NCAA To Recertify AOC Holders

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed plans to recertify airlines that got their Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) before 2009.


This is to ensure that airlines comply with the regulatory authority’s new processes for the issuance of an AOC. Arik Air was the first Nigerian carrier to scale through the new process introduced by NCAA for the issuance of AOC. The AOC empowers airlines to operate flight operations.

Acting Director- General of NCAA, Dr Joyce Nkemakolam, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos yesterday, also dispelled arguments that it takes a long period for the authority to issue airlines with AOC.

His words: “I also want to clear the air on the allusion that AOC takes a long time to be issued. I don’t agree with this. Our experience is that some intending operators will come and we tell them please go and provide so and so. Some will go and will not come back in a long time and probably due to financial constraints.”

He also spoke on the new aviation policy, which some industry stakeholders have alleged that it reduced the autonomy status of NCAA as enshrined in the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

According to him, the new policy has not threatened the autonomy of the agency or impacted negatively on its functions but strengthened its roles as a regulator.

Nkemakolam explained that the new policy has been in operation ever since and that there was no problem in that, adding that the authority remained a parastatal under the supervision of the aviation ministry.

Nkemakolam further warned airlines to obey regulations in order not to have their operations grounded, adding that the agency was planning to re-sensitise airline operators on the need to adhere to regulations guiding their operations.

“If there is no violation or flouting of these regulations of course, there will be no sanctions. We want to eradicate the culture of impunity which some operators have penchant for.”

On private jets ownership, Nkemakolam explained that there were limitations and restrictions on the operation of private jets for leisure adding that anybody flying with friends should make sure they were covered in their insurance policy in case of accidents.
“If you have a Third Party Insurance Policy, you can fly with them (friends). However, if you don’t, you are working outside the realm of your license. You must make sure that those you intend to carry are covered as well.”
On compliance by airlines to the Aviation Revenue Automation Programme, the acting DG said there was a high level of compliance.
http://leadership.ng/news/250613/ncaa-recertify-aoc-holders
Culled from Leadership