By Renn Offor
Special Correspondent, Lagos
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has considered other options instead of withdrawing the operating licence of Bristow Helicopters over the crash of its helicopters
In line with global practice, the NCAA simply suspended the helicopter model of Bristow Helicopters, Sikorsky S-76C++, which crashed earlier this year.
NCAA Director General, Usman Muhkta explained that “decisions are without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).”
He disclosed that the NCAA “views with utmost seriousness the successive mishaps of Bristow Helicopters” aircraft Sirkosky S-76C++ on the coastal waters of Lagos.
Two helicopters of this same model belonging to Bristow Helicopters have crashed in the past seven months.
Ikechi Uko, a travel expert, said: “This is the first time the right thing is being done in Nigeria. The best thing to do under such circumstances is to ground that particular helicopter model and not the Bristow Helicopters as a whole.
“So, if it was a maintenance error, correct it. Ethiopian Airline B787 engine caught fire. The entire B787 was grounded, investigated and corrected.”
In the past, one crash would have led to the withdrawal of the licence of the carrier.
Dana Airline was banned after its airplane crashed. The same fate befell Sosoliso and Bellview.
The House of Representatives insisted on the ban and demanded the sack of then NCAA Managing Director, Harold Demuren, who defended the re-certification of Dana Airline.
Bristow Africa Regional Director, Duncan Moore, explained at the resumption of operations after the crash on August 12, 2015 that “Bristow is in full compliance with regulatory directives issued for our aircraft.
“Special maintenance and monitoring programmes developed by the aircraft and engine manufacturers, the helicopter operators and the FAA/CAA in recent years have ensured all our aircraft are maintained to optimum standards.”
The report of the AIB on the crashed helicopter released in September 2015 revealed uncontained engine failure.
“The crew did not declare an emergency. According to FDI data, the upset lasted for 12 seconds …. There was no evidence of fire outbreak before or after the crash.
“The life rafts on the helicopter were observed deflated and floating in the lagoon,” the AIB added.