Th e Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has constituted a fi ve-man panel to hear the appeal fi led by First Nation Airways. Th e airline had lodged an appeal following a fi ne of N33.5 million which the NCAA imposed on it for alleged violation of safety regulations. Th is was contained in a letter written to the airline on May 9, 2017, with reference number NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1- 06/17/163. “During the hearing, the appeal panel may, at its discretion, allow time for oral submissions if deemed necessary,” said NCAA.
It would be recalled that FNA and one of its pilots were fi ned N32 million and N1.5 million naira respectively for violation of safety regulations in November, last year. In a letter conveying the penalties, the carrier was ordered to pay a sum of N32, 000,000 while the pilot-in-command was fi ned N1, 500,000. NCAA had said that the pilot operated 16 scheduled fl ights between November 2 and 8 2016 with expired medical certifi cate which invariably rendered his pilot’s licence invalid. During a ramp inspection on Airbus A319 aircraft marked 5N-FNE at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), NCAA discovered that the pilotin-command was not in personal possession of a current medical certifi cate neither was it readily accessible.
NCAA said the pilot admitted violating the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) while the airline demonstrated lack of thorough knowledge of the requirements of the Regulations. “Th e airline has contravened the Regulations by allowing a fl ight crew member to be restored to operate a total of 16 scheduled fl ights on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th November, 2016. “Th ese operations were carried out while his medical certifi cate had expired since on the 1st November, 2016, thereby rendering his pilot’s licence subsequently invalid from that date,” said NCAA. Professionals, stakeholders to discuss air transport growth at summit Experts and stakeholders in the aviation industry are set for a summit that will take a critical look at ways airport business could help deliver total air transport growth and ensure it breaks even. Speaking in an interview, the coordinator of the event tagged ‘Airport Business Summit,’ Mr. Fortune Idu, said the theme of the summit ‘Re-positioning the Airport Business to Sustain Air Transport Growth’ was chosen to underscore the importance of airports as catalysts for the growth of air transport and the airlines. “Th e aviation industry actually relies on the stability and sustainability of the airport itself to grow because the profi t margin for the airlines is always very small.
“For the aviation industry to thrive, we need an airport that has the capacity to provide services that are measurable to what the airlines are paying to enable them sustain in their operations. So repositioning the airport business to sustain air transport can…support the airlines to break even,” he said. Idu said professionals and investors including airlines, aircraft manufacturers and handling companies would attend the summit. Idu said the summit “is geared towards the industry itself, promotion of airport development and doing it right. “Our airports lack investments; they are not growing. With Airport Business Summit, we try to emphasize the business side of airport development, and help people who are interested to come into the industry. “You have all types of activities going on around the airport. Th e summit is not limited to only aviators alone. It is open to both the core aviators and the nonaeronautic service providers. You have retail shops and all kinds of businesses around the airport. So airport is actually a real estate.”
