• Why civil aviation can't regulate military aircraft
• Retired Army chief faults release of helicopter for civilian operations
• Obama pays $180,000 for private use of Air Force One, says Ojikutu
DETERMINED to tackle the challenges in the aviation sector, Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, Tuesday invited airline owners, aviation agencies' chiefs for an emergency meeting in her office in Abuja.
Although, the agenda of the meeting was not known, a source close to the ministry told The Guardian that it may not be unconnected with a myriad of crises rocking the sector, especially with the Minister determined to find solutions to them.
An airline operator said that the meeting billed for 7.00 p.m. yesterday, would "discuss how to move the industry forward," and provide the avenue for the operators to air their views on some of the things that had hindered their smooth operations.
The meeting, according to the source, could also help to appraise operations of airlines in the area of safety during the Yuletide and always following the spate of accident involving Dana Air on June 3, 2012 and the recent Naval helicopter last week that killed the former Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Andrew Owoeye Azazi and four others.
The crash last week Saturday in Bayelsa State brought to the fore once again, the issue of safety in aviation even though military aircraft operations are not conducted or under the purview of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, said it was wrong as canvassed by some analysts that military aircraft regulation should be under the supervision of the NCAA, saying that there is no country where it is done.
Tukur noted that by doing so, the aviation regulatory body would be over stretched with the few personnel they have.
He noted that civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial, stressing that most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices for civil aviation through that agency.
A former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said the accident involving a naval aircraft helicopter brings to the fore the problem of, "Command and Control of our military which is being eroded by our political elites."
He said the probe of the accident as directed by President Goodluck Jonathan should focus on that, noting that, "the helicopter is not a presidential fleet but under a service chief command."
His words: "First, did the President make any request to the Ministry of Defence for a helicopter to be deployed for his aide's father's burial? And if he did, what are the details of the mission order? Who are those listed to be carried and in how many sorties?
"If there is no such order, who directed the use of a service aircraft for a presidential aide? Would such concession be given to all aides and ministers if they have to go burying their fathers or mothers? I sympathise with the families of the deceased, but like I said, these acts of executive recklessness must be subjected to existing regulations and laws."
He cited the United States where President Barack Obama pays as much as $180,000 per hour for Air Force One for any trips that are not official.
Ojikutu disclosed that military aviation authorities are as competent as their civil aviation authority counterparts to regulate and carry out oversight functions over its fleet and crew, but noted that like the civil aviation system, it has it many lapses.
