- To Investigate Deactivation Of Transponder By Crew
LAGOS – Azman Air has clarified that its controversial airplanes allegedly “smuggled” to Iran were on C-Check in that country.
The airline also said that it would investigate the purported deactivation of its transponder by its crew why in the air.
The airline also admitted that the aircraft transponder developed fault en route to Iran, which was logged and filed in the tech log and submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
A statement by Muhammad Hadi AbdulManaf, Accountable Manager of Azman Air on Friday, restated that the two aircraft – Airbus A340-600 with registration the number: 5N-AAM and Boeing 737-300 with the registration number: 5N-YSM, were on routine check in the West Asian country.
There has been a widespread controversy on the status of the two aircraft, which a foreign medium, reported that were sold to Mahan Air and deregistered without the knowledge of the NCAA, without following the due process and in violation of international sanction on Iran.
The report purported that the aircraft was flying from Kano to Kabul when its crew turned off the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponder at an altitude of 39,000ft after entering Iranian airspace, though it eventually landed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport.
He said: “Our aircraft went on a routine maintenance C-Checks, which is due after every 18 months. I’m really shocked to hear that we smuggled our aircraft to Iran. Is it a cow that can be smuggled? the story is fake and lacks any fact.
“There is a clear guideline from the NCAA on selling and deregistering aircraft from our AOC. Unless that is done, the aircraft is still under our control. NCAA has not received any document or correspondence from Azman in that regard.”
On the alleged turning off of the transponder by its cockpit crew, he said the airline was unaware of this, but promised to investigate.
“The transponder developed fault en route to destination airport, which was logged and filed in the tech log and submitted to NCAA.”
He also emphasised that the airline was unaware of any sanction between Nigeria and Iran.
He maintained that there is economic treaty documents signed between D8 countries (Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia Pakistan and Bangladesh), for economic benefits of the D8 countries, which allow free trade on aviation services and product between the D8 countries.
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