By Giwa SHILE
A team of engineers with the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd. (SAHCOL) has manufactured a Bowser to fuel aviation ground support equipment at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
The fuel bowser, built from the scratch by engineers at the SAHCOL Engineering and Maintenance Workshop, was inaugurated on Wednesday by Mr Basil Agboarumi, the Managing Director of SAHCOL.
Agboarumi said that the fuel Bowser was the first in the history of aviation of ground handling in Nigeria to be created from the scratch through locally sourced materials.
According to him, the idea to create the equipment was conceived by the engineering team of SAHCOL to align with the Nigerian maxim of Use Nigeria, Buy Nigeria.
He said: “The production of the equipment is aimed at leading to higher efficiency of safe and fast service delivery which is what SAHCOL stands for.
“The 3,000 litres capacity equipment can be operated both manually and with battery.
“The equipment, which is towable, has all the features of an imported fuel bowser with modifications to fit the Nigerian terrain.
“The bowser is designed to be both rugged and comfortable for use by the handlers to dispense rapid fueling in a safe and spillage free manner.”
Agboarumi said that before now, the fuel bowser among other ground support equipment had been purchased from manufacturers in Europe and other western countries.
He said: “This production has helped to overcome the problem of waiting incessantly for ground support equipment to be shipped to the shores of Nigeria.
“It also help waiting for clearance by the authorities at the port before being brought to the workshop for use.
“Another reason is that construction of this bowser has saved the company the cost of sourcing for foreign currency to purchase imported equipment.
“The tow fuel bowser is an equipment that is overlooked as not being as important as other heavy duty ground support equipment.
“It is of great significance for a hitch-free refueling of ground support equipment on the ramp.”
SAHCOL, which is a SIFAX Group Company, is an aviation ground handling company that offers services in passenger handling, ramp handling, cargo handling and warehousing.
It also offers services on aviation security, baggage reconciliation, Crew bus and executive lounge services and other related Ground Handling services.
