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Tag: Muhtar Usman

  • Agency seeks NCAA support to develop made-in-Nigeria helicopters

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has solicited support from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to develop made-in-Nigeria helicopters.
    Prof. Muhammed Haruna,  Chief Executive Officer, NASENI, made the appeal on Wednesday in Lagos when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman.
    Haruna said NASENI had in the past manufactured an Agriculture Based Unmanned Area Vehicle (AB-UAV), tricycles commonly referred to as “Keke NASENI and the successful development of the “Gulma Drone ” in collaboration with the  Nigeria Air Force.
    He expressed confidence that the made-in-Nigeria helicopter project would be a success through the support of the NCAA and other stakeholders.
    Haruna said “Previously we have produced unmanned aerial vehicle. Our own version was commissioned by the Vice-President when there was technology expo in Abuja.
    “But we are not stopping there, research and development is continuing. What we are saying is that we want to copy other people’s technologies and to do this copying, we came here asking for guidance and support from NCAA.
     
    “It is our target and hope that before the end of 2019, our people should have mastered the art on how to do it. Research and Development is not one or two – day affair but we have facilities for reverse engineering.

    Read Also: NCAA de-registers 10 aircraft

     
    “In fact we have a centre which we call rapid prototyping centre. Any machine that you want to reproduce, we have facilities, advance manufacturing equipment for that matter on how to give us something fast but then aviation is a high safety and security industry that certain things, we must wait for certification from here before we proceed further.”
     
    He said the agency had selected Dynali Helicopter Manufacturing Company of Belgium as a willing partner to fast-track technology acquisition and domestication.
     
    Responding,  Usman said aviation was highly regulated, international in nature and also involves safety and security.
    “That is why the NASENI came today for us to partner and work to ensure that international standard and recommended practices are maintained because aviation is high precision industry, it involves safety and security.
     
    “In the area of unmanned aerial vehicle, it is a fast evolving technology worldwide, we have issued our advisory circulars on the registration and the use of such equipment and also we have gone very far, in fact we are almost concluding the regulations for the use of unmanned aerial vehicle.”
     
     
     

  • NCAA de-registers ten aircraft

    ……. Issues 115 AOC in six months

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA)  said  on Wednesday that it has carried out registration and de-registration of fifty-two (52) aircraft  as well as issued and renewed one hundred and fifteen (115) air worthiness certificates between January and June, 2018

    Its Director General, Captain Muhtar Usman made this known at the 2nd NCAA Interactive Forum with Aviation Agencies’ and Airlines’ Public Relations/Information Managers at the NCAA Annex where he called for a united approach in information dissemination devoid of disinformation and scare mongering.

    Reeling out the figures, Captain Usman said twenty (20) aircraft were registered for commercial air transport, while another ten (10) were registered for general operations. He further said ten (10) aircraft were de-registered while another twelve (12) were re-registered within the period in review.

    He said the NCAA between January and June issued thirty (30)certificates of air worthiness while it renewed eighty-five (85) air worthiness certificates.

    Read Also: NCAA reads riot act to travel agencies

    On licensing, Mukhar said  between January and June, the regulators have also issued thirty-two (36) pilot licenses, renewed seven hundred and fifty (750) pilot medical and instrument and has changed 23 foreign licenses, issued 242 cabin crew licences as well as renewed 206 cabin crew medical.

    He  stated  that the CAA has issued aircraft maintenance engineering licenses to 68 engineers and has renewed the licenses of 64 Air Traffic Controllers, 34 Flight Dispatchers and has conducted exams for 1, 537 professionals of various categories.

    On issues of flight delays and cancellations, in the period under review, the NCAA boss said there were 16,880 delays in domestic operations and 2,443 for international operations with 253 flights cancelled domestically and 95 internationally.

    On missing baggage, he said  only 25 were delayed or missing domestically while 17, 893 cases of delayed or missing baggage were reported internationally.

     

  • NCAA issues first drones operator certificate to Oando

    NCAA issues first drones operator certificate to Oando

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday issued its first Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs)/Drones Operators Certificate (ROC) to Oando Plc.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Capt. Muhtar Usman, Director General, NCAA, presented the certificate to the Oando management at the Aviation House in Lagos.

    Usman noted that the organisation was pioneering the issuance of certificate to civil and private operators in the unmanned aircraft operations category.

    “Oando Reservoir and Production Services Ltd. received the certificate having satisfied the requirements and found competent to secure the safe operation of the aircraft type Lockheed Martin’s SN 248-255.

    “The certificate is for flights with the purpose of aerial work specifically Environmental Observation Monitoring and Protection,’’ he said.

    The director general advised the company to ensure strict compliance with all the requirements covering the approval.

    According to him, the company is expected to adhere to all operations specifications as contained in the approval document.

    Usman alerted the company to expect some initial minor challenges as it was a new initiative, adding that the NCAA would, however, was ready to respond promptly to the challenges.

    “Taking cognisance of the rapid pace in technological development, the RPAs regulatory framework is a work in progress.

    “Hence, we shall continually engage the industry stakeholders to review the regulations when necessary,’’ he said.

    Usman said the RPAs Operators Certificate would remain in force till June 15, 2019 and should be carried on site during authorised and approved operations.

    He said the NCAA would continue to provide opportunities and level playing field for all prospective and existing operators in the aviation industry and its allied services.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the certificate was received on behalf of Oando led Mr Anthony Sawyer, its General Manager, Operations.

    Sawyer commended the NCAA team for their professionalism and diligence during the process of the certification, which he described as rigorous.

    “Oando will definitely abide by all the conditions attached to the certificate especially with our pioneer status,’’ he said.

    To qualify for the certificate, applicants are expected to go through five phases including pre-application stage, formal application, document evaluation, demonstration and inspection, and final certification.

     

  • NCAA to ensure full compliance with FG’s executive order at airports

    NCAA to ensure full compliance with FG’s executive order at airports

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said on Tuesday that it had put in place measures to ensure full and sustained compliance with the Federal Government’s Executive Order at airports in the country.

    The General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said the agency’s Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, had directed all Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) to monitor the level of compliance with the order.

    Adurogboye said this was alongside their statutory oversight responsibilities at the airports, as enshrined in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2015 (Nig.CARs 2015).

    “All aviation parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Meteorological Agency (Nimet) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have since commenced compliance to the order.

    “On its part, NCAA has prepared a standard document outlining its core functions and services, appropriate charges, fees, licences, waivers and other tax-related processes, in adherence to the order.

    “The schedule contains mode of communication of official decisions to the various applicants for our sundry services,’’ Adurogboye said in the statement issued in Lagos.

    According to him, this information, together with other vital information, for ease of doing business in the Nigerian aviation sector are contained in the official website of the NCAA.

    He said the federal government had handed down the order with the view to eliminate the unnecessary bureaucracy that impedes business activities at Nigeria’s airports.

    Adurogboye added that it would improve safety, security and facilitation of passengers within and around the airports.

    He said the NCAA director general was in constant discussions with the heads of aviation agencies to ensure sustained adherence to the order by the agencies and continuous surveillance by the regulatory authority.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.