Press Releases
DANA AIR TRAINS NIGERIAN PILOTS
Lagos, October 29, 2008
Nigeria’s newest carrier, Dana Airlines Limited, is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerian travellers get world-class and affordable air transport services as it gets set to commence flight operations. Two of its four Nigerian ‘First Officers’ departed Lagos for the United States of America last Saturday for a 5 – week training course, with the other two to follow in November.
Like their 10 expert colleagues who recently returned from the same training course in Miami, Florida, the Nigerian First Officers will undergo a full fledged MD83 pilots training programme including ground school training, simulated trainings, as well as training in Crew Resource Management (CRM), dangerous goods handling (HAZMAT) and Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM).
According to Jacky Hathiramani, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Air, “The operational word in airline business is safety and, while every staff has a role to play in this regard, it is the pilot’s primary responsibility. At Dana Air we will always encourage and support our pilots through continuous investment in training, so that they may maintain the highest standards of safety, at all times.”
Mr. Hathiramani also said, “With two of our Nigerian pilots off to Miami for training, and another two to follow in November, our plan of developing the capacity of indigenous pilots has taken off. In the next couple of months, we will employ more young Nigerian First Officers to join our experienced team of pilots.”
On when Dana Air will officially commence flight operations, Mr. Hathiramani said, “We know that Nigerians are anxious to see us fly and we assure them that we will commence operations very soon. We are working closely with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in a process that will see the emergence of an airline that Nigerians and the whole of Africa will be proud of.”
Just last month Dana Air announced that it had completed a series of training programmes for staff including engineers, station managers, flight dispatchers, ticketing and reservation officers and cabin crew. Mr. Hathiramani however noted that training at Dana Air will be an on-going process; another batch of 25 cabin crew are currently undergoing training.
A subsidiary of Dana Group of Companies, Dana Air strives to be Nigeria’s first new world carrier, offering premium services at an affordable rate. It will provide passenger, cargo and charter services between capital cities and regional centres.
