Union wants removal of abandoned aircraft

The Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) on Friday called for the removal of abandoned aircraft parked at aprons across the country's airports.

ATSSSAN's President, Mr Benjamin Okewu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the call was necessitated by two recent ground collision incidents by aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

A similar incident involving two aircraft belonging to First Nation Airways aircraft occurred at the same airport on July 17 when an A319 taxiing into the terminal hit another parked A319 aircraft at the apron.

Okewu told NAN that the apron at the Lagos airport was congested, especially at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), due to several unserviceable aircraft of some airlines that were abandoned there.

He said that some people received 'political` Air Operating Certificates (AOCs) and their aircraft had not flown for one day, but were abandoned at the apron.

"If we don't quickly act to create space, more space around the apron and taxiing areas, there is no how we won't experience some of these incidents," he said.

Okewu called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to carry out proper planning and address the problem more decisively.

Mr Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, however, told NAN that the authority had already issued a public notice to the owners of the aircraft to evacuate them.

Dati said: "We have already informed the owners to get rid of them or we shall get rid of them on their behalf.

"We have written to them and given them substantial notice so that they will not say they were not formally informed.

"As a law abiding organisation, we are also trying to explore all legal means to resolve the issue."

He said FAAN would not hesitate to take action if the owners refused to comply with the directive, noting that the safety of the nation's airports was a priority to the authority.