Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
AIR PEACE on Thursday scaled a major regulatory hurdle in its path to international flight services, successfully performing the partial emergency evacuation and ditching demonstrations as part of the safety tests for the operation of its Boeing 777 aircraft.
Emergency aircraft evacuation refers to an exercise aimed at evacuating those on an aircraft when an emergency occurs on the ground, in water or mid-flight.
The ditching demonstration, however, simulates a planned water landing and evaluates the airline’s ability to handle such emergency.
An emergency evacuation demonstration is mostly required when an airline proposes operating a specific aircraft type and model entering into its service for the first time.
Once the signal for is given, the aircraft’s emergency evacuation equipment and 50 percent of the required emergency exits and slides must be ready for use in a maximum of 15 seconds.
Although simulated, evacuation drills are a risky operation for crew and other participants – often leading to injury of varying degrees.
Air Peace recently acquired four Boeing 777 for its long-haul operations to destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg. The airline made history as the first Nigerian carrier to acquire and register the Boeing 777 in the country.
Being the first time the Boeing 777 was entering its service, Air Peace was mandated by aviation regulations to demonstrate its capacity to handle emergency evacuation and ditching under the close supervision of officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) comprising Group Capt. E.C Agu, Capt. Ejike Wosu, Mr. Augustine Eboigbe, Mr. Rabiu Sharif, Mohammed Auwal, Hajara Yahaya, Msooityo Malu, Prewari Yemaye, Mrs. Famous-Cole, Efunfela Ojekale, Maria Udor, Bosede Tagarino, Kunle Martins and Basira Lami.
Air Peace emergency demonstrators in the flight deck included Capt Simon Donoghue, Capt Ndubisi Ekwempu, First Officer Femi Aderomu and First Officer Ahmed Abdullahi. Members of the Cabin Crew comprised Pauline Aiya-Obaze,
Shittu Kamoru, Samuel Mayowa Jnr, Olowolade Ademola, Valentine Nkwocha, George Opakirite, Nana De-Man, Esther Ogedengbe, Doherty Ayotunde, Nwachi Tole, Tella Toyosi, Nicholas Williams, Kingsley Eloka, Mariapieta Ukonze, Joy Nwagbologu and Tekla Ezewusi.
Once the signal for the exercise to commence was given, the crew set out to work, deploying the four slides of the eight-exit Boeing 777 aircraft within 10.5 seconds – 4.5 seconds ahead of the maximum time allowed. They drew applause for their display of efficiency.
Assessing the exercise which took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from about 5pm to 10 pm on Thursday, leader of the NCAA team of inspectors, Capt. Agu said they were satisfied with the partial evacuation and ditching demonstrations staged by Air Peace.
He congratulated the carrier on the success of the exercise, urging it not to rest on its oars in sustaining its high safety standards.
Commenting on the assessment, Air Peace Cabin Crew Manager, Florence Opia and Quality Manager, Mr. Patrick Achurefe commended the NCAA team for going about the exercise in a diligent manner.
They assured that the carrier would continue to prioritize safety and compliance with aviation regulations in its preparations for the launch of its long-haul flights to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.
With the evacuation exercise off the way, Air Peace said it was now set for the next stage of regulatory requirements for the induction of its B777 aircraft into service and commencement of its international flights.
The airline confirmed that it would soon operate demonstration flights with its B777 aircraft to Port Harcourt, Kano, Freetown, Dakar, Johannesburg and Sharjah.
Air Peace cabin crew members in the raft during the emergency ditching drill at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday
