The Nigerian Government has acquired an $8.5 million calibration aircraft.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who took delivery of the aircraft on Thursday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja, said the last time such acquisition was made, was 20 years ago under the cover aviation flying unit.
According to the minister, “The purpose of this aircraft is to calibrate our equipment and aids in the country for the purpose of flight operations, the value is about $8.5 million”.
“This is to ensure they are working in perfect order. We used to have one in Nigeria but for the last two decades, we never had one. What informed us to procure this aircraft was that when we were reconstructing the Abuja runway, we certainly towards the end, we needed to recalibrate all those landing aids at the time which is the requirement. ”.
“We didn’t have the capability as country. The only people close to us that had is ASECNA which is owned by french speaking countries but the aircraft is domiciled in Niger. We approached them but they didn’t have a slot for us and if I didn’t get the support of far away South Africa, we wouldn’t beat the six weeks deadline”.
Sirika revealed that,”Nigeria will saving a lot of money by procuring this aircraft. I know I paid about $500,000 to when our equipment were due last year to South African contractor to carry out this task. If you say every six months, we will do this, that would be half a million every six months. So when we do it sixteen times, the value of the aircraft would have been paid. Not only that, we will commercialize it, generate revenue and keep. our industry safe”
The minister, while expressing gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the new acquisition, said: “Messrs Cross Wind ltd won the contract. This aircraft was purpose built for Nigeria, it is equipped and has Now been delivered. This is the key”.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Cross Wings International ltd, Hambali Tukur said the new acquisition will improve safety in aviation sector.
According to the retired Air Commodore, “It took about nine months from when we applied to the completion and installation of equipment.
”It was built in Textron Aviation Services,Kansas, United States .The procurement of this aircraft will grateful improve safety in our aviation”.
Stella Enenche,Abuja
