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Tag: Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority

  • NSIB releases seven final reports, issues twenty safety recommendations to NCAA, FAAN, others

    NSIB releases seven final reports, issues twenty safety recommendations to NCAA, FAAN, others

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) formerly known as Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released seven final reports of accidents and serious incident air mishaps that occurred within Nigerian airspace to the public.

    The Bureau also issued a total of twenty (20) safety recommendations addressed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria( FAAN) the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the affected airlines, among others,  as safety measures to prevent future reoccurrence of similar incidents.

    Addressing newsmen during the presentation of the reports at the Bureau Headquarters, Safety House, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, NSIB Director General, Engr. Akin Olateru, disclosed that the newly released reports make a total of 82 aircraft accident reports released by the Bureau since its inception in 2007 while a total of 63 reports were released by the current leadership from 2017 till date.

    He said this year alone, seven accident reports and 30 safety recommendations have been released. Olateru added  that, the Bureau has also released a total of two hundred and seventy-two ( 272) safety recommendations since the inception of the Bureau of which a total of One hundred and ninety-one ( 191) of the recommendations were equally released by the current management.

    He also assured of NSIB commitment to the quality investigation of accidents and serious incidents through improving processes, human capacity and equipment, among others.

    “We remain committed through improving our processes, human capacity and equipment, to fulfil our mandate effectively, purposefully, and professionally”, he said.

    Occurrences reports released by the Bureau include the serious incident involving  Bristow helicopters Nigeria Ltd with Registration marks 5N BSN which occurred at Port Harcourt Military Airport (NAF BASE)  on the 9th March, 2020.

    The report of the serious incident involving ATR 72 with Registration Marks 5N- BPG owned and operated by Overland Airways Ltd which occurred at Ilorin Airport on 29th November, 2014.

    The serious incident involving B737-300 with Registration Marks 5N- BUO belonging to Air Peace Ltd, which occurred at FL 310 enroute Enugu from Lagos on 14th December 14th. 2018

     Also released was the report of a serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125 -8008 with  Registration Marks 5N- B00 operated by Gyro Aviation Ltd which occurred at Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 16th July 2020.

     The report of the serious incident involving a Dornier 328-100 with Registration Marks 5N- DOX operated by Dornier Aviation Nigeria-  AIEP (DANA) Ltd., which occurred at  port Harcourt Military Airport on 23rd  January 2019 was also released.

    Also released by the Bureau was the final report of the serious incident involving Airbus 330- 243 aircraft operated by Middle Airlines with Registration Marks OD- MEA and  parked Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines with Registration Marks TC EJC, which occurred at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria, on 29th July, 2020.

    The released reports also included serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125 800B aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N- BOO operated by Gyro Aviation Ltd., which occurred at Osubi Airstrip, Warri, Nigeria on 10th September 2020.

     The Bureau’s Director General in his final remarks said the details of the reports, which include the factual information, findings, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations on the investigations are available for download on the Bureau ‘s website.

  • FAAN to take delivery of ten fire trucks, 14 boarding bridges

    FAAN to take delivery of ten fire trucks, 14 boarding bridges

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is to take delivery of 10 brand new fire trucks and 14 manufactured passenger boarding bridges before the end of this year.

    Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu who disclosed this at the Airports, Airlines, Business Summit and Expo, AABSE in Lagos said, the deliveries of these equipment are to improve passenger service delivery and better airport experience.

    He said, for the effective handling of these facilities, 15 airports fire and rescue instructors have been trained in the United Kingdom and over 4,500 personnel trained by the Airport Council International, ACI instructors.

    According to him, the Ease of Doing Business geared towards ensuring seamless airport experience is not just facilities alone but also the personnel who manage these facilities for customer satisfaction.

    In line with the theme of the summit: ‘Fixing the Broken Link’ Captain Yadudu said, all noticeable broken links in seamless air transportation system were being addressed with many ongoing projects some of which had been completed and 80% delivered.

    These he listed to the installation of Airfield Ground Lighting System (AGLS) at Lagos Domestic runway, provision of carry-on Baggage Screening machines, hold-on Baggage Screening machines, Cargo Screening machines and 3D Body Scanners.

    The MD FAAN also mentioned the launch of the Aviation Portal for the provision of real-time information to passengers and feedback from them, approval for the establishment of an aviation-based centralized Contact Centre to be operated by FAAN as part of what had been done.

