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Tag: NCAA

  • Crash: NCAA suspends Bristow’s choppers

    Crash: NCAA suspends Bristow’s choppers

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended indefinitely the use of Bristow Helicopters Limited’s Sikorsky S-76C++ aircraft type.

    This suspension was to enable the NCAA carry out a full scale audit on its operations with particular emphasis on the Sikorsky S-76C++ type.

    Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, the Director General of NCAA, Muhtar Usman, said as a responsible regulatory authority, it is important to stem the occurrence of air mishap in the country and ensure that players in the aviation industry carry out safe operations.

    The suspension of the aircraft type, he said does not in any way affect ongoing investigations into the crash by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    Usman also said the recurring accidents by Bristow helicopters will not in any way affect the safety audit to be carried out in the country by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The ICAO audit is slated for next month.

    Usman said, “I must mention that this suspension is not a vote of no confidence on the airline. It is to ascertain the adequacy and the propriety of the operating aircraft.”

     

  • Firm gets NCAA’s operation certificate

    Firm gets NCAA’s operation certificate

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to an Abuja-based private jet charter company, Izy Air Limited.

    At a short and colourful ceremony at the NCAA Office, Ikeja, Lagos where the certificate was presented to the President of Izy Air Limited, Alex Izinyon II by the NCAA Director of Operations and Training, Captain Abdullahi Sidi, the organisation said it was determined to give their clients the best in terms of services.

    After receiving the certificate, Mr. Izinyon said the company was pleased to offer its incorporated services as a provider of executive charter, aircraft sales, aircraft purchase, management services and operation services to its clients. Their extensive fleet of modern jet aircraft such as the luxurious Hawker 800/900XP series and the Bombardier Challenger 601/604 series are available for charter from the company’s base in Abuja.

    On what clients should expect from Izy Air Limited with the grant of the AOC, Mr. Izinyon said: ”With the acquisition of our AOC, we are very much positioned to carry out increased services for our clients. We hope to change business aviation in Nigeria. Throughout this year, we are focusing on improving our customer experience in all our flights; provide a more efficient management service programme for private jet owners centred around efficiency and reduced costs; and help corporations and individuals with more efficient and seamless air logistics services, within and outside Nigeria.

    “There are services we are rolling out this year that would change a lot of perceptions and make traveling much smoother for our flyers. We look forward to a lot of these expansions throughout this year.

    “Because of our focus on safety, our maintenance is carried out only by EASA and FAA approved organisations that have engineers of the highest experience for the specific aircraft types. We have a great blend of both foreign and local crew members, which provides a global flavour to our customers. We are happy to be in business and commence commercial operations. 

    “I believe that by meeting the legal requirements of operating as an aviation company in Nigeria, we are on the pathway to achieving our vision of providing excellent and efficient aircraft charter and management services, and becoming the market leaders in Africa by 2020.”

  • NCAA lifts sanction on oil firm

    NCAA lifts sanction on oil firm

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted the sanction it imposed on Lubcon, an oil company, from supplying aviation fuel to domestic and foreign airlines at airports in Nigeria.

    The Group Executive Director of the firm, Adesoji Fagbemi, disclosed this while speaking to our correspondent.

    The firm was suspended a few months ago for its lack of requisite facilities at some airports to supply aviation fuel.

    The lifting of the ban, according to Fagbemi, was contained in a letter to the company signed by the Director of Airworthiness Standards, Engr. Benedict Adeyileka, on behalf of the Director General of NCAA.

    The letter said the suspension was lifted as a result of the certification of Lubcon’s aviation fuel supply facilities by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and NCAA.

    The certification, he said, was preceded by verification visits by top officials of the two regulatory agencies.

    Fagbemi said: “The certification of the LUBCON Aviation Depot has resulted in the facility becoming one of the best in the industry. This is a confirmation of the enviable standards maintained by LUBCON.

     

  • SAHCOL chief accuses NCAA of negligence

    SAHCOL chief accuses NCAA of negligence

    Managing Director of Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Dr Olu Owolabi has accused the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of negligence in the performance of its regulatory oversight functions.

    Speaking in an interview in Lagos against the backdrop of unauthorised use of equipment to disembark passengers by Aero Airlines last week, he said such unsafe practices happened because the regulatory authority is not carrying out its oversight functions on airports and airlines effectively.

    Owolabi said the ugly development had become a wake-up call for the NCAA to insist that before any airport could be certified for any operations, either for passenger or cargo, requisite operational equipment that is serviceable and calibrated must be provided.

    He also slammed domestic carriers engaging in self-handling for ground and passengers operations of taking unsafe decisions that could jeopardise safe flight operations at airports nationwide.

    Owolabi said airlines that engage in such unsafe practices as a means to save costs are carrying out operations which are at variance with global internationally prescribed standards and practices.

