NCAA issues five air operators certificates in one year, says DG

Chris Najomo, director general, NCAA

Sade Williams/Business a.m.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said on Friday it issued five Air Operators Certificates (AOCs) to airline operators in one year.

Chris Najomo, the director general of the NCAA said  this was made possible as a result of the process that has become seamless and less cumbersome with the deployment of technology and committed personnel.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement on transforming the “Aviation Industry through Strategic Partnerships: Advancing Airport Sustainable Development” in Lagos, he said: “Under one year, we have released five AOCs. It used to be a herculean task but that is now behind us,” he said.

Reacting to the disclosure, Festus Keyamo, aviation and aerospace development minister, said if it is possible to issue AOC in 24 hours, the NCAA should go ahead.

“I don’t expect less, I can see that the airlines are praising the NCAA for this, but it is their duty to do this, and if AOC can be issued in 24 hours, why not?” He said.

On the age and maintenance of aircraft in the country, Najomo said the age of an aircraft matters less in aviation, but that maintenance should be done on schedule.

“How old an aircraft is measured by the maintenance of the aircraft. Maintenance is key and surveillance on our part is important. What the minister has done with Cape Town Convention Practice is to get the airlines to have access to newer equipment,” he said.

Najomo assured that there are deliberate plans to get younger pilots into the system as older pilots are retiring, in response to the issue of ageing workers and the lack of jobs for professionals.