IKEJA- Nigeria’s flag carrier, Arik Air, has set up an Operational Control Centre (OCC) to help track its aircraft in skies all over the world as it commences inter-continental flights next month.
The airline is to commence flights to the U.K. in December, while operations to New York and Houston would come next year.
The OCC is to help Arik Air to monitor its aircraft on ground and air borne, as well as feed its pilots and crew with real time weather reports obtained directly from satellite.
It will also prevent the airlines aircraft from being missing at any point as they would be in regular touch with the airlines headquarters.
Arik Air Managing Director, Michael Mc Tighe, said in Lagos that the OCC was set up to help its pilots to avoid bumps in the air by providing them with minute-by-minute weather situation reports.
“The OCC allows us to track all our aircraft minute-by-minute via satellite systems, Mc-Tighe said, adding that the device would help the airline to avert any disruption of flights as it commences flights to Europe and North America.
Mc Tighe said that the satellite-based weather reports were a step ahead of that provided by the Nigerian Meteorological Services (NIMET) as they were real-time based.
He, however, added that Arik Air would not totally dump the NIMET reports.
Reports say that many airlines have expressed reservations on the accuracy of weather reports from NIMET, saying that they were often not up-to-date.
McTighe added that Arik Air would on Dec. 1 in France receive an Airbus A340-800 brand-new aircraft, to be used for inter-continental flights.
He said the aircraft would be formally received in Abuja on Dec. 4.
The Arik Air chief said the new aircraft was one of three purchased by the airline, which would all be delivered in March 2009.
McTighe said a team of clergymen, top government officials and officials of some leadings banks would be part of the team to receive the aircraft in France.
He assured that Arik Air would fly passengers from Lagos to the U.K. by Christmas, offering a truly Nigerian experience.
The Managing Director disclosed that Arik Air was poised to commence operations as national carrier in the Niger Republic before the end of year.
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