    He said there is need for government and domestic carriers to interface with ground handling companies to come out with the minimum operational equipment that would be required for any airport or certain category of flights and aircraft type to fly into any airport.

    The SAHCOL chief insisted that before airports are built, ground handling operators should be engaged at the design and construction stage to ensure that global requirements in terms of ancillary support equipment for passenger and cargo handling are put in place.

    He said though it may be impossible for ground handling firms to be engaged at every airport by domestic carriers, the managers of such airport must ensure that ground handling facilities and equipment are procured to be professionally managed by certified players in the sector.

    Owolabi said: “It is very unprofessionally, if not barbaric, for any airline to disembark passengers using unauthorized equipment be it a ladder or whatever. Any airline that does such should be adequately sanctioned by the regulatory authority.

    “What this has exposed is the underbelly of safety and security at our airports. Why should any airline do self handling, because they do not want to patronize any of the ground handling companies? How much do they even pay for our services, which require us to buy expensive equipment?

    While insisting that it is the height of unprofessional practice, Owolabi said what this means is that NCAA should step up its oversight duties.

    He said some state governments that manage airports have engaged SAHCOL to assist in providing ground handling to keep in line with global practices. “Any state government that wants to build an airport must be mandated to ensure that minimum ground handling equipment are put in place,” he said.

  • NCAA to airlines: remit over N6b debts from ticket sales

    NCAA to airlines: remit over N6b debts from ticket sales

    Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed concern about airlines’ failure to remit charges collected for Federal Government’s agencies.

    Domestic airlines owed the authority over N6 billion from the five per cent ticket, charter and cargo sales charges collected from the public.

    The charges, according to the NCAA, were paid to airlines to avoid collection before flights, thereby creating confusion and delays.

    In a statement yesterday, NCAA’s spokesman, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, called on the affected airlines to offset the debts, which were stunting the growth of aviation agencies.

    The statement reads:  “The NCAA notices with serious concern the huge debts of airlines as a result of failure to settle promptly invoices as at when due.

    “This poses serious financial challenges to parastatals that benefit from the five per cent ticket, charter and cargo sales charges.

    “Consequently, the NCAA would be pleased to see that the airlines put plans in place to liquidate all outstanding indebtedness. The settlement of those debts will assist the authority fulfill its statutory obligations to the country and the world.

    “The NCAA has tried many times  to get  the money from airlines that sometimes falsify and misrepresent the payment of the charges to the travelling public, accusing them of concealing the real reason behind the charges.”

    Adurogboye added that the five per cent charge was enshrined in the Civil Aviation Act and embedded in passengers’ fares, adding that airlines were supposed to collect it from passengers and pay to the NCAA.

    He explained that in line with the Civil Aviation Act 2006, the NCAA was saddled with the collection of five per cent sales charge on all tickets originating from Nigeria, cargo operations and charter/contract flights.

    After collection, the ticket sales charge is shared among aviation agencies namely: Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) as approved by the Civil Aviation Act 2006.

    He denied insinuations  that airlines were paying five per cent of their earnings to the NCAA as ticket sales charge.

    Adurogboye said: ‘’I wish to correct a serious misconception being sold to the public by some airlines. NCAA has reports that some airlines are purporting that the five per cent TSC is being paid to us from their earnings. This, they say, is adversely affecting their operations.

    “This is absolutely false and a misrepresentation. The TSC is content charged in the ticket sold to passengers. The airlines’ role is to collect and remit to the regulatory authority.”

  • NCAA sanctions Aero Contractors

    NCAA sanctions Aero Contractors

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed an applicable sanction on Aero Contractors Airlines in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).

    According to the NCAA, although  the incident did not result in any mishap, the aircraft is airworthy and the crew well qualified to operate the flight.

    However, it is viewed as a breach and conequently a fine running into millions of naira was imposed on the airline to serve as deterrent to other airline operators.

    In a letter conveying the sanction, its Director-General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, said the action of Aero Contractors Airline in allowing the use of a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 – 500 aircraft in a non-emergency situation, is contrary to its approved aircraft handling manual.

    Therefore this is a violation of Part 9.2.4.2(b) of Nig.CARs  which part attracts a civil penalty, he said, adding that all the relevant agencies made useful submissions during the course of the investigation.

    ‘’In view of the safety implications of your action, you are hereby sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of Part 20.2.3(15) of the Nig.CARs,’’ the letter added.

    Although the incident did not result in any mishap, the aircraft is airworthy and the crew well qualified to operate the flight.

    In addition, the captain of the flight was similarly fined for failing to comply with the provisions contained in the aircraft manual.

    The NCAA therefore wishes to reiterate its earlier warning that all airlines should endeavour to adhere strictly to Civil Aviation Regulations, the regulator said.

