Tag: NCAA

The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has directed that all phones and other electronic devices must be switched off during critical stages of flights.

The NCAA DG also directed all domestic airline operators to amend their operations manuals to reflect the new directive and submit them for immediate approval.

Najomo said the NCAA remained alert to future review of the requirement as aircraft technological and safety enhancement improves risk assessment evolves.

He stressed that the safety of the aviation sector is the safety of the country.

To tackle all forms of security threats at the airports, Najomo said: “We are going to do a mock response next week. We are going to carry it out in Lagos and Abuja. If you think you are going to be unruly passengers, we’re waiting for you.

“Aviation security personnel and law enforcement must be reinforced with training, professionalism, and clearly defined rules of engagement. All stakeholders, from airlines to intelligence partners, must work without silos to share threat intelligence and coordinate rapid response.

“We are part of the shift in the behaviour of the travelling public, who should see airlines as transactional partners rather than foes.

“To avoid ambiguity and perceived confusion, all mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phase of flight on all Nigerian airlines. There’s nothing like flight mode any longer. They must be switched off.

“Nigerian airline operators are, therefore, required to amend their operations manual to reflect this requirement and submit to the NCAA for approval.

“We remain alert to future review of this requirement as Aircraft Technological and Safety Enhancement Improved Risk Assessment evolves.

“As always, it remains the responsibility of the crew to communicate this requirement to passengers, and the responsibility of the passengers to comply with crew instructions. It’s all there in the manual that we approved from the CA.”

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Najomo noted that unruly acts in the aviation sector cannot be eradicated, saying it could be managed through effective collaboration by all stakeholders.

“The reality is that unruly acts can never be eliminated totally. So, we must be ready to manage and resolve these incidents, and if and when they occur, in line with the standard protocols, professionally, and responsibly.”

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Peter Jiya, attributed the challenges in the aviation sector to indiscipline and lack of professionalism.

He said: “Little sentiments here and there have not allowed us to do the needful. We are not to trade blames, but we must know that we have a responsibility to the passengers and we must do it without fear or favour.

“We have enough rules and regulations. What is left is its implementation in a professional manner, and other aviation agencies must work to complement the NCAA.”

NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, urged aggrieved passengers to send their complaints to the NCAA for resolution.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Friday, granted approval to the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Ilisan-Iperu, Ogun State, to begin commercial flight operations.

The approval given in line with Part 12.15.17 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) granted an Interim Aerodrome Operational Permit to operate scheduled commercial air transport flights at the airport

Following the approval, a major international aviation company is expected to operate two weekly cargo flights from London to the airport, which will also serve as the designated alternate airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

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Passenger flights are to be launched, starting with direct routes to Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The move is expected to boost trade, investment, and tourism in Ogun State.

It will be recalled that in December last year, regulatory agencies in the aviation industry, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet),  had visited the airport, hailing the quality of facilities put in place, as well as their level of completion.

They adjudged the airport as world-standard and a source of pride for Ogun State, saying that infrastructures at the airport, which included Control Tower, Weather Monitoring Areas, Runway, Fire Service Stations and the Apron, could rival any of their type around the world, adding that they remained one of the best in West Africa.

At the time, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards of NCAA, represented by Ango Mohammed, had noted a significant improvement in the state of facilities at the airport since his last visit, ”which is now at the level of any other tower in every standard airport around the globe.”

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed airlines to comply with the compensation of passengers for short-landed luggage.

The NCAA said it has observed non-compliance with the payment of N10,000 as first need compensation to domestic passengers whose luggage are short-landed and $170 compensation for passengers on foreign flights.

Speaking at a meeting with the airlines at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu said the Authority will henceforth sanction airlines over failure to pay the compensation as stipulated in the reviewed 2023 NCAA regulations.

The first needs are payments to help sort out the immediate needs of a passenger after missing her/his luggage.

Achimugu, while addressing station managers of some domestic airlines, said: “NCAA has sent out letters to the airlines about first needs, but there has not been much compliance in that regard despite clear regulations.

“Part 19 of the CAA Regulations of 2023 makes it very clear. If a passenger’s bag does not arrive with them, the airline for domestic flights must give that passenger N10,000 as first need compensation. 

“The airline also has seven days to search for that bag and reconcile the bag with the passenger. These bags must be delivered to the passengers at their addresses. The cost of that must be borne by the airline. 

“This is the regulation, and the time has come for us to comply with the regulations as best as possible. We understand from the regulatory perspective how challenging the airline business is in Nigeria, given our peculiar operating environment. Still, we must show that as an industry, we can operate at world-class standards.”

He also commended the airlines for their efforts despite the economic limitations.

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He said, “Given the challenges of the industry in Nigeria, our domestic airlines, are trying. I cannot but first of all commend you because it’s not easy. The margins are a little, we have a capacity problem, but we, as an authority, have also done the best we can do to support the airlines. However, so long as we’re in this business, we must show compliance with the regulations”. 

The Abuja Station Manager of NG Eagle, Tula Danjuma, said lack of facilities like conveyor belts at the terminals affects the operations of the airlines.

The Deputy Ground Operations Manager, Airpeace, Olisakwe Leonard, urged the regulatory agencies to domesticate some of their regulations.

The NCAA also advised airlines to make prompt announcement and serve refreshments whenever there is any form of flight disruption as stipulated by the regulations.