The Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operation of the Bristow
Helicopters Ltd’s Sikorsky S-76C++ model, till further notice, a day after a
chopper operated by the company crashed.
News
Agency of Nigeria report continues:
The
director-general of the NCAA, Muhtar Usman, announced this while briefing
journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
He
said the suspension would enable the NCAA to carry out a full scale audit on
its operations, with particular emphasis on its Sikorsky S-76C++ type.
The
S-76 C++ helicopter marked 5N-BQJ belonging to Bristow Helicopters, enroute
Lagos from an off shore location, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday.
All
11 people on board, including two crew members were, however, rescued alive.
“These
decisions are without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB),” Mr. Usman said.
“As
a matter of fact, it will serve to assist in the entire process. The authority
will fully support AIB in the investigation.
“Therefore,
the Regulatory Authority views with utmost seriousness the successive mishaps
of Bristow Helicopters’ operating aircraft, Sikorsky S-76C++, on the coastal
waters of Lagos.
“The
NCAA has therefore decided to suspend the operation of the Bristow Helicopters’
Sikorsky S-76C++ type, till further notice,” Mr. Usman, a captain, said.
He
recalled that on August 12, 2015, a Bristow Helicopter-operated Sikorsky S-76
series crashed around the Oworonshoki axis in Lagos.
“What
this means is that Wednesday’s incident is occurring a little over six months,
after the preceding one.
“Therefore,
as a responsible regulatory authority, it is important to stem this rapidity of
occurrence and ensure that the airline carries out safe operations,” Mr. Usman
said.
The
director general explained that the suspension of operations for the impending
wholesale audit was not a vote of no confidence on the airline.
According
to him, it is to ascertain the adequacy and propriety of the operating aircraft
type, which is one of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) all over the
world.
Mr.
Usman reiterated that the NCAA would continue to ensure that airline operators
continue to carry out safe and secure operations.
The
Sikorsky S-76 aircraft is an American medium-sized commercial utility
helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.
The
S-76 features twin turbo shaft engines, a four-bladed main and tail rotors,
with a retractable landing gear.
The
Sikorsky’s development began in the mid-1970s with the design goal of providing
a medium helicopter for corporate transportation and the oil drilling industry.
The
prototype first flew on March 13, 1977, while initial U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration type certification was granted on Nov. 21, 1978.
(NAN)
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