The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is at loggerheads with some stakeholders and professionals in the aviation industry with the recent issuance of Air Operators' Certificates, AOCs to some new airlines recently. While stakeholders claim the new licensees did not meet the requirements, NCAA says all safety measures were observed. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.
The sack of the erstwhile Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren in March by the Federal Government and the issuance of Air Operators' Certificates, AOCs, to three airlines in two months by the Acting Director-General of the agency, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolam, got tongue wagging and arouse suspicion from stakeholders and professionals in the sector. Some of the beneficiaries of the new AOCs are Hak Air and Westlink Airlines, which were issued AOCs after Demuren was removed.
Although, 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 business in the sector. With the system then, the intending airline was put under mild scrutiny by the industry regulator, NCAA.
But all that changed in 2006 when the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode ordered NCAA to embark on recapitalisation exercise for the airlines; aftermath of the crashes that consumed the sector between 2005 and 2006.
With the new regulations, it was easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an intending airline operator to get a new AOC. Such new operator was expected to pass through different phases set out by the industry policeman, NCAA, which could take up to two years or more before being issued an AOC.
Generally, an intending operator is expected to have sufficient personnel with the required experience for the type of operations requested, airworthy aircraft, suitable for the type of operations requested, acceptable systems for the training of crew and the operation of the aircraft (Operations Manual).
Also, a new intending operator is expected to have a quality system to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed, the appointment of key accountable staff, who are responsible for specific safety critical functions such as training, maintenance and operations.
Besides, there should be carriers Liability Insurance (for Airlines); operators are to have sufficient insurance to cover the injury or death of any passenger carried, proof that the operator has sufficient finances to fund the operation, operator should also have sufficient ground infrastructure, or arrangements for the supply of sufficient infrastructure, to support its operations into the ports requested. For Nigeria, NCAA included a minimum of 50 hours demonstration flights for intending operator.
An intending operator in the country's aviation industry is expected to fly empty with full crewmembers and NCAA inspectors for minimum of 50 hours.
The essence of the 50 hours demonstration flight according to NCAA is to ensure that the applicant can carry out scheduled operations with all the safety standards without compromise.
Although, the process of acquiring a new AOC as mapped out by NCAA received kudos and knocks from stakeholders and professionals alike, but most still believed that it is a way of ensuring safety standards in the sector. So, when three intending carriers were issued AOCs in two months, many wondered if the new airlines went through the rigorous process expected of a new carrier.
For instance, the President, Aviation Round Table, ART, Capt. Dele Ore insisted that the new beneficiaries of AOCs did not go through the usual process of acquiring it and called for a reversal of that decision by the incumbent Director-General in the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu. Ore alleged that the sector had been bastardised by "the cabals," emphasising that since the ouster of Demuren, any AOC issued within the period did not meet the required standards.
He insisted the main reason Demuren was removed was to pave way for the issuance of some AOCs, which he (Demuren) had consistently turned down, claiming that their promoters did not meet the standards. On the compulsory 50 hours demonstration flights for intending operators, Ore argued that such demonstration flights enable NCAA to know the readiness of the operators and their adherence to safety, but lamented that some of these safety factors were not observed by the new licensees He said, "Since Demuren left this place, you can be rest assured that any AOC issued within the period is fake.
Those AOCs issued do not meet the standards and it is something that the world should not even hear about, but you provoked me to say it. "I am telling you the main reason Demuren was removed was to thwart the sector, overrun the place and I am not tribalistic, but they have turned the place to a tribal union and the standards are lower because people who are not qualified have been brought into the system and it's dangerous for the new man to come in here and be able to recognise all these things and tackle them one by one."
Also, the outgoing Assistant Secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur collaborated Ore, saying that the AOCs signed under the period never met the required international standards.
Tukur however appealed to those who secured AOCs under Nkemakolam to return them to Akinkuotu for recertification, saying that without this, they would be violating set standards in the sector. He also, said that in case of accident, the victims may not be compensated as ICAO does not recognise signing of AOC by an Ag. Director-General. He said, "As far as this aviation industry is concerned, anybody whether you have an AOC or whatever safety certificate was signed by the former Ag. DG did not meet the set standards.
I am appealing to anybody who secured an AOC during the Ag. DG period to return such to the current DG for recertification and that is my appeal to them. "If not, even the passenger flying with such airline is not safe, it's a rule. They can go and look at the NCAA Act and that is what the professionals are saying."
He also denied the rumour that Demuren had signed some of the AOCs before he was removed from office. "The former DG never signed any document before he left. Even on the day he was sacked, he was to sign an Air Transport License, ATL, but because he was sacked that day, he couldn't sign any paper and he just left. He just walked away like that. What the Ag. DG was supposed to do was to hold on until the new DG comes in and go through them."
But, contrary to the claims of the stakeholders, the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu dismissed the allegation that the new AOCs did not meet the required safety standards. He told National Mirror in an interview that all the AOCs signed by his predecessor, Nkemakolam, in acting capacity went through the processes as laid down by the agency.
He maintained that workers of the agency would never compromise its safety standards, adding that all the departments in the regulatory authority did their jobs diligently. He said, "I've signed maybe one AOC since I came in, but all the AOCs that were signed before I came in went through due process.
There are several people who do their jobs in NCAA. I don't have any cause to believe that any AOC signed before I came in were inferiors. The process is the same; the issue of AOC I think has been over-publicised.
"Those who work for NCAA, I think they did their job thoroughly. So, I don't have a cause to doubt them. You can be sure that AOC or any other certification will not be issued to anyone who doesn't deserve it. But again, don't forget that AOC is not the only certificate that we issue."
Also, the Director of Airworthiness and Standards, NCAA, Mr. Benedict Adeyileka described the allegation as "very serious," maintaining that the agency would never compromise its safety standards. He said: "The different offices in NCAA will continue to function even in the absence of their directors. For instance, if the Director of Licensing is on holiday, does it mean we should shut down the office and no license would be issued until he comes back? Is that what we are asking for?."
