The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted a licence to 7 Star Global Hangar to operate maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria.
The chief executive officer of 7 Star, Mr. Isaac Balami who disclosed this in Lagos said the MRO will commence operations soon.
He said the aircraft maintenance facility “is operations-ready to handle Boeing 737 series” adding that “7 Star will stock a comprehensive spare parts inventory that will be made available to airlines in Nigeria and the West and Central African region.”
Baalami further said the MRO would be a relief to airline operators who incur huge costs to ferry their equipment overseas for maintenance and urged airlines to avail themselves of the use of the facility.
He stressed that with the granting of Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO) to the company to operate millions of dollars will be saved for airlines while capital flight will be curtailed.
“A prime contributor to the collapse of so many airlines over the years has been capital and fleet erosion, all of which can be mitigated and eliminated with licensed local maintenance support,” he said.
Working with Jordanian, American and European technical partners, Balami said maintenance will be carried out on Boeing Classic alongside new generation aircraft, private jets, military and para-military and other aircraft types.
Balami said maintenance services will also be available in Abuja to delivering cost reduced international class services. Our new Hangar in Abuja can take two Boeing 737s at the same time.
“Some of the experts in the organisation have worked for more than 35 years in the aviation sector, at local and international levels. Furthermore, our technical partners from Jordan, United States and Europe bring more than 50 years experience in aircraft heavy maintenance, ranging from C to D Checks to aircraft paintings amongst a broad cross-section of related services.
“Together we have determined to ensure aircraft serviceability across Africa. This MRO will create hundreds of jobs in the next few months as well as stimulate opportunities across the sector supply chain,” he said.
Also speaking, founding director of 7 Star Global Hangar and former managing director of American Airlines, Dr. Abiodun Asekun described the approval of the licence by NCAA as “the right step in the right direction.”
He expressed optimism that that the MRO “will work in partnership with the new national carrier which commencing operations soon.”
“Because there is no parking space in the air, we have put together the best brain in the aircraft maintenance, management, engineering, modifications, fabrications, training, design and manufacturing on the ground,” he said.
For his part, the accountable manager, Mr. Ibrahim Nock said “7 Star is coming at a time when it is truly needed in the country” adding that “it will generate jobs for the vast number of talented but jobless engineers across the country.”
“This is also an opportunity to stretch the best aviation engineers at home and in the Diaspora- many of whom have made up their minds to return home.”
