By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permit of three private jet owners for violating the terms of their permits and using their jets for commercial purpose.
Recall that the NCAA had earlier deepened surveillance on holders of permit for non commercial flights (PNCF) over several reports of using their aircraft for hire and reward thereby violating their permit.
But the NCAA in a statement issued on Tuesday, 16 April, 2024 through its acting Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said following its heightened surveillance at least three private operators had been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
“In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To further sanitize the general aviation sector, I have directed a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements.
“All PNCF holders will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours,” the agency said.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo’s attention had been drawn to the high prevalence of illegal commercial private charter operations.
This prompted him to issue a marching order to the NCAA to stop the act.
The Authority therefore deployed its officials to monitor activities of private jets at terminals across the airports in Nigeria.
“As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
“This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.
“It must be emphasized that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it into the AOC operations specification.
“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronize any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA, when they wish to procure charter operations services.
“Finally, NCAA encourages the legitimate players in the aviation industry to report the activity of such unscrupulous elements to the he authority promptly for necessary action,” the NCAA DG said in the statement.
