All five Dana Airline planes are grounded due to maintenance, engine-related issues and other scheduled checks.
It was gathered that the grounded planes, which account for 100 percent of the carriers aircraft, are not available to fly, creating serious challenges against the backdrop of an already hostile cost environment and contributing to increased losses.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in July 2022, suspended the airline’s air transport license and air operator certificate for several operational infractions.
Investigation revealed that Boeing 737-3H4 (WL) with Registration Number 5N-DNB is currently out of the country for scheduled maintenance checks.
Boeing 737-3H4 (WL) with registration number 5N-DNA is parked at the 7 Star hanger due to an operational fault.
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83), with registration number 5N-JOY, and another aircraft with registration number 5N-SAI are presently not operational due to checks and other faults.
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82), with registration number 5N-BKI, was last seen at the Air Force hanger for checks and technical issues. The airline risk being grounded again by the NCAA for operating less than two aircrafts.
The 6th plane of the airline a, McDonnell Douglas MD-83, with registration number 5N-DEV, has been scrapped with no engines.
Meanwhile, information available to this newspaper indicates that the airline is working to exchange an engine to fit inside the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82) 5N-BKI.
In a letter addressed to the Accountable Manager, Dana Airlines LimitedDana, Isolo, Lagos, dated July 20, 2022, NCAA, while suspending its operations last year in Nigeria, reminded it that the Authority recently sanctioned it and its personnel for maintenance violations.
The letter, signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the NCAA Director General, was copied to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
The letter read: “While Dana Air was fined a total sum of N30,000,000.00 (Thirty Million Naira), which it had not been able to settle till date due financial constraints, the AME Licence of Dana Air’s erstwhile Director of Maintenance was revoked for making false statements and false entries in the technical logbooks of the aircraft, 5N-SAI and 5N-JOY.
“The AME Licence of Dana Air’s Quality Inspector was suspended for sixty (60) days, and the AMEL Validation of one of Dana Air’s expatriate Maintenance Engineer was also suspended for sixty (60) days for maintenance violations.
“The Authority is convinced that Dana Air and its personnel deliberately violate the provisions of the Nig.CARs relating to safety, and therefore, the Airline can no longer conduct safe operations.
“The cumulative and apparent deliberate violations of the Nig.As indicated above by DANA Air employees, especially several key post holders, CARS indicates a toxic corporate safety culture within the organization. This, in conjunction with report of the Financial and Economic Health Audit, is a good indication that safety and security of Dana’s flight operations are under severe threat and can no longer be guaranteed.
“Consequently, the Authority, according to Section 35 (2), (3) (b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, hereby suspends indefinitely, effective midnight on Wednesday 20th July 2022, the Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued to Dana Airlines Limited.
“Please recall that, in line with the provisions of Section 30 (4) (b) and (r) and Part 18.10.1 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), the Authority, in June, 2022, carried out a Financial and Economic Health Audit of Dana Airlines Limited (Dana Air) for the years ended 31st December 2018 to 31st December 2021 and for the period 1st January 2022 to 31st May 2022.
“The audit found that: Dana Air will not be able to meet current obligations as they fall due without resorting to more borrowings/debts, as the current liabilities far exceed the current assets. This red flags the Airline’s ability to finance current obligations.
Source: GreenBarge Reporters
