…Identifies Lack Of Sponsors As Team Main Challenge
A Nigerian pilot, Mr Ademilola Odujinrin has described the forthcoming first Africa Solo flight round the world flight as a dream which the team have been working assiduously to achieve.
This is just as he stated that one of the essence of the flight is to change Africa narrative.
This is just as he said that one of the objectives of the solo flight is to change Africa narratives, adding that the flight will commence in Nigeria and end in Nigeria.
Capt. Odujinrin, who said this while speaking at a media briefing to herald the First Africa Solo Flight Round the World at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, added that about 140 pilots have flown round the world but that no African pilot has done it.
According to him, “It is a dream that we have been working very hard to achieve. No African has done it before .It is a big achievement.”
He disclosed that he would use SR22 aircraft with registration number N313CD and that the aircraft is nine years old, adding that the aircraft can fly 17 and half hours with special configuration before refueling.
The pilot, who has said he had been flying in past 17 years, added that he was trained in the United Kingdom and that he flew for Arik Air for five years.
On whether he has been insured for the flight, Odujinrin stated the project was insured with a company that specialises in this type insurance.
Speaking on what he would do when he arrives any of the destinations, Lola, as he is popularly called stated that a register would be provided for him to sign as a sign that he was there.
The former Arik Air pilot, who stated that the journey would start from Nigeria, listed the country he would fly through to include: Cameroun, Kenya, Djibouti UAE, India and Singapore among others, and that the exercise will last for six weeks.
He stated that one of the challenges the solo flight was having is lack of sponsors, adding that most of the companies do not believe in the flight, especially when it is to be done.
Odujinrin, who stated that the aircraft has passed through all the checks and gotten all the approvals, adding that despite that the solo flight still needs sponsors.
The ferry pilot hinted that he would be going for both physical and mental training for five weeks as part of preparation for the solo flight.
He listed the objective of the flight to include; to change African narrative, inspire the youths and to support selected charities especially children in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp
The One Man One Plane One World is a project powered by the relentless motivation, determination and fearlessness of a group of private sector professionals, whose passion is fueled by vision and ambition.
The first initiative of the transcend project kicks off in April 2016 with the first ever solo round the world flight by an African originating and terminating in Nigeria, Africa.
Also speaking ,the Project Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, Ireti Bakare Yusuf , said that while the pilot would be away for physical and mental training, the rest of the team would be making other necessary arrangements to herald the august flight.
On what one of the supporting companies; Transcend does, she informed that the company creates extra ordinary initiatives to take Nigeria to a greater height.
She stated that the solo flight was proudly Nigeria project.
According to her, “this project is bigger than me. It is time Nigeria has to celebrate after the elections and this is the time”
