Charter
airline operators with relatively old planes in their fleet have lost a
significant number of their clients after the June 3, 2012 tragic crash
involving a 22-year-old Dana Air plane triggered controversy over the
safety of old aircraft in the country, investigation by our
correspondent has revealed.
The
boycott of older planes by passengers, which started with scheduled
domestic airlines shortly after the Dana crash, has now spread to the
charter sub sector, according to sources close to the operators.
Findings
revealed that a good number of the VIPs, who often make use of
chartered aircraft, were now shunning operators with older planes in
their fleet.
The development, it was gathered, had led to bad business times for operators with predominantly old aircraft in their fleet.
Although
the VIPs’ lack of interest in older planes had been noticeable before
the Dana incident, safety concerns raised in the aftermath of the crash
escalated the trend, sources familiar with the situation said.
A
source close to the operators, who spoke under condition of anonymity
said, “These are surely not the best of times for charter airlines with
old planes in their fleet. Most of the VIPs are dragging their feet
about patronising them. The clients prefer operators with relatively new
planes.
“But
I think it is an ugly trend because we have been explaining it clearly
that there is nothing like old or new planes as far as safety is
concerned. Keeping to an aircraft’s maintenance schedule is the key
thing. I think it is misinformation and it is not good for the
industry.”
It
was, however, learnt that some charter airline operators like VistaJets
and Top Brass Aviation, were still enjoying good patronage due to the
relatively newer planes in their fleet.
After
the Dana crash in Lagos led to the death of 163 people, speculations
were rife that the disaster might have been caused by the relatively old
age of the plane.
Industry experts, however, dispelled the rumour, saying age had nothing to do with the safety of an aircraft.
According
to them, keeping to the maintenance schedule of an aircraft will
enhance safety, while doing otherwise can be disastrous.
They maintained that only the report of the Accident Investigation Bureau could reveal the real cause of the Dana crash.
The AIB has yet to release its final report on the cause of the accident.
The
Director, Business Development and Strategy, Aero Consults Limited,
Captain Dele Ore, said, “The age of an aircraft does not cause an
accident. The age is very important so that you will know what kind of
attention you need to give the aircraft. The age does not determine what
time you will stop flying it.”
Aircraft
age is typically measured by the number of total flight hours and
cycles flown. One cycle is equal to one takeoff and landing.
Experts
say the number of cycles flown is usually a more critical measure than
calendar age, because it reflects wear and tear as well as stress that
are related to landings and take-offs, and cabin compression and
decompression.
Therefore,
age measured in terms of calendar years only is less informative
because it does not reflect an aircraft’s actual use patterns.
To
determine the retirement age of an aircraft, the industry focuses on
the maintenance and safety requirements as well as the economic life of
the aircraft, which has to do with the cost of maintenance. Maintenance
checks on aircraft are performed at mandatory scheduled intervals.
Critical
parts and components of airframes and engines are limited by hour or by
cycle of utilisation and/or calendar time, and must be overhauled or
replaced at mandatory intervals.
Some
have argued that an airplane might be 20 years’ old, but many of its
systems must have been updated, upgraded and routinely overhauled or
modified.
An
engine goes through a similar process. All its critical life-limited
parts are replaced at mandatory intervals with new and/or overhauled
parts.
However, Ore believes that the true age of an aircraft can be determined by its “economic life.”
“An
aircraft becomes obsolete if its operating cost exceeds the cost of a
newer competing aircraft. That is once an old aircraft becomes too
expensive to maintain, it should be retired by the operator,” he added.
Punch Nigeria
No comments:
Post a Comment