Among professionals it is a well known fact that all accidents are caused and can be avoided.
So also is the crash of the Associated Airline aircraft that happened last week.

I could have easily been one of the statistics of those that got involved in the Associated airline crash, not this recent crash though but one that could have happened 2 yrs ago.

It was December 4th 2011, I had completed my business in Lagos and was looking forward to my flight to Port Harcourt by Aero contractors later in the day. But my plans were about to be changed abrutely early that morning. By 6 am I got a call, there has been a road traffic accident involving the truck taking the goods I came to Lagos port to clear to Port Harcourt. In an incoherent voice the truck mate had told me that they had an accident somewhere close to benin and that the driver is injured and has been arrested by the police.

Several questions raced through my head, how could a truck that was loaded last night and was supposed to leave Lagos that morning end up in an accident in Benin that same morning.
How serious is the driver's injury, what about my goods worth tens of million on the truck, why did the police arrest an injured driver instead of taking him to the hospital, more and more questions raced through my head. Compounded by the fact that after the 1st phone call from the truck mate, no calls was going through to the driver or his mate.

With so many unanswered questions I decided to head to the Lagos MM2 airport to get on the next available flight to Benin. On getting to the airport, all aero contractors flight tickets were already sold for that morning flight. The next flight to benin is in the evening, I was determined to get to benin that morning, thats when someone suggested Associated Airlines,

My 1st question was "what airlne was that". I could pride myself of being aware of majority of the airlines in Nigeria but prior to that date I had never heard of Associated airline. I turned the name round in my head as I walked to the counter someone pointed to me to go and buy the ticket.

At the end I simply rationalised that it must be one of the cargo airlines operating in the country, hence am not aware of it.

I got to their counter, wondering why I have never noticed the counter prevoiusly. A young lady answered my query, yes they have sits available on their flight to benin that is due to leave within the hour. I quickly brought out my blackberry and did a google search on associated airline nigeria if I could get a little information on the airline, nothing of value turned up. With that I was forced to make a decision with no information to act on. Well, I still needed to get to benin in a hurry, so I decided to buy the ticket. Within a few minutes we were called to board. Thats when I met the 1st shock. As I walked towards the aircraft, the nearer I got to it the more aware I became that the aircraft is rather small, small aircrafts tend to be very bumpy during flights. Then the next shock

The aircraft looked rather old, is it really old or am just spoilt, flying only the best airlines locally and internationally. Well it was time for me to fly regular plane like regular Nigerian folks, so I reasoned as I climbed into the aircraft.
But sitting down in the aircraft and looking around me I couldn't help but notice that the plane is old, way too old for my liking.

Looking around I saw that there were other 4 persengers sitted, what type of airline flies with only 5 persengers I reasoned. It soon occurred to me that the airline was not in a hurry to leave, they where actually waiting for more persengers, that was another 1st for me, an aircraft waiting for persengers beyond the take off time, or rather its a second for me. I once had a klm flight from amsterdam to lagos wait for me for about 15 mins. I had entered the wrong train at Delft and when i realised what was happening I was in deep shit. Getting down at the next train station and getting the next train to schipol meant i can never meet up with the flight time. Putting a call to the airline, they were able to pass me on to the pilot, I don't know what happened but the pilot promised to wait for me. And he waited and till today thats one one of the reasons why I think Klm first.

But in this case it was obvious that the associated airline was just buying time to see if any other passenger will show up. Well, 2 other passengers did show up after what seemed like 30 mins of waiting and we were soon on our way. The takeoff was smooth, but immediately we were airborne, the aircraft was creaking like a rickety lorry, the first and last time I heard such kind of creak from an aircraft was in 2003. That was a chanchangi flight from phc to lagos. That aircraft still remind me of a mammywagon.

This aircraft creaked and hissed as we crawled to Benin.
That was the part that got me most worried, the the aircraft simply crawled. It was like the aircraft is going to stall and drop off the sky at any moment. The flight was way too slow.

Na wa o

Thanks Engr Musiwa for sharing. The (engineering) english is most appreciated

It took us about 70mins to get to benin. I was too relieved when we landed, then I got the last shocker, only 3 of the 7 passengers stopped at benin, the other 4 were going to abuja, which airline in the whole world flies 300km offroute to drop off 3 passengers? And why use an aircraft powered by a turboprop engine to fly long route to abuja. That's why jet propulsion was invented.

