Uncertainty Trails Revalidation of Slok Air Licence
Kalu says Slok's planes best in W/Africa
By Ndubuisi Francis
Reprieve may not yet be in sight for Slok Air which had its operating licence revoked since March 12 by the Federal Government in circumstances that have remained controversial.
The hammer fell on the airline of which Abia State Governor, Chief Uzor Orji Kalu, is believed to be the owner, following an initial claim that it was involved in "unethical practices" but the operator was later accused of sundry breaches, including bringing in two unauthorised aircraft.
It was believed that the grounding of the airline was politically motivated since it is not unconnected with the outburst of Kalu against the Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.
Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engr. Fidelis Onyeyiri disclosed about two months ago that Slok Air had begun negotiations with the Ministry of Aviation and other appropriate agencies to have its licence revalidated.
He had affirmed that although it remained banned, talks by the airline's officials, NCAA and other agencies, including the ministry, were progressing.
He noted that the ban on the airline meant that both the Air Transport Licence (ATL) and the Air Operator Cerificate (AOC) were revoked.
Admitting that talks were already going on for a possible review of the revocation, Onyeyiri said the discussions were in two ways but did not give full details.
Following Kalu's apology to the PDP and the subsequent reconcilia-tion with President Olusegun Obasanjo last month, it was believed that the ban on the airline would be lifted.
Aviation watchers had expected the lifting of the sanction even as the airline's staff embarked on a gale of celebrations that the airline would soon be airborne again. However, the situation has not changed.
There were renewed hopes that following last week's recocilaition between Kalu and Anenih in Benin City at the in of the Benin monarch, the ban on Slok would be lifted.
But Kalu who spoke with airport correspondents in Lagos Wednesday seemed uncertain of what awaits the carrier after his reconcilation with Anenih.
Rather than respond pointedly to a question on whether the travails of the airline were in sight after the reconciliation, Kalu relapsed into the attributes of the aircraft in its fleet.
According to him, no matter what anybody thinks, Slok parades the best aircraft in the sub-region in terms of performance, efficiency and engine, adding that the planes have stage 3 components.
He added that apart from the GulfStream 5 aircraft used by Vice President Atiku Abubakar, no other airplane in the region is as good as the B737-200 aircraft in Slok's fleet.
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