Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has asked all owners of foreign registered privately operated aircraft in the country to regularise their documentation in conformity with their operational status will face sanctions.
The NCAA said it is geared up to commence the regime of stipulated sanctions on the erring operators.
According to the Director General of NCAA, Captain Mukhtar Usman, the sanctions will include grounding of operations, revocation of license and outright seizure of aircraft forthwith, stating that the use of these operators’ aircraft for commercial operations is at variance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation, Nig.CARs 9.1.1.4[a][b] and is tantamount to gross violation.
Usman also said that all private operators that have been issued with NCAA’s Flight Operations Clearance Certificate {FOCC} and Maintenance Clearance Certificate [MCC] in line with Nig.CARs 8.2.1.9, are by these certification authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for private operation only and not for hire and reward.
It will be recalled thata committee was earlier set up by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka to take a holistic appraisal of their operations.
The committee in its submission recommended the revocation of a defaulting operator’s license and having his aircraft impounded immediately, with a mandatory payment of 100,000 US Dollars fine will be required to secure the release of the aircraft.
The DG has therefore with this directive, provided a window of opportunity for all foreign registered privately operated aircraft owners to regularise their documentation to enable them operate a legitimate commercial operation in line with the Authority’s regulation if they so desire.