Airbus and Air France go on trial on manslaughter charges Monday over the crash of a Rio-Paris flight in 2009 that plunged into the Atlantic amid thunderstorms, killing all 228 people aboard and leading to changes in air safety regulations.

The worst plane crash in Air France history killed people of 33 nationalities, and families from around the world are among the plaintiffs in the case. They have fought for more than a decade to see the case come to trial.

The investigation found multiple factors contributed to the crash of Flight 447. The trial is expected to focus on pilot error, and the icing over of external sensors called pitot tubes.

An Associated Press investigation at the time found that Airbus had known since at least 2002 about problems with the type of pitots used on the jet that crashed, but failed to replace them until after the crash. Air France is accused of not having provided sufficient training to deal with problematic pilots.

The companies say they are not criminally responsible. Air France has already compensated families of those killed.

The A330-200 plane disappeared from radars over the Atlantic Ocean between Brazil and Senegal with 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard. It took two years to find the plane and its black box recorders on the ocean floor, at depths of more than 13,000 feet.

The accident later prompted changes in how pilots are trained and new regulations on airspeed sensors.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Thursday, suspended Azman Air over its failure to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

The suspension is coming few months after the NCAA suspended the AOC of Dana Air over frequent incidents.

The Harmattan News visit to the website of the Airline as at 10:43am on Thursday morning, showed that all flights in and out of the airline’s routes have been cancelled.

It was, however, gathered that the AOC of the airline had expired in the first quarter of 2022 and regulatory agency through its inspectors had been working with the airline for the renewal process, which the airline consistently failed.

It was also gathered that before the regulatory agency suspended the operating license of the airline, the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR), a department in NCAA, had written a reminder letter to the management of Azman Air and issued it 30-days ultimatum to comply with the industry standards, but failed to comply.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Kuwait and Nigeria.

This was disclosed by Hadi Sirika, the Aviation minister on Wednesday shortly after the FEC meeting in Abuja.

The minister noted that the signing will be done in line with the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of 7th December 1944.

What the Minister is saying

The minister said the signing will open up opportunities for air transportation between the two countries.

“That memo has to do with the signing of the bilateral air service agreement between the federal republic of Nigeria and the state of Kuwait. In that memorandum as approved, the text was earlier on initialled and was cleared by the federal ministry of justice.

“It provided that the content of the agreement should have reciprocal rights and privileges for both countries and airlines involved. This will open up opportunities for air transportation between the two countries, in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention of 7th December 1944, to which both countries are signatories,” the minister said.

Speaking further he revealed that a contract to hire consultants for revalidation and collection of aviation height clearance has also been approved by the FEC.

He said “We got approval for the award of contract for the engagement of consultants for revalidation and collection of aviation height clearance on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The contract was approved with a scale and at no cost to the budget,” Mr Sirika said.

“The revenues derived therefrom will be used to pay the consultants 0-1 billion (7%); 1.1-2.5 billion, 5% and 2.5-5 billion is 3%.”

“There have been instances in Nigeria where we had air crashes in the past due to communication masts like the one in Jos-Plateau State. Having masts around the airport, or its vicinity or even a building, so long as it causes unsafe operations, that need to be regulated by the NCAA,” The Aviation minister said.

What you should know

• BASA (also known as air transport agreement) is a treaty which two nations sign to allow international commercial air transport services between their territories. Bilateral agreements contain provisions such as the routes the airline can fly, the number of flights that can operate, as well as the number of airlines that can operate such routes.
• In October 2020, the Federal Government has announced the signing of Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) with the United States, India, Morroco and Rwanda.
• In July 2022, the Federal Executive Council has approved a bilateral air service agreement between Nigeria and Canada.