FG Acquires N5bn Aircraft Fire-fighting Simulator For Aviation College
The Federal Government has acquired an automatic aircraft fire-fighting simulator for training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The simulator is said to be multi-functional and is expected to be installed at the NCAT as soon as it arrives the country.
The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the equipment manufacturer, Alphine Metal Technology Company, UK, and other aviation officials carried out a factory acceptance, pre-shipment inspection and test of the simulator in London, on Monday.
Sirika said the purchase is in fulfillment of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority requirement for training of firefighters at the airports and would overall, enhance competence and proficiency in achieving the primary objective of saving lives in the event of a fire incident.
The pre-shipment test showcased the full complements of about 28 possible fire/non-fire scenarios carried out including cabin fire simulation, cabin smoke, lavatory smoke and the likes.
Sirika, who spoke after inspecting the equipment and the company facility was quoted to have said the simulator cost the nation about N5bn and it was a safety equipment that would be key for airport operations.
He said, “The focus of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on civil aviation is safety and security, this is therefore a component of it. We take matters of safety and security very seriously. Before now, we train our firefighters in Cameroon and I found myself approving several hundred thousands of dollars for training in Cameroon and I said this is not it.
“I applied and got approval to procure this fire-fighting simulator and Mr President graciously approved it. It will cost the nation about N5bn and we started it and now it is completed and it’s ready for testing. It has been tested in front of us and you have seen it, it’s in perfect working order and condition and we will install it at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
“The impact on our nation is it would improve our safety standards by providing proficient fire fighters. Fire-fighting is an important aspect of airport operations without which we cannot open our airports. The equipment can simulate cabin fire, smoke, cockpit fire, cargo fire, undercarriage fire so this is multi-functional.”
The Managing Director of Glovesly Pro-Project Limited, representatives of Messrs Alpine Metal Tech Company in Africa, Mr Yasir Abdullahi, explained that the simulator would be delivered by the end of the month as everything was almost set for the installation in NCAT, Zaria.
“Unlike other simulators, this is a real sized aircraft and has everything real. it is automatic and has a soft touch console. We are getting ready as it will be ready for shipping by the end of the month. This, however, is a full aircraft and will have to be disassembled into separate parts for shipping and reassembly when in Nigeria,” he said.
The Rector, NCAT, Capt. Mohammed Abdulsalam, had said in January that an automatic fire simulator would be installed for training in the college before the end of the year.
Abdulsalam said the college never had fire simulator in spite of the number of firemen in the country.
