Whereas Capt. Ado Sanusi, a quintessential air officer and immediate former Head of Flight Operations at Arik Air is said to be best suited for the job of rebuilding embattled Aero Contractors, some industry experts say he is fit for the job not minding the travails of his former company, Arik Air after all.
He is expected on his new appointment to amongst other things inject his wealth of experience spanning over one decade in to the revival of the indigenous airline, it is important to look at his antecedents.
Sanusi started his flying carrier in Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria where he obtained Commercial Pilot License and a National Diploma in Aeronautical Sciences.
He then proceeded to the United States where he advanced his education and obtained Air Transport Pilot Licence, Certified Flight and Ground Instructor’s license in the following institution in United States: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Flight Safety Savannah GA, University of Southern California, Simuflite Dallas TX North America Training and Development TX, USAir Training center Pittsburg PA
Flight Safety International Wichita KS.
Sanusi worked for Kabo Air, a local airline as a Senior First Officer and then proceeded to ExxonMobil as Captain and flight Safety Officer. He then joined Virgin Nigeria as a Captain on the B737 Classic.
He later became the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He was responsible for managing the entire Nigerian Airspace and succeeded in laying the foundation for a performance base airspace. He worked in collaboration with other parastatals in the aviation industry (NCAT, Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to implement the total radar coverage on the Nigeria Airspace (TRACON).
Business Hilights further gathered that Sanusi designed the blue print of capacity building by organizing training for the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in the United States. This position in charge of safety of The Nigerian Airspace allowed him to have an insight into safety critical areas of the aeronautical industry including airports management and meteorological services.
Basking with a blend of best American training and vast experience in African operation, Ado Sanusi later joined Arik as a Captain on the Boeing 737-NG and became a Trainer, Chief Pilot and now Vice President Flight Operations of the biggest airline in West and Central Africa.
His appointment, according to experts may lift Aero to the profitability it has been angling for as indications have emerged that AMCON may have lost about N25 billion for taking over the debts of Aero Contractors within the period under review.
It would be recalled that Aero Contractors had stopped operations on September 1, 2016 due to lack of operational funds and the inability to pay for maintenance costs of its aircraft taken out for checks.
It latter resumed on December 21 with two Boeing B737-500, one Bombardier Dash 8-300 and it is expected to bring in and deploy more aircraft for service.
From February 28 last year, AMCON appointed Mr. Tunde Fagbemi as receiver manager briefly before Akinkuotu was appointed the chief executive. However, Sanusi steps in today to change the tide of failure to profitability as soon as possible.
