Stories by Ime Akpan
Lagos
The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhktar Usman, has said that all owners of foreign registered private aircraft operating in the country who have failed to regularise their documentation in conformity with their operational status will face severe sanctions.
Usman said in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos that NCAA was set to commence the regime of stipulated sanctions on the erring operators.
“The sanctions will include grounding of operations, revocation of license and outright seizure of aircraft forthwith. The use of these operators’ aircraft for commercial operations is at variance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation, Nig.CARs 9.1.1.4 (a) (b) which is tantamount to gross violation,” he said.
He reiterated that all private operators that have been issued with NCAA’s Flight Operations Clearance Certificate (FOCC) and Maintenance Clearance Certificate (MCC) in line with Nig.CARs 8.2.1.9, “are by these certification authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for private operation only and not for hire and reward.”
Usman said the notification provided a window of opportunity for all foreign registered privately operated aircraft owners to regularise their documentation. “This will enable them operate a legitimate commercial operation in line with the NCAA’s regulation if they so desire,” he said.
It would be recall that the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, had set up a committee to take a holistic appraisal of the operations of private jet owners.
The committee, which had already submitted its report, recommended the revocation of a defaulting operator’s license, confiscation of the aircraft until the payment of a mandatory fine of $100,000 before the equipment is released.