senate on Wednesday called on Chief Executives of Aviation agencies in the country to take steps to replace aging pilots in their system.
This was contained in the report of the Senate ad-hoc committee on Aviation which investigated a motion on “The worrisome and unstable position of Nigerian Aviation industry” by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central).
The Senate agreed that “because of the delicate nature of the aviation industry only qualified and properly trained people should be employed while “the chief executive of aviation parastatals, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology should put in place a programme in place to replace the aging pilots in aviation industry taking into cognisance young pilots on ground that needed a particular flying hours before they can be employed.”
The upper legislative chambers also ordered the committee to investigate the disbursement and utilisation of $40 million loan and N33.55 billion allegedly earmarked by the Federal Government in 2011 for the rehabilitation and development of infrastructure in the aviation industry.
It said that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to pay more emphasis on the provision of state of the art flying equipment to enhance air safety.
Read also: Report… Nigeria’s aviation, a sector in need of makeover
Other recommendations of the committee adopted included that “Good leadership spirit should be inculcated by the Chief executive of aviation parastatals and other stakeholders to refurbish and maintain physical facility and equipment.
The abandoned aircraft in the custody of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it said, should be resuscitated to be used for the purpose it is meant and by so doing save money for Nigeria.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki said that the most important area of the recommendations is for the Senate to see that these recommendations are truly implemented.
Saraki said that the aviation committee should oversee to ensure that the recommendations were truly implemented for safety of the airlines as well as the necessary legislation that is required.
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