    “The provision of thirty-six (36) customer service work stations, one hundred and twenty (120) office chairs across airports, enabling of cashless policy for departments and agencies involved in the collection of payments for services at the airports.

    “Enabled compliance with single passenger interface by providing the necessary infrastructure for our partner agencies, CBN is assisting in the setting up of an online payment system to enable the full implementation of our Forex cashless policy, Increased security and safety within the airport environment by ensuring constant lighting through the walkways and the car park for the safety and comfort of our airport users”.

    The Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu stressed the need for airlines to remain focused onmaintaining customer trust and pave ways for quick recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Captain Nuhu represented by the Director, Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, DAAS in the NCAA, Mr. Mohammed Odunowo urged the airlines to recognize the role of mobile apps for day-of-travel communications to avoid the problems of delays, cancellations and others associatedwith air travel.

    “Airlines must not display or advertise wrong flight times. In the event of a flight disruption the airline must provide timely information to passengers and live up to their obligation to provide care, refreshments, meal, refund/re-routing on another flight in a timely manner) and in adherence to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2015 Part 19”.

    He also stated that, the airport manager must ensure improvement in the airport ambience, especially in the seating, restrooms, restaurants and shopping areas, check-in counters as these serve as confidence driver and a guarantee that the airport is a safe place for its customer, the passenger.

    “Airlines and airport operators must adopt the use of technology, smartphones etc. touch point kiosks for check-in so as to reducethe cluster of persons around the check-in areas and clearly marked bag drop of zone, parking zones, seating areas, lavatories, Ambulifts and wheelchairs and Keeping all measures in place is certainly a confidence driver and a guarantee that the airport is a safe place for its customer, the passenger”.

  • Safety: Azman Air operations grounded as NCAA suspends All Boeing 737 aircraft fleet due to series of incidents

    Safety: Azman Air operations grounded as NCAA suspends All Boeing 737 aircraft fleet due to series of incidents

    All Azman Air services limited aircraft, Boeing 737 have been suspended by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), due to the series of incidents involving the aircraft.

    The suspension is coming on the heels of the recent serious incident involving an Azman aircraft that had a burst tyre on landing at the Lagos airport on the 16th of February.

    The Director General, NCAA Capt. Musa Nuhu, who announced this via a press statement says, the suspension of Azman air Boeing 737 aircraft is in pursuant to Section 35 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3 (A) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015.

    Capt. Nuhu explains that, the suspension is to enable the Authority conduct an audit of the airline to determine the root cause of the incidents, and recommend corrective actions to forestall recurrence.

    “We regret the inconvenience this action may cause to the public, particularly to Azman air passengers but the need to ensure the safety of Air Transport and protect the public interest, cannot be compromised”.

    He adds, ” we will continue to ensure compliance to its regulations in the interest of safety and will view any violations seriously.

    Early this morning the message on airline’s twitter page read, “Due to our strong stance on safety, @AzmanAir will be undergoing an Audit of its safety processes as supervised by the regulators”.

    “In this regards, All our operations is hereby suspended”.

    ” We are on our toes to restore operations within a short period”.

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  • PTF lift suspension of Emirates Airline

    PTF lift suspension of Emirates Airline

    …as airline pledges to comply

    The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has made a U-turn in the suspension of the operations of Emirates flights into Nigeria.

    The PTF through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, about 24 hours ago suspended the airlines for violating the PTF COVID-19 directives regarding Rapid Antigen Testing, RDT for departing passengers.

    The NCAA has again sent a letter to the Emirates airlines Country Manager that it has reversed its earlier decision with the action taken by the UAE government to stop its airlines from carrying the test.

    “We have carefully read the response to our letter NCAA/DG/AIR11/16/285 of 4th February 2021 and arrived at the understanding that the UAE government has granted approval to Emirates airlines to withdraw the requirements for Rapid Antigen Testing, RDT, prior to departure of Emirates flights from Nigeria with immediate effect until such a time that the required infrastructure is made available by the Nigerian government”.

    The lifting of the suspension is the immediate response of the UAE government granting approval to Emirates airlines to withdraw the requirements for Rapid Antigen Testing, RDT, prior to departure of Emirates flights from Nigeria with immediate effects until the required infrastructure and logistics are put in place by the Federal Government.

    The Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu says it hopes that the airline will continue to comply with the directives of the PTF on Covid-19 and other Protocols of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    According to him, the the Airline will be informed of ongoing enforcement actions by the NCAA with regards to the establishment non-compliance to PTF directives and Protocols as enumerated in the letter sent to the airline on the 4th February 2021.

