Osinbajo’s crash forces Caverton to begin capacity training for AW139 pilots
Nigerian’s front-line aviation and marine logistics player in the oil and gas sector, Caverton Helicopters is set to boost home-grown capacity and training of AW139 pilots, with the acquisition and citing of a state-of-the-art simulator in Lagos Airport.
The simulator will be installed at Caverton’s new training centre, designed to meet the increased demand for helicopter pilot training, and in particular, to eliminate the challenges experienced by many pilots aiming to obtain initial and recurrent training.
The centre is being set up on the same site as Caverton’s new purpose-built Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, in Ikeja, Lagos.
The move is coming barely one month after one of its aircraft flying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Kabba in Kogi State land crashed even though all occupants escaped unhurt.
Whereas industry analysts say the move is to douse tension on rising cases of crashes in recent times, the company insists that the move to invest in light simulation training services is to provide support to a large range of training needs in the nation’s helicopter sub-sector in the areas of Type Rating, Recurrent Training and Proficiency Checks for both Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
The group also noted that the need to deepen Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), for offshore missions, and VIP operations to unprepared landing sites which largely influenced the Kabba crash is one of the key considerations for the new investment.
Caverton Helicopters further noted that the new investment will be qualified to meet EASA Level D standard, the highest level of qualification for a simulator.
However, to achieve these, Caverton, has chosen Thales’s AW139-configured Reality H Full-Flight Simulator – the world’s most advanced commercial helicopter simulator.
In a remark, Chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Aderemi Makanjuola, said “The simulator would enable pilots that fly AW139 twin-engine helicopters – one of the most popular helicopter platforms in Nigeria and the region, to be fully immersed in a realistic virtual environment representing Nigerian operational areas. They will also learn to handle a multitude of system failures, and overcome very complex malfunctions should they arise in the real world. Pilots can, thus, train safely in high-risk mission scenarios in a range of weather conditions.
“We are delighted to add Thales to our growing list of partners, and we are confident in providing the best helicopter training with this Full Flight Level D Simulator. Safety is our priority at Caverton, and we are committed to improving flight safety across our industry and the region through simulator-based training.
“The new training centre, being the first of its kind in Africa, will advance safety for the dedicated men and women, who fly every day.”
“Thales is very excited to be part of this initiative with Caverton in Nigeria. We believe that Caverton is the best partner to develop helicopter flight training services, and we are confident that pilots will be keen to train with Caverton on the Thales AW139 Reality H simulator.
“This will strengthen Caverton’s position as a leading provider of aviation logistics, and training services in the region, enabling them to expand their service offer, while improving the security of helicopter flights in the region. This contract is also a key milestone for Thales, as this will be the first helicopter level D Full-Flight Simulator to be installed in Africa,” Caverton Group boos averred.
