Dana resumes flight operations tomorrow

Dana Air will on Friday (tomorrow) resume flight operations, approximately seven months and one day after the airline was involved in a fatal crash in Lagos on June 3, leading to the death of 163 people.

The Head, Corporate Communications, Dana, Mr. Tony Usidamen, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the resumption came after necessary approval was received from the Federal Government.

“We are resuming operations on Friday. Our inaugural flight is 9:45am on Friday. Several dignitaries from aviation agencies and our brand ambassadors will be on board the flight,” Usidamen said.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the Federal Government had on Monday given its final approval for Dana Air to resume flight operations.

The approval, dated December 31, 2012, was contained in a letter to the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren, and signed by the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, was, titled, ‘Release of Dana Air to return to flight operations.’

The letter read, “Your letter NCAA/DG/GM/115/vol/32 dated December 18, 2012, stating that NCAA has carried out recertification of Dana Air and the airline has completed phase five of Air Operators Certificate re-certification process, including conducting of proving and test flights and praying for release of Dana Air to return to flight operations refers.

“This letter is to convey my approval for the resumption of flight operations of Messrs Dana Air Limited with the following conditions: Messrs Dana Air should complete payment of compensations of all insurance obligations/claims within two months to the dependents of the victims of the crash, and the airline should abide by the safety regulations of the NCAA and strict surveillance by your organisation.”

Dana Air, which was involved in a fatal crash in Lagos on June 3, 2012, had its licence revoked by the government two days after.

In September, the government reinstated the licence. In early December, NCAA issued a new Air Operators Certificate to the airline after it completed the necessary recertification process.

Meanwhile, NCAA officials resumed work after the Christmas and New Year break with the special prayers for safe flights operations in and out of the Nigerian airspace from now on.

The prayer was led by the spokesman for the agency, Mr. Sam Adurogboye.

The Director, Human Resources and Administration, NCAA, Mr. Austin Amadi, who represented Demuren at the session, admonished the employees to be humble in their disposition.

He urged them to be more dedicated to work and be professional in the discharge of their duties.