Picture caption
Representative of the Minister for State ,Aviation and also the Commissioner of AIB, Engr. Akin Olateru, the representative of the AMCON, Managing Director, Aminu Ismail, Managing Director of Aero, Capt Ado Sanusi, former Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA), Dr . Harold Demuren, Receiver Manager, Mr. Adeniyi Adegbonmire at the formal Roll Out of the first successfully conducted B737-500 C-Check in Nigeria at Aero headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA),Lagos .

The managing director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru has said that the certification of Aero Contractors’ to conduct C-Checks for Boeing 737-500 series locally would save Nigerian Airlines and not just Aero millions of dollars spend outside the country on facilities such as this

Speaking at the roll out of first successfully conducted Boeing 737-500 C-checks at Aero Contractors Company at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Friday January 12, Kuru noted that this development is a boom for the Nigerian aviation industry.

AMCON boss who was represented by Aminu Ismail, a director in the Corporation solicited the support of all stakeholders and relevant Aviation regulatory bodies for Aero’s MRO by ensuring that the investment is allowed to grow in collective interest of Nigerians.

Kuru said: “We cannot continue to allow capital flight of our scarce foreign exchange towards paying for services that are available in Nigeria and would provide a source of employment for our people. To this end a directive to other airlines towards the use of this facility at least to the extent of its capabilities and certifications, would go a long way towards ensuring the growth of the Aero MRO into being certified for other Aircraft types”.

While thanking the Receiver Manager of Aero, Mr. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, the Chief Executive Officer of Aero, Capt. Ado Sanusi and the entire team at Aero, including his colleagues at AMCON, especially the Executive Directors who played different roles in ensuring the complete recovery and gradual stability of Aero, Kuru warned that it is not uhuru as it is still work-in-progress for all stakeholders.

He stated that: “It is our belief that Aero’s maintenance facility will achieve huge savings for operators even from other neighbouring African countries, thereby attracting the much needed funds that is required to strengthen our economy. This success can be replicated across other industries in Nigeria. I strongly believe that more can be done if we imbibe good corporate governance, hold management accountable, and have responsive regulators”.

In his welcome address, the managing director of Aero. Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi observed that conducting a C-Check on aircraft in Nigeria is a huge milestone for the aviation sector.

Capt Sanusi stated that the certification of Aero to conduct C-Checks in Nigeria seamlessly dovetails into the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the present administration.

While inviting other airlines to conduct their C-Checks for B737 Classics at Aero, Sanusi emphasised that there are tangible deliverables to be derived from patronising the company.
He listed these derivables to include include saving foreign exchange, getting a quicker aircraft turn-around time, enriching Nigerian technical expertise and knowledge base and strengthening the Nigerian aviation sector as the regional and sub-regional hub for aviation activities.

Aero boss noted that in the course of conducting the C-Check, the airline suffered avoidable delays with Customs Clearance of specially imported tools required for the maintenance.

He called on the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to assist Aero intervene with Customs to ensure that it expedite the easy passage and clearance of tools it import specifically for aircraft maintenance.
In his words: “That would greatly help in avoiding loosing days waiting for Customs to clear our tools to enable us proceed with the maintenance.
Though Aero has applied to be granted Free Trade Zone status at the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), we are hoping that granting us the status shall be expedited in the first quarter of 2018 as it would ease our maintenance turn-around time which is key to building customer confidence in patronizing Aero for its C-Check maintenance. We appeal to the Minister to also intervene with the Minister of Trade & Investment”.
Aero boss commended Sirika, the managing director of AMCON, Director General of NCAA Capt Usman Mukhtar, Receiver Manager of Aero Mr. Adeniyi Adegbonmire, S.A.A. Technique & AJW Group and the Aero Engineers and staff for their
critical roles that have culminated with Aero being able to sustain its operations and slowly returning to viability.

In his remarks, the managing director of NCAA, who was represented by Engr. Ita Ewang, the director of Airworthiness standard stated that Aero’s successful C-Checks is a testimony that country’s salvation is in the hands of Nigerians.
While applauding Sanusi for the leadership style that made this development a reality, Usman promised that NCAA is ready to partner with players in the aviation industry to grow their operations.

Speaking also, the former director general of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren lauded the management of AMCON, the managing director of Aero and others for their support towards the success of the C-Check including the managing director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma for making land available for such projects.

He urged him to always provide land for the airlines and others who might want to build maintenance facilities around the airport.

Demuren noted that this feat is made possible by good leadership style of Sanusi and his team.

The Aero aircraft