Page 21 - World Airnews February Magazine Edition 2021
P. 21

AFRICA

                                    NEW CEO FOR AERO


                                    CONTRACTORS




                                                                                 airline had 26 aircraft. Few are in use
               aptain Abdullahi Mahmood - a
        Cformer director of flight oper-
         ations Arik Air - will take over as chief
         executive officer of Aero Contractors
         after captain Ado Sanusi stepped down
         last year.
          Mahmood joined Arik Air in 2007 as
         a flight officer and rose to become a
         captain before he became director of
         flight operations. As a flight officer, he
         operated the Bombardier CRJ-900 and
         later started flying the Boeing B737-NG
         and Airbus A330.
          The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has



         been notified of his new appointment.
          Meanwhile industry leaders believe that
         Sanusi is poised to take over the running of
         Nigerian Eagle, a new airline which could

         possibly become a national carrier, while
         Captain Roy Ilegbodu will hold the reins as
         Arik Air CEO.
          Sanusi was instrumental in turning   He led the organisation in 2017 and
         around the more than 50-year-old Aero   acquired approval to handle C-Checks on   while the rest are in storage. Though
                                                                                 AMCON has denied the report, industry
         Contractors into a capable Maintenance   the Boeing 737 series along with main-  insiders believe the new airline would
         Repair Organisation (MRO) rolling out some   tenance of the Bombardier Turboprop   take over an unspecified number of


         of its previously unserviceable aircraft  in   airliner series.         Arik’s fleet and leave some for it to





         2018 and 2019.                       In order to get an Air Operating Certifi-  continue operations.


          Under Sanusi’s leadership, the airline   cate (AOC) from the NCAA, Nigerian Eagle
                                                                                  Before it was taken over by AMCON,

         gained third party maintenance approval   needs two aircraft  and four more added   Arik purchased a Boeing 737-700, a Boeing


         and made in-roads into West and Central   when it starts domestic operations.   737-800, a Bombardier Q400 and a Bom-


         Africa - Ghana and Congo precisely.   According to safeflightips.com, Nigerian   bardier CRJ as new aircraft and still has


          Also in process is a plan to upgrade the   Eagle was incorporated on July 11,2019   pending orders from the plane manu-
         airline’s MRO and other agreements aimed   with share capital of 1,000,000,000 units   facturers for seven Boeing 787-9 and 12
         at helping the airline maintain a semblance   and shareholders are the Asset Manage-  Boeing 737 Max.
         of breaking even.                   ment Company of Nigeria or AMCON,    Head of corporate communications of

          Sanusi also held the position of deputy   499,999,999 units, while Omokhide Alaba   AMCON, Jude Nwuzor, confirmed that Cap-

         managing director of Arik Air, and in 2009   has one unit.              tain Sanusi has been deployed and Captain
         was managing director of the Nigerian   AMCON took over the management   Mahmood has been appointed to head
         Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).   of Arik Air in February 2017 when the   Aero Contractors. Q
                 AFRICA
                            GOLDSTAR AIR HONOURS
                                               The citation was in commemoration of   the most revered monarchs in the world


                                              the 20th anniversary of the King on his   and paid tribute to Otumfuo Osei Tutu I.
                    oldstar Air, a wholly owned   enthronement and as the 16th occupant   He said the company wanted to name


            GGhanaian carrier, honoured       of the Golden Stool, the royal throne of   one of its aircraft after the King.
            Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the King of the   the Asante Kingdom.          The Asantehene, through one of his
            Asante Kingdom with a citation.    Eric Bannerman, chairman and Chief   chiefs, thanked Goldstar Air for the visit




              The airline company congratulated   Executive Officer of Goldstar Air, visited   and honour and the royal gathering gave


            the Asante King for his ‘bold, proactive,   the Otumfuo community at the Manhyia   the traditional shout, called “pre”, to
            and decisive and remarkable leadership   Palace in Kumasi.         acknowledge the gesture of Goldstar Air.

            skills’ that have made the Asanteman   Bannerman said the citation represent-  The Ashanti Region is the cultural

            Kingdom more visible on the world map.  ed the company’s love for him as one of   heartbeat of Ghana. Q
                                                   World Airnews | February 2021
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