The NCAA has debunked media reports that First Nation Airlines and Aero Contractors folded up. A statement by the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman counters every reports in the media.
“One of the airlines, Aero Contractors 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”.
“In other words, 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 operation temporarily while other aircra 1 arrive in due course”.
“However, NCAA’s Regulations provides a window for such operator to embark on non-schedule operations in the interim”.
“The 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 Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) wishes to reiterate 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 to ensure compliance.” he said.
The confusion as to what is really happening would get clearer as the days goes by.
