NCAA DISMISSES AIRLINES’ FOLD UP CLAIMS

In a statement, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,
Capt. Muhtar Usman said that contrary to the claims, the airlines are merely suspending their operations temporarily to enable them undertake certain operational overhaul and strengthen their overall operational outlay.

“One of the airlines, Aerocontractors Ltd., at present has only one serviceable aircraft. This in contradiction to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS) which stipulates that no airline operator shall carry out schedule commercial operation with only one aircraft. The minimum acceptable number is three aircraft’, he said.

According to him, any airline with one aircraft is in contravention of the Authority’s regulations therefore cannot be adjudged to be capable of providing safe operation.

“The only option available is to suspend your operations temporarily while other aircraft arrive in due course.

“However, NCAA’s Regulations provides a window for such operator to embark on non schedule operations in the interim”, he said.

He added that First Nation Airlines on its part is in the middle of an Engine Replacement Programme for one of its aircraft.

“Another aircraft is due for mandatory maintenance as its allowable by the Regulatory Authority. In these circumstances, these airlines clearly cannot continue to undertake schedule operations, hence the inevitable recourse to self regulatory suspension”, the NCAA said.

The NCAA reiterated that on no account will it compromise safety and security of airline operations in the airspace.

“Every facet of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS) and Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) must be adhered to with due diligence.In addition, everything has been put in place to continue our to ensure compliance”, he said.