Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has rallied behind the controversial rigorous process of obtaining an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) and its revalidation every two years.
The apex regulatory body, in reaction to operators’ call for review, said the current procedure aligns with global best practices and is tailored towards safe operations.
In a related development, a new scheduled carrier, Green Africa, has been awarded AOC. Following the successful completion of all five phases of the AOC application process, Green Africa was recently presented with the AOC at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.
With the certificate, Green Africa will be able to commence operations in accordance with its initial route network unveiled earlier in June.
Airline operators recently faulted the two-year validity period on the AOC and the tedious process, describing them as detrimental to sectoral growth.
The operators said the routine requirement of going the whole hog of revalidation every two years is alien to rules of commercial operating procedure of the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO), which oversees global aviation regulations and policies.
Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said the authority would not compromise in the enforcement of safety standards, regulatory requirements and Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in conformity with all regulatory requirements and ICAO’s SARPs in the initial issuance and renewal of all AOC irrespective of the personality or organisation involved.
Nuhu noted that the five-phase AOC process – both initial and renewal – is not peculiar to Nigeria as it is an ICAO requirement (ICAO Annex 6 Parts I and III and ICAO Document 8335) which is captured in Nig.CARS 2015 Part 9 on AOC Certification.
The DG added that Nig.CARS 2015 were established with the participation and consultation of all industry stakeholders and must be complied with to the full extent until such a time there is a review of the regulations.
This is the reason for the name: Nigerian Civil Regulations (Nig.CARS), rather than NCAA Regulations.
Nuhu bemoaned allegations of sharp practices and inexperience inspectors at the NCAA, describing the claims as false and a subtle attempt to tarnish the image of the apex body.
However, he reckoned that the NCAA is not a perfect entity and had its own peculiar challenges and difficulties like all organisations.
He extended a hand of friendship to all industry players for the benefit of the nation and stressed that the NCAA was a partner in progress rather than the proverbial industry policeman.