    1. Emirates Airlines no longer requires passengers to carry out pre-departure RDT.
    2. No laboratory has been approved by the PTF and other regulatory agencies to carry out RDT for incoming or departing passengers.
    3. The PTF will inform all Nigerians of any change(s).
    5. In response to the ongoing development, the airline spokesman in a statement says;

    “Emirates can confirm that we will continue to operate services to Abuja and Lagos. We are strongly committed to Nigeria, and would like to thank the local authorities for their trust and support. We look forward to
    continuing to safely connect our customers, and meet air travel demand from Nigeria to and through Dubai to Emirates’ global network.”

  • FG suspends Emirates Airlines from operating into Nigeria

    FG suspends Emirates Airlines from operating into Nigeria

    Irked by the violations of its directives on testing of departing passengers, the Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19 has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to place a ban on Emirates airlines operations into the country.

    The ban is communicated in a letter dated 04 February, 2021 to the country Manager of emirates Airlines Victoria Island, Lagos and signed by the Director General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu.

    The following are also copied the Chairman PTF, Minister of Aviation and the Minister of Health.

    Others are National Coordinator PTF, Director General, UAE, General Civil Aviation Authority, MD NAMA and MD FAAN.

    Giving reasons for the ban, the letter says it is because of the continued airlift of passengers from Nigeria using the Rapid Antigen Tests, RDT conducted by laboratories that are neither approved or authorized by the appropriate regulatory body which is in fragrant violation of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 directive.

    “This is a violation of paragraph 5 of the NCAA letter with REF: NCAA/DG/AIR11/16/281 of 02 February 2021 addressed to your good self. The paragraph clearly states, “Based on the forgoing and to enable the Nigerian government to put in place the needed infrastructure and logistics for COVID-19 RDT testing for departing passengers, the PTF has directed that Emirates Airlines should either accept passengers without RDT pending when the infrastructure and logistics are put in place or suspend its flights to and from Nigeria until such a time when the required infrastructure and logistics are fully established and implemented”.

    Captain Musa Nuhu in the letter says, the airline has not been in compliance with the two options given by the PTF as records of operated flights by Emirates airlines from Lagos and Abuja obtained from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA has shown.

    “This is in addition to an advert by Emirates airlines for RDT by the Travel clinic and medical Mobile Laboratory in Lagos and Abuja, two organization that are not approved by the regulatory bodies and PTF to conduct RDT for departing passengers”.

    He says, the PTF takes these violations of its instructions seriously and as therefore directed that “Emirates should suspend its operations to Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) effective 72 hours from midnight (2300z) on Thursday 04 February, 2021”.

    “During the 72 hours leeway, Emirates airlines is only authorized to bring in passengers into Nigeria while outbound passengers are not allowed”.

    “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority will impose additional sanctions on Emirates airlines for the violations of the PTF directive and COVID-19 Protocols”.

    “Emirates Airlineswill be informed in due time as when to resume operations to Nigeria”.

    It lists the Emirates flights and date of operations as obtained from NAMA to include:
    Date: 03 February 2021
    Flight: UAE784
    Aircraft type: B777-300
    Registration Mark: A6EQA
    Route: Lagos-Dubai
    Passengers on board:195

    Date: 03 February 2021
    Flight: UAE786
    Aircraft type: B777W
    Registration Mark: A6EQD
    Route: Abuja-Dubai
    Passengers on board:154

    Date: 04 February 2021
    Flight: UAE784
    Aircraft type: B777-300
    Registration Mark: A6EQC
    Route: Lagos-Dubai
    Passengers on board:199

    Date: 04 February 2021
    Flight: UAE786
    Aircraft type: B777W
    Registration Mark: A6ECV
    Route: Abuja-Dubai
    Passengers on board:175

  • Travel stakeholders call for enhanced technology for airlines turnaround performance at airports

    Travel stakeholders call for enhanced technology for airlines turnaround performance at airports

    Stakeholders in airlines and travel agencies have called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to improve and enhance its technology for the new international protocols on check-in procedures for passengers to facilitate the turnaround performance of airlines.


    Speaking on Friday at the Sabre Africa Network Webinar conference with the theme: ‘Understanding Travel Complexities Post-Covid-19:”, Views from the Stakeholders,’  they also charged investors in the travel business to improve on technology deliveries in order to remain relevant post Covid-19 era.


