The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has described as laughable the insinuation making the rounds that some airlines operating in Nigeria borrow aircraft to deceive the regulatory body into issuing them Air Operators Certificates (AOC) license.
Speaking for the NCAA yesterday, the spokesperson, Sam Adurogboye, who described the position as impossible, cited the insistence of NCAA on strict procedure of issuance of airline licenses as one of the processes to ensure that no airline cuts corner in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulation.
Adurogboye made the clarification while talking about the allegations that an airline borrowed aircraft from another carrier to enable it obtain its AOC from the NCAA.
“For clarifications purposes, Omni Blu Aviation Limited got her AOC certification in 2015 and as at today, referencing the NCCA document and Omni Blu Operational Specification, Omni Blu has five helicopters and three aeroplanes on her AOC. – HS123-850XP (5N-SPL); Challenger 604 (N880ET); and Boeing 737 Freighter (5N-IZB).
“For Helicopters, Omni Blu Aviation has, Two Agusta Westland 139 (5N-BTR) and (5N-BQB), Two Bell 4125 (D-HIPP), (D-HAFW) and One Bell 212 (D-HBZT).
“There are five processes for granting of AOC to any interested persons. These requirements are pre-application phase. This entails initial enquiry or request about NCAA’s certification; obtaining of CAR and advisory; provision of forms to prospective applicants’ NCAA receives and review PASI for acceptance and completeness.
“The next stage is document compliance phase which involves certification team reviewing applicant’s documents for compliance acceptance/approval. This also includes formal application, letter of compliance, training and acceptance.
“The other AOC process is called Demonstration and Inspection Phase which involves evaluation by certification team, and applicant’s demonstration of compliance’ evaluation of management effectiveness, inspection of station(s) facilities, flight operations, maintenance and records.”
According to Adurogboye, the requirements for obtaining an AOC, for an intending airline operator vary from one country to the other, but at a time in Nigeria, AOC for intending carriers could be acquired with an applicant indicating interest to set up an airline in the sector
The NCAA insistence on strict procedure of issuance of airline licenses, he said was one of the processes to ensure that no airline cuts corner in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) regulation.
This has come at a great expense to prospective operators who find it extremely difficult to go through the tortuous five stages of certification. The aviation regulatory body has even made it more difficult and stringent to
For Helicopters, Omni Blu Aviation has, Two Agusta Westland 139 (5N-BTR) and (5N-BQB), Two Bell 4125 (D-HIPP), (D-HAFW) and One Bell 212 (D-HBZT).
While saying there were five processes for granting AOC to any interested persons, Adurogboye added: “Not a few believe that the tough conditions for acquiring AOC have made over 26 airlines to stall processes for their licenses.”
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