Firm obtains AOC for helicopter shuttle services in Nigeria

Genesis Global Aviation, a new start up Rotary wing aviation operator, has received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to operate helicopter shuttle services.

This development is coming at a time when the aviation sector is faced with many setbacks but the firm has reiterated commitment in the Nigerian market and assured to become a game changer as a helicopter service provider through its diverse services.

Speaking shortly after the presentation of the AOC to the firm, Emmanuel Ihenacho, the Accountable Manager of the airline,said that getting the certification was a major milestone for the company.

“There is a requirement for helicopter services. If the economy is bad and helicopter service providers are falling, it does not mean that other people cannot be entering the market and going the opposite direction and I think people should know that we are standing there because we believe in the resilience of the Nigerian economy.

“We require helicopter services, whether it is in respect of offshore service delivery or for emergency medical evacuation, or general logistics of moving people or personnel from one place to another,” Ihenacho added.

He disclosed that the company’s helicopter pilots are expert Nigerians, who are also highly skilled, adding that if the company needs expatriates in future, they will demand for them.

Speaking on its operations, Ihenacho noted the company’s helicopters are in support of offshore operations, response to surveillance, with responsibilities to survey Nigerian pipelines, to ferry people who are sick, amongst other services, adding that no one can position himself exclusively for one niche.

“We are not going to take just any pilot. It has to be a pilot who is type rated in this type of aircraft. Again a pilot could be type rated on this type of helicopter but if he does not fly the helicopter for some time, his type rating will lapse and he will need to go for further training to become type rated again.

“We have sent a lot of pilots to France for training and we will continue to recruit people who have flown this type of helicopter in the past and if it is necessary, we will send them for further training so that their type rating becomes up-to-date,” he explained.

Also speaking, David Nwoke, deputy managing director of the airline, said the company owns and operates a fleet of six EC155b Eurocopters.

According to him, it also has plans to acquire additional rotary assets to deliver safe, qualitative and cost effective commercial helicopter services to the general public.

Nwoke said the helicopters, which are between 12 to 15 years old will be operated by expert Nigerians, adding that this was part of the airline’s contribution to curbing unemployment in the country.

He disclosed that in the near future, the Genesis Global Aviation will expand to fix wing operations in a bid to satisfy other markets.