FlightSource International, a United States of America company that is into aircraft sales, chatter, brokerage, acquisition, financing and others, says it is ready to invest 70 percent stake in a national hangar project in Nigeria in order to assist airlines get immediate and cheap access to maintenance.
But the company is insisting on getting a 30 percent commitment from Nigerian investors in the form of private public partnership (PPP).
Oluwaseyi Ajayi, the company’s senior representative in Nigeria, says this is part of measures to cut cost for operators in the country and stem the huge capital flight associated with ferrying aircraft for maintenance services abroad.
The establishment of the maintenance facility by a private sector firm has become imperative to complement the various investments by the Federal Government in upgrading the nation’s airports and other allied infrastructure, Ajayi says.
“We will commit ourselves to 70 percent of the deal, while we are seeking for a Nigerian investor that will put down the 30 percent equity.
“The infrastructure upgrade in Nigeria is excellent. I think the only thing absent is a state-of-the-art hanger or maintenance centre or facility. And so the hanger, which we have identified as a big challenge to the Nigerian industry will be used to carry out all forms of checks and repairs on airplanes and helicopters, and will put an end to the huge cost borne by operators in taking out their aircrafts overseas for maintenance,” he says further.
FlightSource Asset Management Division (FSAMD) provides aviation consulting services to aircraft operators, owners and financiers, and specialises in the management of commercial aircraft operating leases and offers technical support and management services designed to meet the demands and needs of its customers.
It services are designed to minimise financial risk and to ensure your assets are maintained and are secure. FSAMD can provide guidance and assistance with the assessment of risks to help clients with their investment decisions. Whether FSAMD is appointed to complete a detailed inspection of an aircraft for a lease termination, prospective purchase, investment or sale, or whether it manage the aircraft you have leased, its services and approaches will be tailored to meet your specific needs and requirements.
Sade Williams
Also working alongside this company in Nigeria currently is Butzbach Industries, a company that is into provision of sliding doors for aircraft hangars globally. The largest sliding door manufacturers in Europe with long standing business experience, the hangars doors are available in all dimensions. They are provided as soon as FlightSource builds any hangar. The state-of-the-art doors are panelled with fibreglass, which is manufactured by self-developed, and offers a light transmission of up to approximately 74 percent.
Meanwhile, Ajayi, who is also the CEO of Avonheli Systems Limited, a company that specialises in helicopter sales and services (Agusta, Bell, McDonnel Douglas and Sikorsky) and private jets supply, among others, says upon selecting the company as exclusive agent, the company will establish a marketing programme for aircraft, targeting potential buyers worldwide.
The company is also capable of negotiating on customers’ behalf to generate the highest possible retail offers and to customers’ aircraft type by identifying and contacting each operator, he says.
The Avonheli boss, who is also into maintenance, hangar and helipads construction, water-craft sales and pilot outsourcing, explains that the market for aircraft and helicopter services in Nigeria is huge, adding that almost every sector of the economy needs it for movement.
