Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has won the 2022 Accuracy and Precision Excellence award.

The Award was conferred on SAHCO PLC by AVOLAD Engineering Nigeria Limited during their 2022 Accuracy and Precision Excellence Award Dinner held in Lagos.

According to AVOLAD’s General Manager, Adebayo Oluyamo, the nomination of Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) for the 2022 award is based on SAHCO’s relentless pursuit of accuracy and precision in cargo operational services at all times.

AVOLAD Nigeria Limited is an Indigenous Engineering Company that specializes in cargo/baggage weighing equipment that is used for weighing Cargo bulks which is used to provide load control with the accurate measurement of the pallets loaded on the aircraft and for determining the cost of the cargo for import and export.

Speaking further on why SAHCO has conferred the award, Oluyamo stressed that “After careful consultations during the screening process, the committee approved the conferment on SAHCO based on sterling performance and exceptional contributions towards proper maintenance and calibration of SAHCO weighing equipment, development of standard accuracy and precision procedures in operational services thereby maintaining world standards in offering cargo services.”

Reacting to the award, the Managing Director/ CEO of SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi said “SAHCO, who recently got ISO 900:2015 Certification is a company that adheres strictly to International Standards in everything we do, we are known for providing excellent services to our numerous customers, using our world-class Ground Support Equipment and this award will spur us to continue to do more” he thanked the organizer for recognizing SAHCO.

SAHCO is a Public Liability Company that keeps raising the bar in the Aviation Ground Handling industry by building and maintaining a fleet of ultra-modern ground handling equipment that is fitted with the latest technological innovations. SAHCO also has well-trained customer-centric staff with presence in all the commercially operated airports in Nigeria and ultra-modern warehouses with massive cold rooms and freezers.

SAHCO is involved in Passenger Handling services, Ramp Handling services, Cargo Handling services, Warehousing, Aviation Security services, VIP lounge services, and other Aviation related services by delivering quality services that are always aimed at exceeding customers’ expectations.

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC has been awarded the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9001:2015) certification for its Quality Management system.

ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard that identifies requirements for the quality management system (QMS) which organisations use to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customers and regulatory requirements.

SAHCO was awarded the certificate of registration because it has been assessed and found to conform to the requirement of ISO 9001:2015 for the scope of Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling and Warehousing, Aviation Security, VIP Lounge Services, Crew Administration, and other aviation related services.

The certificate which will expire in 2025 is also endorsed by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) which is a worldwide association that is interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, processes, services, personnel, validation, and verification, and other similar programs of conformity assessment.

 During the presentation of the ISO certificate by West Sealand International Nigeria Limited (WSI), The Managing Director/CEO of SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi said SAHCO is used to undergoing audits for international certifications and that he is happy that the ISO 9001:2015 certification has become a reality. He went on to say that as an aviation ground handling company of repute, SAHCO has ensured that its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification is always up-to-date and that SAHCO is RA 3 certified which is a requirement for all European-bound freight handlers.

Basil also went on to say that as a tree does not make a forest, he is happy and proud of the SAHCO team that cooperated to ensure that the dream became a reality within the shortest time possible. He said that being ISO-certified shows that SAHCO is indeed committed to providing safe, speedy, and efficient services to the satisfaction of all clients and would-be clients.

At the event, the Chief Executive Officer of WSI, Mr. Ope Balogun said he is proud to be associated with SAHCO, and that not all organisations that start the ISO 9001:2015 complete the process. He went on to say that the level of commitment and dedication of all the staff to ensure the process sailed through was commendable. He emphasized that once the vision is from the head, it becomes very easy to accomplish and that was the case in SAHCO.

Consequently, according to the Nigeria Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) report for Nigeria in 2022, SAHCO was mentioned as one of the 31 per cent of companies that passed the diversity, and inclusion assessment test. The report, which is based on four key parameters which are gender, age, ethnicity and educational background of the Management team and Board of Directors of the companies evaluated, emphasized that SAHCO was one of the top 10 companies with high scores.

SAHCO is an aviation ground handling company that is involved in Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo Handling and Warehousing, Aviation Security, VIP lounge Servicing, Crew administration, and other aviation-related services.

SAHCO provides customer-centric aviation ground handling services for international and domestic airlines amongst which are British Airways, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Middle East Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, South Africa Airways, DHL, Bristow, TAAG Angola Airlines, United Nigeria, Max Air, Allied Air, Ibom Air, XE Jet, Overland Airways, Badr Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Dana Air, Aero Contractors, Green Africa Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, Africa World Airlines, Sun Air, Air Cote D’Ivoire, Tarco Air.

