16th April, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended three private jet operators for operating commercial flight in violation of its provisions.
Acting Director General, NCAA, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday said back in 2023, the use of private jets for commercial purposes had gotten the attention of the Minister Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who issued marching orders for the cessation of such acts.
He said subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA had issued a stern warning to holders of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) against engaging in the carriage of passenger cargo or mail for hire and reward.
Najomo stated that the Authority had also 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 annexture provision of their PNCF and Part 91.14 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
“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 that’s a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements,” he said.
He added that “All PNCF holder will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.
“This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.”
Najomo said it must be emphasized that only aircraft listed in the operation specifications of the AOC were authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services.
He stated that any of those AOC holders who wished 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,” he said.