    They stressed that without technology and dissemination of adequate information, the recovery level of air travel in the country would be slow when compared to other countries around the world.


    Country Manager, Cabo Verde airlines, Gbenga Onitilo, said the global travel sector would never remain the same post-Covid-19 virus until vaccines are developed to combat the disease, adding that the advent of coronavirus had reduced capacity for airlines by over 90 per cent, while about 30 million people are directly and indirectly unemployed globally.


    He explained that on resumption of flight operations, no airline would operate beyond 40 to 50 per cent capacity and expressed doubt about the preparation of Nigerian airports towards post-Covid-19 era.


    Mr. Onitilo stressed that airport performance would determine airline’s turnaround performance expressing doubt about the preparation of Nigerian airports towards post-Covid-19 era.


    “Airports will determine aircraft turnaround and not the airlines alone. We don’t know the pre-checking procedures in our airports. Dubai International Airport has embarked on automation process for air travellers, yet, we don’t have information from FAAN and NCAA.”


    “We are not going to return to pre-Covid-19 era again in the way we do our businesses. So far, we have about 600,000 deaths globally, which has brought changes in human interactions. A lot of air travellers are bothered about aviation and the possibility of contracting Covid-19 onboard aircraft.”


    “Everybody is now innovative about taking the business to their customers, even, the airlines are having a lot of shifts. The travel sector can never be the same again until you have the vaccines, which may come in the next 18 months. People have lost jobs and thousands of people are redundant. The protocols of airlines to ensure safety will determine the travel for the future.


    Sales Manager for another regional airline, Mr. Abiola Bakare, however expressed optimism that the travel industry would return to the pre-Covid-19 era in the next two or three years and charged air operators to be ingenious and think out of the box in order to compete post-Covid-19 era, work with Travel Management Companies (TMCs) for improved delivery to clients.


    He also called for harmonised health certificate for all travellers worldwide, saying that people would not travel if they would be isolated for 14 days in any country.


    “Going on 20 days holidays and having to spend the first 15days in isolation will not worth the while.”

    “Covid-19  has come to stay here with us and may end up like a way of life just like malaria, yellow fever and others in Africa. For Air Cote D’Ivoire, passengers would need about three hours to go through the check-in. Even, FAAN in a statement said passengers should expect delays at airports.


    “Air Cote D’Ivoire is putting in a lot of measures to enhance safety in its operations. We will be able to return to pre-Covid-19 pandemic in the next two to three years. People are willing to travel inasmuch as the airports are safe. We are embarking on aircraft sterilisation,” he added.

    On her part, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agency (NANTA), called on travel agency practitioners to equip themselves with more relevant information and charged government to release more necessary information on new procedures to the body for easy transition.


    “The government should stop thinking that we as travel agents will come to ask them for money. What we need is international standards in our operations for the country. People want to travel, but are also careful about safety.”


    Earlier, Director of Operations at Sabre, Mrs. Hannah Ogunsulire  in her opening remarks, decried that the travel industry had been heavily impacted in recent time, while jobs are being lost regularly.
    She hoped that with adherence to international standards on safety, the sector would return stronger.

  • Turkish Airways update Nigerians  regarding flights to Nigeria

    Turkish Airways update Nigerians  regarding flights to Nigeria

    Following the announcement of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to shut down the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from all international flights from Monday, March 23, 2020 at 23:00 local time, we at Turkish Airlines will be rescheduling its flights on Tuesday, 24 March, 2020 to Monday, 23 March, 2020, in order to accommodate the passengers of the cancelled flight and ensure that they reach their destination before the closure of the airports.

    As the airline that always puts the travel security at the forefront, Turkish Airlines will continue to monitor latest developments on the situation with the national and international health authorities and take appropriate precautions.

  • FG acquires new anti-wildlife equipment for airports

    FG acquires new anti-wildlife equipment for airports

    The Federal Government has acquired new anti birds equipment for airports to ensure Flight safety.

    Statistics from the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO, show that globally over 3.6 per cent of flight incidences are traceable to bird strike and other wildlife hazards.

    Director of Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Muktar Muye who disclosed this at the symposium on Reduction on wildlife strike hazard at Nigerian airports said, the equipment called Phonix bird wailers would be shipped into the country in few weeks and deployed to the four major airports in the country.

    According to him, the Phoenix bird Wailer deters birds from airport runways and helipads, using high-fidelity natural alarm and distress calls together with local raptor calls.