By Moninuola Sulaiman

Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has expanded its fleet of ultra-modern Aviation Ground Handling Equipment by acquiring Universal Loaders, Tractors, Container Dollies, Canopied Passenger Steps, Conveyor Belt loaders, and Air Starter Units.

The new Universal loaders which were manufactured by French Ground Support Equipment (GSE) maker, AirMarrel in France are 7,000 tonnes lower than the main deck loaders. The GSEs are well-matched with the latest compatible standards and can be used to load both pallets and containers. Also, the loaders are equipped with Aircraft Approach sensors that minimize accidents or damage to the Aircraft body by restricting contact.

The three ruggedly built GSEs also known as E-LAM 7,000 are fitted with tier 4 Deutz engines and the capacity to travel long distances that make them compatible with Nigerian terrains and long-distance tarmac. The E-LAM 7,000s can similarly be used for loading at both the front Cargo hold and the rear Cargo hold.

In addition, SAHCO acquired three Air Starter Units (ASU) equipment from Quinault, a GSE manufacturer resident in France. ACUs are used to start an aircraft’s engine while it is on the ground. The ASUs acquired by SAHCO can power both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft. They are also fitted with tier 4 Deutz engines with low emissions of carbon monoxide and are built to produce 180 pounds per minute of power.

Furthermore, the ASUs are built with aluminum chassis which is to prevent rusting thereby making them all-weather equipment that can be used under the rain or the scorching sun.

Similarly, 6 Sherpa Tractors were procured to boost the existing fleet of GSE in SAHCO. These tractors are built to service both Cargo and Passenger Baggage. The front wheels of the tractors have been modified to be bigger than the older models to enable better stability of the equipment and to suit a rough terrain better, besides the seats, have in-built leaf springs to ensure that the operator is comfortable driving the equipment thereby preventing any work-related development of hernia due to hard and immobile seats.

Likewise, the GSEs are fitted with tier 4 Deutz engines for low emission of carbon monoxide which makes them environmentally friendly. The Tractors which were produced by Goldhofer from Germany are built to have low fuel consumption capacity.

Also, SAHCO added 50 Container Dollies manufactured by Bombelli, an Italian GSE company to the new fleet of GSEs, these Container Dollies are used to transport Unit Load Devices (ULD) during Operations. The Dollies are made of galvanized steel to prevent corrosion and rusting and are fitted with spring-loaded hooks which makes the connection and pulling easy for operators.

Similarly, the Canopied Passengers Steps and Conveyor Belts were manufactured by Bombelli. The three Canopied Passenger Steps have factory-fitted Coverings to protect Passengers from the rain or scorching sun while embarking or disembarking and they are also fitted with Aircraft Proximity sensors in accordance with world best practices. The Passenger Steps also have the capacity to be motorized or manually operated and can be used to service the following Aircraft; B737, B727, B757, CRJ, A318 – A321.

In addition, the three Conveyor Belts which are used for loading and offloading baggage, are equally fitted with In-built Aircraft Proximity Sensors. Also, the roller belts are manufactured in a block assembly fashion which makes the GSE convey loads faster, carry more weight and last longer.

Speaking about the equipment, the Managing Director/CEO of SAHCO, Basil Agboarumi said SAHCO is committed to always providing safe, speedy, and efficient services for clients and prospective clients. Furthermore, as SAHCO clients are expanding their routes, we are also ensuring that we are exceeding their expectations by expanding our fleets too. We are constantly training our staff both abroad and locally to learn how to operate and maintain this new equipment so as to maximize their productivity.

Recently, SAHCO won the Best Ground Handling Award in Africa at the Aviators Africa Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in recognition of SAHCO’s immense contribution to the development of African Aviation. SAHCO was nominated with three other Ground Handling Companies after which SAHCO won with a landslide due to SAHCO’s continuous input in ensuring that all activities are executed according to best world practices.

SAHCO is a Publicly Listed Aviation Ground Handling Service provider that is present in all the commercially operated Airports in Nigeria which are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar, Ilorin, Enugu, Maiduguri, Gombe, Ibadan, Jos, Asaba, Benin, Bauchi, Uyo, Sokoto, Kaduna, Yola, Bayelsa, Warri, and Anambra.