  • Expert lists obstacles to aviation growth

    …Canvass intervention guarantee funds , infrastructure tax 

    An aviation finance expert and managing director of Katari Systems Limited , Ali Mohammed Katari on Tuesday identified high interest rates charged by commercial banks as part of the funding challenges militating against the growth of the sector .

    The expert said until issues affecting access to funds and poor credit rating of Nigeria is addressed it will be difficult to attract capital to the sector .

    He spoke while delivering a paper entitled :” Financing Nigerian Aviation : The Options for growth “, at the Nigerian Travel Mart first anniversary colloquium in Lagos .

    The expert said the theme of colloquium :”Leapfrogging Nigerian Aviation to Match Her Growth” is very relevant given developments in the sector , where the expected potentials have not been adequately harnessed .

    Katari listed other funding obstacles to the growth of Nigerian aviation to include over regulated financial system, which according to him impedes on simple and genuine foreign currency transaction.

    He also listed  over regulation and expensive procedures by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),a development  he said impedes on start-up airlines.

    He lamented that poor hostile business environment is not helping matters to bring about conducive climate for investors .

    He alleged that the exploitation by NCAA using multiple inspections of aircraft, training facilities and maintenance facilities have combined to  impede  the growth of aviation .

    On financing model for Nigerian aviation, he canvassed targeted and effective subsidy from the Federal Government  through intervention guarantee funds with very low interest rate with longer tenure  for repayment .

    He said there should be reduction of multiple taxation that impedes airlines revenue and creation of easier access to foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

  • NCAA suspends five oil marketers

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has directed five oil marketing companies to stop supplying aviation fuel, known as Jet A1 to airlines due to lack of depot facilities.

    This is contained in a circular dated Nov. 9 and signed by the Director of Airworthiness Standards, Mr Benedict Adeyileka, on behalf of the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman.

    A copy of the circular was made available to aviation correspondents at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The affected companies include Jushad Oil and Gas Limited, Lubcon Limited, Ascon Oil Company Limited, Acon Petroleum Limited and Star Orient Aviation Limited.

    The circular, with reference number: NCAA/DAW/AD. 1104/AOL052/VOL.1 was addressed to Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

    It was entitled, “Notice of Suspension of Some Companies from Providing Aviation Fuel Supply Services to Airlines at Airports in Nigeria.’’

    The circular said the companies were suspended because they had no depots and therefore should not be engaged in the distribution of aviation fuel at the airports.

    “This is to notify you that the authority is in receipt of a letter from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that the under listed companies have no depot facilities and should not be engaged in aviation fuel distribution at the airport.

    “The integrity and competences of these companies cannot be ascertained by the DPR and it is advised that they should be disallowed from further supply of aviation fuel to airlines located in Nigeria,’’ it said.

    The circular noted that NCAA had directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to deny the companies access into airports in Nigeria, including their aviation fueling vehicles and personnel till further notice.

    “You are hereby required to suspend the fueling of your aircraft by any of these companies until further notice,” NCAA directed the airlines and urged them to ensure strict compliance.”

  • No travel ban on Nigeria, says NCAA 

    No travel ban on Nigeria, says NCAA 

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) clarified yesterday that there is no travel ban that could lead to possible closure of the nation’s airspace.

    The clarification was sequel to speculations that some aviation unions including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN) were planning to shut the airspace on account of issues bordering on the welfare of NCAA’s workers.

    NCAA’s spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, in an interview yesterday said the airspace remains open to flight operations at all times.

    He said the NCAA cannot be closing the airspace it is meant to guard.

    Adurogboye said: “We learnt that aviation unions have been circulating some information alleging a travel ban to Nigeria with effect from tomorrow midnight.

    “I hereby declare to the whole world that it is not true. Nigerian airspace is open to flight operations at all times.

    “NCAA cannot be closing airspace it is meant to guard. Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of air travellers.

    Such information should be disregarded. We are investigating the source. The issue we had with our workers union is being resolved.”

    He said a peace meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow between the warring unions and management.

    “As a prelude to that meeting, the union has on Friday October 23, 2015 suspended their planned strike action,” Adurogboye stated.

  • Strike: Aviation unions give NCAA 14-day ultimatum

    Trade unions in the aviation sector have given the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) a 14-day ultimatum to promote their members who were due for promotion or risk industrial action.

    The ultimatum was issued by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    The unions accused the NCAA management of nonchalance to the promotion of their members which they claimed had been due since January 2015.

    NUATE General-Secretary, Mr Olayinka Abioye, told aviation correspondents that the unions were prepared to ground activities in the sector if the concerned authority failed to yield to their requests.

    Abioye said it was a worrisome development that those that were due for promotion were yet to be interviewed. He recalled that NUATE had, at its congress on Sept.30, given the management till Oct.14 to effect the promotion of the concerned workers.

    Abioye urged the management of NCAA to respect the terms and conditions of employment as contained in the condition of service entered into by all parties.