Yemisi Izuora
Ground Handling company, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has enhanced its operations with the acquisition of state-of-the-art ground handling equipment.
The equipment, which were unveiled at its Engineering and Maintenance Workshop in the Air Force Base at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, the company said was over N1 billion.
With the acquisition and use of the equipment, the Ground Handling company, which recently enlisted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has further cemented its position as the leading ground handling company in West and Central African Regions.
Speaking at the commissioning of the event, the Managing Director of SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi, said that apart from the machines unveiled, some other equipment were currently at Onne Port in Port Harcourt awaiting final clearance.
Some of the equipment commissioned by SAHCO included Ground Power Units (GPU), Load Banks, Tow bars, Tyre Removal Machines and 10 new engines for ground operations.
Agboarumi emphasized that SAHCO was already changing the face of aviation Ground Handling services in Nigeria with its latest acquisition, stressing that the company would consistently offer its clients the best of services anywhere in the country.
He added that with the regularly upgrade and investment on equipment, SAHCO would be a force to reckon with in global aviation industry.
Agboarumi said: “As a Ground Handling company, we want to ensure that we do ground handling to the highest industry standards. We understand we need to deploy equipment that will make our clients happy and we also know that we have to partner with our clients.
“Apart from these that are commissioned today, some of our other equipment are still coming to Lagos from Port Harcourt. They are presently awaiting clearance from the port. SAHCO is moving towards making the right impacts in the industry. We always want to operate safe and efficient ground handling operations for our clients.”
Also commenting at the event, Assistant General Manager, Maintenance and Engineering, Mr. Toyin Oriowo, said that the equipment acquired were some of the major machines in the global aviation industry.
He said that the equipment came with safety devices that prevent damages to the machines or aircraft, stressing that the GPU had a capacity of 140KVA, while a major aircraft highest capacity was 90KVA.
“What we are commissioning today is the latest technology in town with lots of safety devices to prevent damages to either the equipment or the aircraft.”
The tow bars can handle Airbus A320, Boeing 737, A330, A340-200/300, A350, B767, B777, B787 and IL96. Others were DC10/MD 11, L10 11, A340-500/600 and B747.” he said.
According to him, the equipment, which were manufactured in France came with training for its technical personnel.
SAHCO is an aviation ground handling company that is involved in Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo services and Warehousing, Aviation security services, Ground Support Maintenance services, Crew Bus and Executive Lounge Services and other related Ground Handling Services while ensuring that Ground Handling assignments is carried out in an efficient, speedy and safe manner by deploying appropriate tools.