The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate incessant incidences of aviation fuel contamination, associated air travel risks, possible non-adherence to standard operating procedures and industry best practices in the Aviation Oil Industry.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by a member from Kwara state Mr Tunji Olawuyi at the plenary.
In his lead debate, the lawmaker recalled the contamination of the main fuel tanks of Boeing 737-300 aircraft belonging to Max Air B737-300 leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on July, 7 at the Yola Airport.
Mr Olawuyi said; “Max Air had reportedly confirmed that it got the contaminated fuel from certain undisclosed aviation refueling outlet.”
This he said eventually led to the unfortunate incidence and grounding of its 5N-MHM aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
Mr Olawuyi observed that NCAA followed the incident via a letter NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 dated July 9, and suspended parts A3 Aircraft Authorisation and D43 Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd.
According to him, “NCAA noted several occurrences involving Max Air Boeing B737 aircraft including the loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.”
The Lawmaker said “many flight accidents in history were caused by fuel contamination resulting in abnormal operation of aircraft engines and water as a major contaminant.”
He stressed that in recent times, NCAA had been receiving series of mandatory occurrence reports from airlines and other aircraft operators with issues related to water being found in the aircraft fuel tank of the aircraft.
Mr Olawuyi decried the inability of NCAA and other associated aviation and oil regulatory agencies to address the increasing sharp practices in the aviation fueling industry.
This according to him is making unregistered jet fuel marketers using the throughput arrangement to supply aviation fuel with little or zero traceability.
Adopting the motion, the House in adopting the motion constituted and ad hoc committee to investigate the incidences.
The House also urged the committee to unravel associated air travel risks and possible non-adherence to standard operating procedures and industry best practices in the aviation oil industry and report to the House in eight weeks.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
