KEY POINTS

• Nigerian pilots urge improved aviation emergency systems following a fatal helicopter crash.
• NAAPE requests involvement in investigative panels to enhance transparency and safety protocols.
• The union calls for an upgrade of the country’s emergency response infrastructure and safety procedures.

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has called on the Federal Government to significantly upgrade emergency response and rescue infrastructure within the aviation sector.

This comes after the tragic crash of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registered as 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, which went down near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, Rivers State.

Pilots request inclusion in crash investigations

At a one day symposium in Abuja with the theme ‘’The Imperative of Unionisation in a Struggling Economy’’ NAAPE’s National President Abednego Galadima lamented over the current state of the nation’s emergency response systems. 

He urged the need to improve on those systems so as to avoid any setback that may occur during the rescue of the victims especially after the latest crash that killed five people on board. There is still the pursuit of the other passengers.

While NAAPE refrained from pre-empting the final report of the investigation into the crash, Galadima stressed the need for the union to be part of the investigative process, following global best practices. 

“We urge the government to allow NAAPE representation on investigation panels as done in other countries,” he said. 

According to him, involving pilots and engineers in such panels would ensure transparency and bring critical technical insights to the fore from the very beginning.

Concerns over emergency infrastructure

The helicopter crash, which occurred en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig, highlighted glaring gaps in Nigeria’s emergency response capabilities. 

Galadima noted that the infrastructure in place for handling such incidents is suboptimal and could negatively impact the country’s ability to respond to future emergencies effectively.

“Without preempting the outcome of the ongoing investigation, it is evident that our emergency response infrastructure was not at its best during this tragic incident. We must do better to ensure that future emergencies are handled with the efficiency and urgency they deserve,” Galadima stated. 

He further urged the government to leave no stone unturned in investigating the crash to identify both immediate and remote causes, with the ultimate goal of preventing similar tragedies.

Improving aviation safety and accountability

The symposium also served as a platform for NAAPE to emphasize its commitment to improving the welfare of its members and ensuring safer skies. 

Reflecting on the loss of their colleague, Captain Yakubu Dukas, who was the vice president of NAAPE’s helicopter wing and piloted the crashed aircraft, Galadima reiterated the importance of safety and accountability in the aviation sector.

He called on the government to review and enhance safety protocols while ensuring that emergency response units are equipped with the necessary tools to react swiftly in case of accidents. 

According to Punch, the president urged that the findings of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) be thorough, and that the government should take immediate steps to implement any recommendations for the future.

Additionally, NAAPE requested that pilots and engineers be actively involved in future decision-making processes affecting the sector. 

“We want to see that all necessary actions are taken to ensure that no future accidents occur under similar circumstances,” Galadima said, adding that greater collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders is essential for lasting improvements.

Strengthening aviation emergency capabilities

It has also become necessary to ensure that the emergency plans put in place are efficient as the growth of the Nigerian aviation industry continues to expand.

According to NAAPE, improving the structural base that supports emergencies in addition to accountability and improved safety measures will do much to protect lives and to rebuild confidence in the sector.

“This government has another responsibility to protect people and oversee that the aviation industry in this country reaches the ideal standards,” Galadima concluded. 

That this union will not relent in its efforts in collaborating with all the relevant authorities that will get the aviation sector in Nigeria to that status, NAAPE president affirmed.