The Nigerian Government has said it will take delivery of an automatic aircraft stimulator equipment valued at N5 billion before the end of April.
The Minster of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the decision was taken after the builder, Messrs Alpine Metal Tech. Company had carried out the factory acceptance and pre-shipment inspection test.
The simulator, the first of its kind in Africa, is a modern multi scenario fire-fighting simulator capable of delivering training for different types of operational incidents involving aircraft in the aerodrome and its vicinity.
BusinessDay gathered that the pre-shipment test, which took place in the United Kingdom Monday, showcased the full complements of about 28 possible fire/non-fire scenarios carried out including: cabin fire simulation, cabin smoke, lavatory smoke, and the likes.
Other simulation tests include DHC 8 starboard engine, DHC 8 starboard undercarriage, starboard side, CRJ-900 starboard engine, APU, portside, A320 Undercarriage, A320 Port engine, Port Wing, fuel spill burn pit, internal fires among the vast arrays of simulations it can imitate.
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Sirika explained that the acquisition was in fulfilment of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority requirement for training of fire fighters at the country’s airports and will, overall, enhance competence in achieving the primary objective of saving lives in the event of a fire incident.
The minister who spoke after inspecting the equipment, said the simulator cost the nation about N5 billion and is a safety equipment that is key for airport operations.
“The focus of the Buhari-led administration in civil aviation is safety and security. This is a component of it. We take matters of safety very seriously and His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari once he came into office asked us Ministers to do those things that would put the nation forward. In aviation, our policy is safety first and security and this is a demonstration of it,” the minister said.
He said that before now, Nigeria had been training the country’s fire fighters in Cameroon. “I found myself approving several hundreds of thousands of dollars for training in Cameroon and I said this is not the best. I applied and got approval to procure this fire-fighting simulator equipment and he graciously approved.”
The aircraft had been tested in the presence of government officials, and had been proven to be in good condition, the minister said, adding that it would be installed at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (NCAT).
“Now the impact on our nation is it would improve our safety fire cover, fire fighting as an important aspect of airport operations without which we cannot open our airports. The only other simulator I know in Africa is in Cameroon and it is not as up to date, not as automatic or sophisticated, not as hi-tech, not as multi-functional. This one can simulate cabin fire, smoke, cockpit fire, cargo fire, undercarriage fire,”’ he added.
The minister said once the equipment is installed Nigeria would become a hub for comprehensive fire trainings .
Also speaking, Managing Director of Glovesly Pro-Project Limited, Representatives of Messrs Alpine Metal Tech. Company in Africa, Yasir Abdullahi explained that the simulator is set to be delivered by the end of the month as everything was almost set for its installation at NCAT, Zaria.
He said,” Unlike other simulators, this is a real sized aircraft and has everything real. it is automatic and has a soft touch console. We are getting ready as it will be ready for shipping by the end of the month. This, however, a full aircraft and will have to be disassembled into separate parts for shipping and reassembled when in Nigeria.”
“We are done with the classes. Already, work is in advance stage at the Apron in Zaria, we will lay flexible pipes where the gas pipes will go through.
On the benefits to the country, Abdullahi explained that although there is a simulator in Cameroon, it is manual unlike the new equipment the country is set to acquire plus the amounts it will save Nigeria in forex and generate in training.
“The country is set to change the status quo with regards training and retraining of fire fighting personnel as it used to regularly train in Cameroon, which has contributed in no small measures to capital flight, which this acquisition will finally nip. We will not only save capital from leaving the country but will generate capital as we will not only train for Nigeria but for the whole of the region. It will be a money spinner.
On some of the redundancies of the simulator, Yasir said apart from its deadman’s switch, the system checks itself automatically and if there is a challenge, like say gas leak, it shuts itself down and lets you know,” Abdullahi explained.
Stella Enenche, Abuja
