Managing Director Airline Management Support Limited, Capt. David Olubadewo, has advised the federal government to build and protect the domestic airlines.
Capt. Olubadewo, said somebody needs to put rules and regulations on ground to protect the airlines, adding that this is how it is done globally.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the recently concluded 27th League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC Conference in Lagos, Capt. Olubadewo, also urged the government to set up a leasing company to lease aircraft to airlines in Nigeria, stressing that we need to grow and build our airlines.
He stated further that this would even be a win-win situation because it boosts both the airlines and the economy as the government gradually recoups the money it spent on the acquisition of the aircraft.
He said the Airline Management Support Limited supports the local airlines in the distribution of Dunlop tyres for aircraft and also a reseller, distributor for Eastman Turbine oil, which is used for aircraft.
He list the major challenges confronting the airline sub-sector in Nigeria to include:No level playing field, forex and others.
Olubadewo said our government sell Nigerian owned airlines cheap to other countries that own airlines as the creates unnecessary competition on the routes Nigerian airlines ought to develop in the name of demand and supply.
Airline management support Limited boss noted government do not value the domestic airlines, who are about the best in the world.
He explained that China built and protected her airlines to become the biggest aviation market.
“Also, the Dubai Government supported Emirates to grow. So, the Nigerian Government should support the local airlines to build them up. For instance, what is the point of foreign airlines coming here and flying to all our major local routes”, Olubadewo queried.
On whether Nigerian airlines are using the right aircraft, the MD of Airline Management Support Limited said domestic airline operators are using the right equipment based on feasibility study, pointing out that ‘it is just that our airlines cannot really afford brand new aircraft”, Olubadewo stated.
He explained that its gradually becoming easier for airlines to access spares as spares are now issues of planning.
He stated that: ” There are certain parts that are referred to as urgent or Aircraft on Ground (AOG), those spares will come through Customs. However, it needs following up to let them out quickly rather than creating unnecessary problems.
But, apart from that, I think the Customs are not too bad in Nigeria, no matter what you may say, they are not too bad. We go to other West African countries, we see what they do, we see what Customs do in the UK, because in the UK you have something called route one. If anything goes through route one you have to wait, you have no choice. It is waiting until it is out. But Nigerian Customs, they are not too bad”.
Asked about the airlines he supply parts to and patronage level, Olubadewo said It is third-party information which he’s not allowed to say, adding that patronage level is at least about 90 per cent of all the airlines in Nigeria.
Commenting on weather his company has enough for the sector and all types of aircraft, Olubadewo said yes, they have and where don’t have, tyey have the support of the manufacturer to actually back them up, adding that is all based on planning.
On whether delay in accessing spare could cause flight delays, the Airline Management Support boss while answering in the affirmative, noted that is not only in Nigeria, but everywhere in the world.
He said: “It depends on what type of parts we are talking about. If you are talking of engines, of course, if you are going to transport engines from London to Lagos, it takes time. It is a bulky item; it is not something you can carry. It is not something that will go into the AOG desk of the airline.
But these are things which need planning. So, it just depends on one, if it is just an ordinary instrument, of course within 10 hours. It is only six and half hours from the UK and maybe a maximum of 7 hours from anywhere in Europe. And you have maybe 15 or more airlines visiting Nigeria every day”.
Olubadewo explained further that “for the airlines fleets, It is a decision that has to be made by the owners and those people running the airline. So, while they are doing their feasibility studies, they would have done something about support and if that support is spares, aircraft spares support, now there are many ways of getting around that, you can either lease them, you can either have a programme, you don’t need to keep a large stock. Because part of that is part of your profitability, it adds to it.
There is no point in keeping 100 parts you don’t need in your stock. So, it will depend on what we are talking about, but I don’t see any reason, if the money is there, why should they have any problem’.
On some of the challenges that happen in Nigeria that may not be easily avoided like bird strike, Airline Management Support Limited boss responded that “yes, you plan for that but you are talking of risk factors. No matter what you do, whatever we do, there is a risk factor. I supply aircraft tyre to airlines and what will happen is that if I put an aircraft tyre on an aircraft and it goes burst that is a risk factor.
So, we have to make sure that the parts or the tyres that are supplied pass through an extra level of quality check to make sure that when it goes on the aircraft, it will do what it is meant to do”.
Commenting on whether it is necessary for airlines to keep a huge spare in their stores because they may not need them in the immediate, Olubadewo responded that: “We are stockists. For example, we will go into the airline’s store and we will see a small store with small tyres. But don’t forget, they ordered those tyres from us, so we are keeping it for them. Sometimes when you go into the store, you don’t find the parts. But the parts are actually available, they are just elsewhere. Again, we are saving them money.
We have two warehouses where we store aircraft parts. We store aircraft tyres for all the airlines”.
