There is disquiet in Arik Air over alleged cannibalisation of one of the grounded aircraft belonging to the troubled airline currently managed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
It was learnt that the decision by the new management of Arik Air to use parts of one of its aircraft for an Aero Contractors aircraft is generating ripples within the system.
Sources familiar with the development confirmed that an engine of a Bombardier Dash 8, Q400 was removed from an Arik aircraft with registration, 5N-BKV while the said engine was given to Aero to fix the same aircraft type, which broke down recently in Kaduna.
Both Arik Air and Aero Contractors are managed by AMCON.
According to the details of the transaction, the second engine of the Arik aircraft was removed in a lease agreement in which Aero would be paying Arik $25,000 a month until the engine was returned.
The airline source who pleaded not to be named also told some select aviation correspondents that other parts of the aircraft were removed from the aircraft to repair the Aero aircraft.
He said: “The term of agreement where Aero would be paying $25,000 a month for the engine is exploitative and against the interest of Arik because in other parts of the world when this lease arrangement is carried out the airline pays for the engine per hour as well as pay for maintenance reserve for the engine. This was not the case in the so-called lease between Arik and Aero.”
There are fears that the affected Arik aircraft may have been rendered useless because several parts were removed and used on the Aero plane.
When contacted, a top official of Aero Contractors acknowledged the lease of Arik aircraft engine and said the action was legal and conformed with international best practice.
Meanwhile, the management of Arik said there were desperate moves by mischievous elements to ridicule the efforts of the government to rehabilitate Arik Air.
It, however said it would continue to pay priority attention to safety which the airline is known for.
According to the statement, AMCON takeover and the appointment of a receiver/manager has not in any way eroded the confidence of the flying public and all other business partners of the largest carrier in the country.
Source: dailytrust.com
