NCAA suspends Skypower Express and others for Non-Compliance
This is as Overland Airways, one of the indigenous scheduled flight operators, said it would resume flight services Wednesday next week.
NCAA in a letter dated June 30, 2020 with the reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/129, signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director-General, NCAA titled: ‘Suspension of the Ops specs Part G (Aircraft Leasing Operations) of your organization’s Air Operator’s Certificate,’ said the airline violated the Specs Part G of the Air Operator’s Certificate. It said the airline did not also comply with the provision of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARS) Part 9.2.3.4(b). The letter was addressed to the Managing Director of the airline.
NCARS Part 9.2.3.4(b) refers to wet leasing aircraft and states: (b) No holder of an AOC issued under this Part 9 may allow another entity or air operator to conduct wet-lease operations on its behalf (a wet lease in) unless—(1) That air operator holds an AOC or its equivalent from a Contracting State that authorizes those operations;(2) The AOC holder advises the Authority of such operations and provides a copy of the AOC under which the operation was conducted;(3) Such operation does not exceed a period of 12 months and(4) The Authority approves the operations.
The letter in part read: “Be informed that by this action your organisation ceases to exercise all the privileges associated with Part G authoriation.
“Furthermore, the operations of the following aircraft listed on the Part G of your organisation’s operations specifications are hereby suspended pending a full audit of your organisation and compliance with all the relevant Nig. CARS: Hawker 800XP:N838BB, Hawker 800XP: N552ME, Hawker 800XP: N749WW, Hawker 800XP:ZS-EXG, CL604-D-ANGB, CL604-T7-NMN, CL601-N580KR and Gulfstream 200-N100EK.”
Other airlines whose aircraft were affected by the audit included CL604-N605JA operated by Jedidiah Air, CL604-N880ET operated by OmniBlu, CL604-N604WL operated by West Link Airlines, G.IV-N990EA operated by NestOil, CL601-N253LA operated by West Link Airlines, G1159A-N313MS operated by Izy Air and CL604-G-FABO operated by Jet Support Services.
Meanwhile, Overland said it would resume flightson July 15, 2020, a week after resumption of services.
A statement by Mrs. Aanu Benso, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Overland Airways said that the airline had implemented all the safety and health protocols advised by health and regulatory authorities. The airline also said that it was offering passengers the opportunity to utilise their tickets after the lockdown by extending the validity of passengers’ unused tickets affected by the pandemic.
Benson added that the airline envisaged a slow pre-boarding process due to the need for the airports authority to ensure safety of passengers and called on its passengers to arrive airports in good time for their flights. She added: “While assuring our patrons of our usual excellent customer service, we wish to express our gratitude to the Federal and State governments, health workers and others in the frontline of the fight to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The statement hinted that it would recommence flights to Abuja, Akure, Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin and Jalingo routes on resumption.
