BusinessDay 25 Mar 2018

Sunday 25 March 2018 C002D5556
BDSUNDAY
29
SundayBusiness
Caverton Helicopters unveils brand new
fleet, promises quality service
…gets commendations for promoting indigenous aviation
L-R: Remi Makanjuola, chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Maikanti Baru, group managing
director, NNPC, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, King Edmond Dakoru, former group managing director,
NNPC, and Yoyinsola Makanjuoka at the unveiling of 11 new fleet of helicopters by Carveton Offshore
Group held at the Executive Flight Facility Site on Murtala International Airport Ikeja recently.
After a rigorous
tender process,
Caverton Helicopters
Limited
was recently selected as
the preferred air transport
provider for the NNPC/
Chevron Nigeria Limited
Joint Venture based in Escravos,
Nigeria. To celebrate
this feat, Caverton Helicopters
Limited today hosted a
formal Business Luncheon
at its Executive Flight Facility
at Murtala Muhammad
International Airport, Ikeja
where the fleet of brand
new helicopters to be used
on the contract were unveiled.
The new fleet of aircraft
that includes the state-ofthe-art
Bell 407 GXP and
the industry workhorse Bell
412 EP. The Bell 407GXP incorporates
new avionics, an
upgraded engine, and new
executive interior design
options. Fitted with Rolls-
Royce M250-C47E/4 dual
channel turbine engine, the
aircraft delivers exceptional
hot and high performance,
with efficient fuel economy.
The Bell 412 EP is highly
reliable aircraft that has been
known to perform extremely
well even in inimical climatic
conditions. With a spacious
cabin, the aircraft can be
configured to in a variety of
ways to accommodate up
to 14 passengers.
Both helicopter types
are equipped with a variety
of safety features which include
rupture resistance fuel
cells, wire strike protection
system, vibration and engine
exceedance monitoring systems,
flight data monitoring.
In his speech, , Remi
Makanjuola, chairman, Caverton
Offshore Support
Group, said the unveiling
Caverton fleet of Helicopters
was a feat and a day
the aviation industry should
be proud of that a Nigerian
went to America to acquire
11 helicopters. “This is a
ground breaking event. Over
the past few years, we went
through many phases of development
as a company in
less than favourable circumstances.
Nevertheless, we
have been able to operate
existing contracts successfully,
as well as, secure a few
new contracts.
“The largest and most
significant of these new contracts,
the NNPC-Chevron
Joint Venture Helicopter
Services Contract, it is the
reason we are here today
to unveil the helicopters
that would be used for that
activity. We are recording
some success in our desire
to be a financially strong
and sustainable group that
puts all stakeholders at the
heart of everything”, the
chairman said.
Our safety of record is
something we are proud and
thankful for, and credit must
go to our professionalism at
all levels. Given Chevron’s
global reputation for safety
and quality, it is safe to say
that Caverton’s diligent attention
to safety, quality and
continuous improvement
contributed in no small measure
to the contract award.
He noted that in addition
of the helicopters to
their fleet, that would make
Caverton Helicopters one
of the largest operators of
BELL products in sub-Saharan
Africa.
“As a fully indigenous
player in the hitherto foreign
interest dominated sector,
Caverton has confirmed the
mantra that Nigerians can
excel and do Nigeria proud
in all facets of the economy
given the opportunity”, the
chairman explained further.
In his address, Maikanti
Baru, group managing director,
NNPC, said what Caverton
did was a milestone
and the power of Vision of
its chairman. “I have followed
the company since
inception since Makanjuola
conceived the idea of going
into aviation logistics. I commend
him for his foresight
andtenacity for putting nonexistent
entity company to
become a conglomerate and
now become a global brand.
The contribution of Caverton
Helicopter’s to aviation
cannot be over-emphasised
as the company has filled the
vacuum. I am proud of the
company’s safety even as an
indigenous company, it has
proved that commitment
tenacity of purpose has
helped theoil and gas company
through its services.
We will continue to support
local companies as Caverton
continues to raise the bar to
become a household name
globally,” Baru said.
In his speech, Monday
Ovuede, director, NNPC/
CNL JV, said Caverton’s
launching of 11 helicopters
marked an expansion of
the company in Nigeria, the
manifestation of its resilience
to ensure that aviation
industry becomes enviable.
Ovuede said for a Nigeria
company to provide such
services is commendable.
He seized the opportunity
to thanked the Bell Company
as they look forward
of to enjoy services from
Caverton. The Caverton
Helicopter he noted would
commence operation in
April 1, 2018. Just as they
look forward to a zero accident
free services since
the helicopters will be flying
everyday, the rules and regulations
of aviation would be
strictly adhered to by ensuring
that all the helicopters
are well maintained.
As well, David Sale, managing
director, Sales, Middle
East & Africa, Bell Helicopters,
thanked Caverton for
giving them the opportunity
to provide this service to a
Nigerian company. According
to him, the Bell as a company
has been in Nigeria since
1964, today we are happy to
partner with Caverton. “Our
plan is to pick and deliver over
800 passengers everyday,
we will ensure zero accident
free as we increase our effort
to protect our people.
With over 50 years of doing
business in Nigeria, I assure
you that we will be here in
the next 50 years “ With an
enviable safety record for
flight operations across West
Africa, Caverton Helicopters’
Flight Safety Culture and
Maintenance Programme
will be deployed in the management
of these remarkable
aircraft.”
Business model for airports under threat globally
MIKE OCHONMA
Changes in passenger
behaviour
will require skilful
management by
airports Worldwide, airports
are facing a significant challenge
to their current business
models, S&P Global
infrastructure ratings senior
director Mar Beltran has
warned.
The challenge comes from
important changes in the behaviour
of passengers using
their facilities.
Airports have benefitted
from a boom in air travel
over the past 30 years. This
has been driven by airlines
cutting costs and reducing
prices.
Airports have expanded to
meet the demand, cut their
rates to airlines to attract
more carriers, and made up
the difference with commercial
activities in their
terminals.
Low cost carriers, also
known as budget airlines,
have played a key role in
these developments. Today,
in Europe, for example, low
cost carriers account for
40% of the short-haul air
traffic market. And they are
now moving into long-range
sectors, particularly routes
across the North Atlantic.
While these developments
have brought much
more business to airports,
the past two years have seen
passengers changing their
behaviour at the terminals.
They are spending less.
Around the world, sales
of duty free and travel retail
outlets declined in 2015 and
then stabilised at the lower
levels in 2016.
“This figure is worrisome
if we take into account that
in the face of this stagnation,
the volume of passengers
continued on the rise,” he
pointed out.
Another important source
of income for airports is the
car parks they provide. But
improved public transport
links to airports, and the rise
of services like Uber, have
reduced the number of passengers
driving themselves
to airports and parking their
cars at the terminals.
On top of this, the medium
to long term increase
in the number of electric and
self-driving cars will add to
the challenges. Airports will
have to make investments
in their parking facilities to
meet the requirements of
these vehicles (such as battery
recharge points).
“We are therefore facing
a situation that seems
to threaten the [airports’]
current business model,” observed
Beltran. S&P Global
expects the returns of airports
around the world to
remain stable over the next
two years.
“However, skilful management
of this whole series of
changes will be necessary
to take advantage of the
new business opportunities
that now open up.” He
concluded.