Akinkuotu in aero’s hot seat

CAPT. Fola Akinkuotu has been appointed substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Aero Contractors, as part of the second phase of the restructuring process of the airline.

The Receiver Manager of Aero Contractors, Mr. Adeniyi Adegbonmire who made the appointment said that the second phase of the intervention was to appoint a CEO after 15 days of the tenure of Tunde Fagbemi of Spring fountain, the Receiver Manager Representative (RMR).

Capt. FolaAkinkuotu, was the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) from August 2013 to March 2014, takes over with immediate effect, following a brief intervention led by the RMR.

Fola Akinkuotu is a pilot, as well as flight and aircraft engineer. He was responsible for the start up and running of IRS Airlines as pioneer Managing Director/COO. Thereafter he was part of the start-up team for Arik Airlines. Capt. Fola Akinkuotu was Technical Pilot and Training Manager for Virgin Nigeria, NCAA designated Type Rating Examiner becoming the Director Flight operations and later Executive Director International Operations in Virgin/Air Nigeria.

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In addition to his technical skills, he has extensive administrative experience as, founding Rector/CEO of the International Aviation College Aviation Ilorin, before becoming the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

With over forty, 40, years’ experience in the aviation industry, he has held previous senior management positions in a number of airlines. Starting out as an aircraft engineer, where he was in charge of the Presidential fleet, he then qualified as pilot and flight engineer turbo jet. He has over 13000 hours of jet time flying in commercial airlines. In 1998, he was entrusted with the honour of flying Pope John Paul II in Nigeria during his pastoral visit to Nigeria.

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu is a qualified Licenced Aircraft Engineer, (Airframe and Engines), Airline Transport Pilot Licenced with type ratings on several commercial jet airplanes, Turbo Jet Licenced Flight Engineer and Associate Member of Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Technologists with Certificate in Total Quality Management from Lagos Business School and Type Rating Instructor B737 from Oxford Aviation Academy, United Kingdom.

Capt. Akinkuotu said he is pleased to be given the opportunity to turn around Aero Contractors, adding: “AMCON has given us a lifeline which is an opportunity for us to succeed. This option is a huge opportunity we must take as there’s no other option. I believe we can make Aero Contractors a success story.

“Aero is a premium Nigerian legacy brand, and I am determined to ensure that this airline continues to serve the Nigerian market efficiently, reliably and with its safety record intact.”

Following a high court order obtained by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON), a Receiver Manager Representative, TundeFagbemi of Spring fountain was appointed February 5, 2016 to begin the process of turning around the Aero Contractors with a view to handing over to a substantive CEO.