Encomium
Facts have emerged that another thriving business in aviation is chartering of helicopters. ENCOMIUM Weekly reliably gathered that there are top five chartered helicopter operators in Nigeria are Caverton Helicopters, OAS Helicopters, Aero Contractors, Bristow Helicopters and Pan African Airlines. And they net an average of N3.7 billion annually.
According to an industry source, chartering a helicopter costs about $8,000 per hour. Industry analysts are of the opinion that each chartered helicopter operator makes an average of four flights per week, with each lasting three hours on the average.
Using an average of $8,000 per hour, the five chartered helicopter operators make at least N77million weekly, N77million monthly and N3.7billion annually.
Industry analysts, however, said the revenue accrued was by far lower than the actual amount made by the chartered aircraft operators on weekly basis.’
They argued that four out of the five chartered helicopter operators are into long-term contracts with some multinational oil companies, which are into oil exploration in the deep offshore.
As a result, the four helicopter operators will be making far more than the 12-hour weekly flights used in calculating the total revenue.
Further findings by our correspondent revealed that chartered aircraft operators were now engaged in intense competition over Nigeria’s emerging niche market, as they had introduced diverse upscale products to capture the country’s bourgeoisies.
Both the chartered jet and helicopter markets have been buzzing with activities in recent times, according to operators. Industry sources revealed that more foreign operators were planning to enter the market very soon.
The development, it was gathered, had forced the indigenous operators to begin re-strategising by buying new helicopters.
Aero Contractors recently took delivery of one helicopter specially configured for its VIP passengers. The airline said it was planning to take over a considerable share of the emerging VIP market from its competitors soon.
A new foreign operator, it was learnt, would start operation very soon, while a new local operator, which had brought in some helicopters, would also start flying any moment from now.
Hangar8, a United Kingdom charter company, is planning to open a fixed-base operation in Lagos and Abuja, according to industry sources.
The Lagos base will be at the Caverton Helicopters hangar and Apple Green aircraft maintenance hangar beside the international wing of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and workers enthused about the prospect of a growing market.
Various manners of VIPs from the corporate world and government circles usually throng the terminals to patronise the services of the operators. Governors from a particular region in the country and key senators are known to be regular faces at the terminals. On a very busy day, clients hardly get enough space to park their fleet of cars at the Caverton hangar.
Caverton Helicopters Limited was established in September 2002 as a charter, shuttle and maintenance company. It was initially set up to bridge the gap in the onshore helicopter service sector. Since then, Caverton Helicopters has made strides into the offshore support (oil and gas) industry by providing logistics support to the major players. Caverton Helicopter operates out of a 10,000 square meter flight
facility at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos. The company also owns and operates out of several purpose-built facilities in Victoria island (the Ozumba Heliport), Port Harcourt (NAF Base), Warri and Cameroon. And has six helicopters in its kitty.
Odengene Air-Shuttle Services Limited (OAS) is an indigenous aviation company registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 4th of February 1992 and licensed by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to render flight services.
The company’s flight outfit covers two areas of flight activities: rotary and fixed wing. The rotary wing is operated under OAS Helicopters, while the fixed wing is operated as Odengene Air.
The helicopter wing of the company (OAS Helicopters)commenced commercial flight in February 2006. The company’s head office, which served as its first heliport, is situated at 1, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Their mission is to provide the best services with maximum safety and comfort in the air. At OAS Helicopters, priority is safety, comfort and quality service. Against this backdrop, they offer the highest standard of service, which not only meets but exceeds customers’ highest expectations. They have 4 helicopters in their fleet. And the CEO is Capt. Everest Nnaji.
Pan African Airlines (Nigeria) Ltd. is an indigenous Nigerian aviation transportation supplier incorporated in April 1961. Over the past 50 years, the company has earned customer trust by providing safe, versatile and high-quality service with a modern fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Pan African is recognized throughout the Nigerian aviation industry for its safety record and reliable service to customers.
Pan African is headquartered at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos. Facilities there include a fully equipped maintenance hangar, management offices and dedicated training facilities. In Lagos and Port Harcourt, the company also has access to purpose-built passenger terminal facilities that serve both offshore personnel and VIP passengers.
The company also operates from customer bases in Warri and Escravos where their helicopters meet the Nigerian oil and gas industry’s requirements for safe, flexible and responsive service. They have 5 helicopters in their fleet.
Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, known as Aero Contractors or simply Aero, is a state-controlled Nigerian aviation company based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. It operates helicopter services and fixed wing domestic and international scheduled passenger services, air charter and third party aircraft operations, largely in support of Nigeria’s extensive oil and gas industry.
-FEMI OYEWALE
