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Tag: Aviation News

  • NCAA reels out penalties of $3,500 fine for new travel rules

    NCAA reels out penalties of $3,500 fine for new travel rules

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to foreign airlines operating into Nigeria from the UK and South Africa that failure to adhere strictly to the new travel rules will attract penalties.

    The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 over the weekend issued new travel rules for passengers on direct flights from the UK and South Africa due to the variance of coronavirus discovered recently in these two countries.

    The penalties are says a fine of $3,500 for each passenger boarded and who fails to meet the new travel measures recently announced by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19.

    In a letter to all foreign airlines operating into the country from the United Kingdom and South Africa, the NCAA also notes that airlines will bear the burden of returning non-Nigerian defaulting passengers to point of embarkation for non-compliance to the new rules.

    “Punitive measures shall be taken against airlines who fail to comply with this All Operators Letters.  The punitive measures shall include but not limited to the following:

    “(i) Airlines shall be fines $3,500 (Three thousand five hundred dollars) for each defaulting passenger. (ii)Airlines may be required to return non-Nigerian defaulting passengers to point of embarkation. (iii) Repeated non-compliance by any airline will lead to the suspension of the airline’s approval/permit to fly into the country.”

    The letter signed by the Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu and addressed to all Country and Accountable Managers of all foreign airlines also  made it clear that airlines who continues to flaunt these new rules will have their permit or approval to fly into Nigeria suspended.

    The letter stresses the PTF requirements that all local and foreign operators flying in and out of Nigeria from the United Kingdom and South Africa must ensure their passengers present Pre-departure permit to fly, a QR Code generated  from Nigeria international travel portal and a documentary evidence of a Negative Covid-19 PCR test result done within 96 hours of boarding.

    “Thee new rules are applicable to scheduled and non scheduled flights from the United Kingdom and South Africa”.

    “Passengers must present the following two documents in order to be allowed to board their flights to Nigeria: (a) Pre-departure permitto fly/ QR code generated from the Nigeria International travel portal (https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng) showing evidence of payment for the post arrival day 7 COVID-19 PCR test and (b) Documentary evidence of a Negative COVID-19 PCR result done within 96 hours(4days) of boarding from verifiable laboratory or health facility.”

    “On arrival in Nigeria, passengers will be received and processed separately by public health authoritiesAll passengers will be required to self isolate for 7 days after arrival followed by COVID-19 PCR testPassengers with a post arrival Negative COVID-19 PCR result can exit self isolation and further management.”

  • Nigerian Government set to announce palliative for aviation industry

    Nigerian Government set to announce palliative for aviation industry

    The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika says next week, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to announce the amount allocated as palliatives to the aviation industry.

    The palliative according to the Minister was to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry.

    The Aviation Minister said this at a media briefing after the airport simulation exercise in Lagos ahead of restart of the industry. According to him, “all stakeholders from airlines food vendors, ground handlers, car hire and others would all be beneficiaries of the government financial assistance.”

    The Minister stated that the palliative may not necessarily be cash as everyone expected but there were means this would be achieved to alleviate the hardship stakeholders have faced due to the pandemic.

    In the area of aircraft safety, the aviation minister stressed that all technical issues have been carefully handled from the aircraft to the pilots, engineers, crew, air traffic controllers to ensure they are compliant in the area of proficiency, airworthiness to ensure flight safety.

    Sen. Sirika said there was no room for error in civil aviation and as such everything must be done in line with standards and recommended practices and the health protocols by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

    One of the airline operators, Mr Allen Onyema appealed to government to ensure that the palliative to airlines must be geared towards retaining the jobs of thousands of Nigerians in the sector.

  • Women Aviators donate items to NAMA

    Women Aviators donate items to NAMA

    In a bid to contribute towards flattening the Coronavirus curve especially in the aviation sector, professional women aviators in the industry under the aegis of International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) in Nigeria have donated face masks and hand sanitizers to the Nigerian Airspace management Agency (NAMA).

    Speaking while presenting the items on behalf of IAWA at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, NAMA Legal Adviser, Dr Anastasia Gbem said as working mothers who have put in several years in different areas of specialization, their intervention was inspired by the fact that the health of personnel in the aviation industry remained central to the growth and advancement of the industry itself.

    Gbem also noted that as a global organization of professional women advancing their  careers and promoting Nextgen professionals, “IAWA has a strong affiliation and has been networking with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Boeing and other critical stakeholders in the sector towards moving aviation forward.”   

    Receiving the items on behalf of the agency, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu recalled that from the inception of aviation, the contribution of women in the sector had been legendary, stressing that over time, women had broken several barriers and made useful impacts and contributions which have remained invaluable to the growth and development of the industry. While appreciating the gesture on behalf of management, the NAMA boss assured that the items would be judiciously used for the benefit of staff in the different directorates and departments of the agency.

