GCAA Director General Praises Aero Contractors MRO, Says Facility Will Cut Airline Costs Across West Africa
The Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, has commended Aero Contractors Limited for establishing a world-class Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO), describing it as a critical asset that will serve commercial airlines across West and Central Africa and help reduce the cost of air travel in the region.
Rev. Arthur gave the commendation after a guided tour of the Aero Contractors maintenance facility located at the airline’s headquarters at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The visit included inspections of key maintenance sections, specialised equipment and interactions with highly trained technical personnel.
Expressing his admiration, the GCAA Director General said the quality and scope of the facility surpassed his expectations, particularly given its location within the sub-region. “This is unique by all standards. I least expected to see what we have all witnessed today, especially from this part of the continent,” he said.
Rev. Arthur explained that the absence of adequate maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in West Africa has historically forced airlines to ferry aircraft to Europe or the United States for major checks, a practice that significantly increases operational costs.
According to him, these additional expenses are inevitably passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices. “Many people do not realise how much aircraft maintenance contributes to the overall cost of airline operations. It is not only about fuel. Airlines spend heavily on maintaining, repairing and overhauling aircraft, and when such work is carried out far from home, the costs rise sharply,” he stated.
He noted that ferrying aircraft outside the region attracts extra fuel consumption, crew allowances, navigation charges and extended downtime, all of which place financial pressure on airlines. In contrast, the availability of a major MRO facility within the sub-region, he said, dramatically reduces these costs and improves operational efficiency.
“When an MRO is nearby, airlines save on crew expenses, long-haul fuelling and navigation charges. Maintenance turnaround time is also reduced, meaning aircraft return to service faster. All these translate into significant savings for airlines and, ultimately, lower costs for passengers,” Rev. Arthur said.
The GCAA Director General described the Aero Contractors MRO as a major boost for Ghana, Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states, stressing that it should be embraced as a shared regional asset. He called on airlines operating within the sub-region to actively patronise the facility to ensure its sustainability and growth.
He also disclosed that Ghana is in the process of establishing a national carrier and expressed confidence that the existence of a capable MRO within the region would support the success of such an initiative.
“If you cannot beat them, you join them. Ghana will join our big brother, Nigeria, in taking a bold step to use this facility. It is not just for one country but for the entire aviation industry,” he said.
Rev. Arthur further revealed that Nigeria was the first country he visited following the confirmation of his appointment as GCAA Director General, describing the visit as symbolic of Ghana’s commitment to regional collaboration in aviation development.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors Limited, Captain Ado Sanusi, welcomed the GCAA Director General and outlined the airline’s evolution and growing role in aircraft maintenance within Africa.
He said Aero Contractors, founded in 1959, began operations in oil and gas helicopter services before expanding into fixed-wing operations, scheduled passenger flights and aircraft maintenance.
“We became very strong in oil and gas operations and later ventured into airline services. We were the first to carry out a C-check on the Boeing 737 Classic in West and Central Africa, and since then we have consistently provided maintenance services to airlines within the region and beyond,” Captain Sanusi said.
He added that the Aero Contractors AMO currently holds approvals from several West African aviation authorities and is pursuing further certifications from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for both line and base maintenance.
Captain Sanusi also disclosed that Aero Contractors plans to resume flight operations to Accra in the near future, a move expected to strengthen air connectivity and deepen aviation cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana.
