Genesis Global opens commercial operations with 100% local content

Genesis Global Aviation Limited (GGAL) has acquired the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) to begin commercial helicopter operations with Nigerian pilots.The operations, after rigour of standardisation and award of AOC certificate by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), will enhance special operations in surveillance, medical emergency and evacuation, onshore and offshore services among others across the country.
 
The 100 per cent local content of expertise gives opportunities to Nigerian trained pilots and reduced capital flight in the industry already saturated with expatriate pilots amidst harsh economic downturn.
 
It will be recalled that leading operators like Bristow and Caverton Helicopters among others lately downsized pilots and engineers following massive drop in demand since the global oil market crashed in 2015.
 
Chairman and Accountable Manager of Genesis Global Aviation Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, shortly after receiving the certificate, identified that a lot of investors were failing out of the industry, “but it hasn’t change the situation that will require helicopter services across the country.”
 
Iheanacho noted that there has been consistent demand whether in offshore service delivery or for emergency medical evacuation, general logistics of moving people and personnel.
 
According to him, “If the economy is bad and helicopter service providers are falling, it does not mean that other people cannot be entering the market and going in the opposite direction. We believe in the resilience of the Nigerian economy and believe that what we are witnessing is a dip and just for the time being. The future belongs to those who dare. And we dare into the helicopter business,” he said.
 
He added that the pilots are expert Nigerians type-rated to man the fleet of six EC155B Helicopters on ground.Deputy Managing Director, Genesis Global Aviation, Capt. David Nwoke, said plans are on to acquire more helicopters for oil and gas operations, leveraging on personnels’ decades of experience.Nwoke added that the fleet is made up of French-manufactured aircraft, made for the oil and gas offshore and erstwhile used by Shell.