  • COVID-19: FAAN express worry over dwindling revenue

    COVID-19: FAAN express worry over dwindling revenue

    The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has expressed worry over the dwindling revenue of the agency following the continued lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

    The Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, FAAN, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian, who disclosed this to newsmen monitoring the lockdown at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, said, FAAN Management would liaise with the federal government to see how the issue of revenue generation would be addressed to meet up with airport infrastructure challenge.

    Dr. Omozeghian explained that only recently April salaries of FAAN
    workers was paid saying that it was the directive of the federal
    government that workers salaries should be paid and to take care of
    other key critical projects in the aviation industry.

    “Revenue for FAAN has dwindled drastically, management will liaise
    with the Federal Government to see how this issue of revenue
    generation would be taken care of because it may be difficult to pay
    salaries but I know that a fact that with the federal government on
    our side, certain measures will be put in place.

    “Federal Government has said salaries must be paid and that is a key instruction from the FG and that will be taken care of as much as
    possible and that has been done.”

    Dr. Omozeghian noted that with the global problem, the global economy
    is in recession and FAAN is not excluded as it generates its revenue.

    He expressed optimism that the present situation would be quickly
    taken care of so that FAAN would not have issues with the payment of
    salaries and taking care of very key critical projects that are
    essential in the aviation industry.

    The FAAN Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, explained that FAAN
    would continue to provide services to approved airlines during the
    period of lockdown adding that evacuation of nationals of some
    countries have been carried out at various times.

    “We had Europeans, we had Americans, and we had British citizens, citizens of various nationals being evacuated at various times.
    Because we render essential services, some of our key staff has been on ground rendering these services ensuring that these flights and their operations are smooth and there is easy take off and landing and these have been some of the activities we have been carrying out and everything has been smooth.”

    He said the management of FAAN had given out palliatives to essential staff that come to work every day in order to make them happy at this critical time adding that the process of distribution was still ongoing.

  • Aero Contractors to pay half salary for April

    Aero Contractors to pay half salary for April

    The Managing Director, Aero contractors of Nigeria, ACN, Captain Ado Sanusi says some staff will receive half salary at the end of the month of April, 2020 despite the suspension of flights.

    According to Captain Sanusi in a statement, this is to assist in ameliorating the challenges presented by the covid-19 ravaging the world and has led to the suspension of operations.

     “By end of April 2020, the minimum some staff would receive would be half salary, to assist in ameliorating these challenging times.”

    He noted that the outbreak of the pandemic has affected business and revenue generation. “I fully understand and appreciate all our individual apprehensions because Aero has not sold a single seat since this Pandemic forced the suspension of operations. This has naturally affected our revenue with the attendant apprehension amongst staff.” 

    He explained that Management is exploring all options including seeking bailouts or loans from the Federal Government, FG and majority shareholders to assist with the payment of salaries should this suspension of operations exceed April, 2020.

    Captain Sanusi urges all staff to continue observing the Public Health Safety Protocols including personal hygiene and Social Distancing.  “We should remain vigilant and prayerful and guard against being used by destabilizing elements to cause division in our collective resolve to save our Company.” 

    “I remain committed to ensuring that Aero Contractors survives these challenges and by God’s Good Graces, we shall succeed.” The ACN boss called on Heads of Departments, HODs, Team Leaders and Union Leaders to encourage  staff members to understand that there is time for everything in life, and they should reflect on and be guided by, the famous quote of late President John F Kennedy: “Do not Dwell on what Aero can do for you, but be guided by what can we do for Aero to survive.”


    “For the second time in the history of Aero Contractors, the COVID-19 challenge threatens the survival of the company while we were already struggling to stabilize before COVID-19 presented additional operational & financial challenges to our efforts. The success of Aero is predicated on our collective resolve on how we surmount these challenges and emerge stronger.” 

  • Arik Air aircraft makes air return

    Arik Air aircraft makes air return

    An Arik Air aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG aircraft operating flight W3 740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Wednesday morning made an air return back to Lagos due to oil indication light.

    The aircraft was on its climb when the pilot in command noticed the indication light and as a safety precaution opted to return to airport of departure, Lagos. The Captain contacted the Lagos control tower to intimate the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) of his decision and activated emergency protocols. This is a standard operating procedure and in line with best safety standards.

    The Port Harcourt bound passengers have been provided another aircraft for their journey while our team of engineers are inspecting the Boeing that returned to ramp.

    Arik Air hereby assures its customers that it will not compromise the high safety standards the airline is known for.