    He emphasized that increased traffic and growing bird population near airports together raises the risk of bird-aircraft collision.
    According to him, data from ICAO shown that 89% of bird strikes occur near or on the aerodrome.

    Captain Muye stated that the responsibility for the elimination of collision hazard fell on the airport operators, adding that FAAN was working with the regulatory agency to develop and implement a wildlife management plan for each airport which includes training of personnel to manage the programme.

    He, however, noted that the onus was on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA to put in place appropriate legislation and regulations to address the safety concerns including those related to land use around the aerodrome.

    “Airline Operations are complex and operating cost is high. Time is one of the most valuable commodities and schedules are finely turned to ensure on Tim performance. Striving to achieve this, flight crew are constantly weighing safety and economics”.

  • Yuletide: FG grants additional flights to African airlines to stem cancellations, missing/delayed luggage issue

    Yuletide: FG grants additional flights to African airlines to stem cancellations, missing/delayed luggage issue

    International air passengers can now heave a sigh of relief as some African airlines with the permission of the Federal Government will now operate more flights this yuletide season to avoid the yearly problem of delayed luggage and passengers stranded at airports.
    Passengers especially Nigerians coming back home for Christmas and New year travel with many baggage which often overwhelm the airlines.

    Director, Consumer Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Adamu Abdullahi in an interview said, the problem is worsen when the airlines deployed certain type of aircraft not big enough to accommodate both passengers and their luggage.

    “The International airlines especially the African airlines come into this country with B737’s, B737 even if it is 800 series will not carry much luggage, Nigerians travel heavy, you see one passenger carrying 20 bags and he wants to travel along with his bags as checked-in luggage even if you charge him excess he will pay to make sure he travels along with his baggage so we now have weight constraints, space constraints. So, the way around it is to ensure that whatever additional flights these airlines ask for, they get”.

    Already, African airlines like Royal Air Maroc, Egypt Air and some others have said to have been granted permission to operate additional flights and use wide-bodied to cater to their passengers.

    According to him, the NCAA is in the forefront of ensuring the Ministry of Aviation grant the request so that passengers can have their luggage in time and avoid the commotion that usual occur when their luggage does not accompany them.

    “Normally during this period the Ministry considers and gives them permission to fly in with bigger aircraft so even if it is once or twice a week, they can get a wide-bodied into the country most of the luggage will still come, in addition, some of the airlines like the Royal Air Maroc that we mentioned earlier also request for cargo flights and this are essentially to carry passengers luggage and make sure that they come in time so that the passengers will have their baggage for Christmas or for the yuletide season”.

    With the concession granted the airlines, Adamu is optimistic that the arrangement was solid enough to nip any ugly situation in the bud associated with delayed luggage.

    “So, we pray that this time around we are going to see better arrangement and we have taken all the necessary steps to make sure that it doesn’t deteriorate like last year because yes, an airline has done wrong it hasn’t brought your luggage along with you so how do you solve the problem if you beat up the airline staff? It doesn’t solve your problem or how does it solve the problem if the same aircraft that is now to go back to whatever country to bring your luggage and you block it on the apron and say that aircraft cannot fly or you block their passengers and say they cannot enter the aircraft, how does that help your case?”.

    The CPD boss appealed to the passengers to exercise maximum restraints when the issue of delayed luggage occurs and allow the concerned authorities to resolve the matter, adding the CPD are also there at the airport to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon.

    “it is normally better for you to also be responsible, a responsible passenger at the airport because we are there, we operate even more during the yuletide period and during the night when everyone knows most airline come into this country or leave this country as the case may be”.

    ‘So we will still beg that the passengers yes they have rights but they also have responsibilities, they should abide by the rules and regulations that govern your behavior in the airport environment”, he added.

    Adamu also urged the airline operators that in as much as the authority understand their predicament, they will not tolerate ill-treatment of passengers like denying them their rights to know what is going on.

    “The airlines also have responsibilities in as much as we will do our very best and shed you from passengers, we are the ones who get the bashing always, we also must appeal to all the airlines to do the needful, make sure you carry passengers along with their bags in as much as safety is not involved because when safety is involved Consumer Protection will move back because you have to be safe first before you start talking about rights.

    “Therefore, we will continue to appeal to the airlines, carry your passengers along, let them know the problems you have, let them be part of the problem and let them be part of the solution, that way things will be batter for all of us”.