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| Enugu Horizon from my Hotel Room at 11:24 am 26072012 |
My day started in a happy mood on July 25, 2012, alarm rang on point at 5.00am, to start getting ready for the airport that is about 20Kilometres from Lekki where i reside.
Armed with my On-line Airline booking code for my flight from Lagos MM2 to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, scheduled for 08:45am, i set out at 6:00am on the dot to drive the 20Km to the Airport, heeding the airline operator warning to get to the airport 2hours prior to Estimated Time of Departure (ETD).
I was exhilarated, looking forward to my meeting organized by a Blue Chip Company in their Enugu Regional Office.
I got to the Airport at 06:45am, parked my truck on the second level of the Car park facility at the Airport, still strutting happily towards the long queue in front of the Airline Check-In Counter and quickly patched myself in-line.
Drama Time
If you are conversant with the Departure Check-In of the Lagos MM2, it has no respect for the comfort of both Elderly and Vibrant Young travellers, and the Airline operators are not any better.
We were on queue for and average of 1hour without any information or announcement from the Check-in desk, that, Checking-In of passengers for the flight would commence at a particular time, they virtually ignored us, until when i could not take it any more, i walked up to one of the Airline Staff and inquired, why the delay? He simply informed me that, Check-in for the flight would not commence until after another 10 minutes, which of course was false, we were finally Checked in at exactly 08:25am.
Lead Time
I quickly calculated the timing to boarding, 20 minutes lead time? Still on Course.
My mind was on my meeting in Enugu schedule for 10:00am, and i did not prepare to sleep over, i have anticipated an IN and OUT trip, and i have booked my tickets for TO and FRO same day.
I went through scanning and was settled in one of the Stainless Steel Lounge Chairs in the Departure lounge hoping to be airborne in the next few minutes, the activities in the departure lounge took my mind off so many things hoping that the boarding announcement of my flight would be on time.
Poof
The Airline operators did not deem if fit to announce the flight delay until about 11:00am for a first 50 minutes flight delay, and subsequent 30, 30 minutes delays in successions.
Poof my happy mood went up in smoke and turned to Ash, my mind started a riot of thoughts, would i or would i not catch up with the meeting? Okay, maybe we would leave in the next 10 minutes?
When it became obvious that i cannot make the meeting for the appointed time and in order to avail myself, I mailed the pictures of my Boarding Pass and the Departure Lounge to my Client apologising for delayed appearance.
In view of the fact that my return flight was scheduled for 13:05Hours same day, i had to race to the Ticketing booth to change my return ticket for the next day scheduled flight.
The Schedule 08:45am flight was finally airborne at 14:00hours for a 55minutes flight to Enugu.
My hopes and excitements by now has turned to fear of reprimands and integrity ratings by my client.
Akanu Ibiam International Aiport
Enugu Akanu Ibiam International Aiport is located in the outskirts of Enugu City off Abakaliki Road and about 7kilometres to my final destination.
Our Aircraft flew over habited Structures towards the Airport Runway and this creeps me.
The weather was slightly hazy, but i noticed that the Runway lights were not lit which was un-usual, it was when the Aircraft came to a stop that i looked towards the landing direction of the runway that i discovered that the ILS (Instrument Landing System) was missing, not yet Installed, that was when it dawned on me that, an Airport that is undergoing 100% renovation without an ILS and runway lights? Why still in commission?
That vividly explained the flight series of delays, because without these very important facilities there is no way an Aircraft could land at such airport with the prevalent Enugu hazy weather.
FCAA Omission
FCAA is aware of the on-going Complete Renovation of this Airport and also aware that the runway lights and ILS are not functional, but gave clearance for the use of the Airport for Commercial travels.
With the various Air Crashes in recent times, why should a supervisory body that is aware of the implications of these missing most important Airport installations allowed the full use of the Airport?
There are no Temporary functional Departure and Arrival Halls, the Arrival Facility is on the Tarmac and straight to your means of transportation to the City, the Departure Lounge is worse.
It is obvious that FCAA is aware of the dangerous implications of this oversight that could lead to the loss of lives and properties if a disaster that could be averted should occur.
So my question: Is FCAA truly aware of their responsibilities to Air Travellers in this Country?
It is a BIG Shame.
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