While leaving the plane, I caught the eyes of the 2 air hostesses, there were no words exchanged but the look of resignation was all over them. They must have been used to 1st time passengers not repeating the mistake of flying with them. Without saying a word, they knew they will never be seeing me again.

One thing was certain to me, Associated Airlines was struggling, and obviously failing. But why will anyone struggle in the aviation industry where most airlines are only one crash away from bankrupcy?

So when the plane crashed, one question that keep nagging at me was "why did the regulators of the airline industry not ground that airline long before now".
Some have put forward many reasons why the plane crashed, but one thing am sure of is that our regulators don't know their jobs.

Am sure if the chanchangi airline that creaked in 2003 and I swore never to use again crashes tomorrow, there will be many reasons put forward as to why it crashed, but the regulators will never admit that the plane should have been grounded long ago.

mej67: Thanks Engr Musiwa for sharing. The (engineering) english is most appreciated

Compared to me, musiwa is a new kid on nairaland. By the way it's not engineering english, it's mobile english. My hand held has a mind of its own.

Thanks for sharing your experience, the regulators and indeed madam stella have so much to do. No matter how world class a terminal may be, old planes or flooded runways without light will render the new terminals muesuem relics.

.

And why
use an aircraft powered by a turboprop engine to fly long
route to abuja. That's why jet propulsion was invented.

TurboProp is actually a Jet engine

idupaul: .

TurboProp is actually a Jet engine

Its a jet engine with an airscrew attached in place of the jet propulsion system. Best for short distances and cheaper to maintain, but the advantages evaporates when used for longer distances

ogb5:

Its a jet engine with an airscrew attached in place of the jet propulsion system. Best for short distances and cheaper to maintain, but the advantages evaporates when used for longer distances

Nice. Many people often mistake a turboprop for a piston. And cylinder propeller engine .

ogb5:
Compared to me, musiwa is a new kid on nairaland. By the way it's not engineering english, it's mobile english. My hand held has a mind of its own.

And why the beef? He did well, very well simple

Dis is de very reason y ℓ̊ ve bin traveling 2 Ghana wit Q-link motorcycle

wisdom-w:
Dis is de very reason y ℓ̊ ve bin traveling 2 Ghana wit Q-link motorcycle

I avoid motorcycle like a plague.
When my friend bought a power bike I removed 20yrs from his life expectancy and I told him.

your question is "why didnt the regulators of the airline industry ground the airline b4 now?... perharps if u av written this article long b4 the accident happened, they might av been grounded...

my question 2 u is "why are u just writing this after d accident?

We should have a thread, or a site on its own, that encourages travellers to share flight experiences for others to be informed. That way, we can have a reference point to guide our choices of aircrafts, to guide our flying decisions.

All the same, By His Grace, we shall not embark on a journey of no return.

oluwadare26: your question is "why didnt the regulators of the airline industry ground the airline b4 now?... perharps if u av written this article long b4 the accident happened, they might av been grounded...

my question 2 u is "why are u just writing this after d accident?

you are talking as if you are not in Nigeria... there was a plane crash involving a commercial jet last year, where the akwa ibom state governor stated that he boarded that particular craft a week back and on landing he warned the airline that their plane was very bad inflight and needed maintenance. they did nothing and the plane ended in a crash... are you a learner.. ?

Kx: We should have a thread, or a site on its own, that encourages travellers to share flight experiences for others to be informed. That way, we can have a reference point to guide our choices of aircrafts, to guide our flying decisions.

All the same, By His Grace, we shall not embark on a journey of no return.

Seconded. Dis is so so, im lost for words. (Smh)

Kx: We should have a thread, or a site on its own, that encourages travellers to share flight experiences for others to be informed. That way, we can have a reference point to guide our choices of aircrafts, to guide our flying decisions.

All the same, By His Grace, we shall not embark on a journey of no return.

Those who have flying coffins will never agree to create site where people can give feedback on their poor services. Maybe the regulators will be the ones to create such site.

In my case for example, I went online to look for information on Associated Airline, nothing turned up. It was just like it never existed.

exactly what happened to me when i took the flight to abuja.my hand luggage could not even enter the luggage compartment we were like six people on board the seats were so tight&uncomfortable.we hit turbulence a couple of times&i thought for the very first time i wont survive the trip.we were all quiet,it was as if i was flying a kite&truly the air hostess,i noticed just one was so quiet that i almost didnt see her through out the flight.God saved me that day.it was a terrible&traumatic experience to say the least.