FG to raise least number of aircraft from 2 to 10 for old, new operators soon
Feelers emerged weekend indicating that due to the challenges of maintaining efficient services and routine maintenance schedule of several airlines in the country, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is set to conduct upward review of key provisions of its Regulation (Nig. CARS) 2015 that prescribes at least two serviceable aircraft as condition for granting of Air Operating Certificates (AOCs) to commercial operators.
Whereas the government is considering 10 aircrafts as minimum, industry stakeholders at a recent Quarterly Business Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) in Lagos have proposed between 10 and 20 aircraft per commercial airline to boost capacity, competitiveness and deepen investments.
While agreeing that NCAA was aware of the challenges inherent in the Part 9.1.1.6 (b) (2) (ii) of the Nig. CARS 2015 that allowed only two airworthy aircraft in the fleet of every commercial airlines, the General Manager, Airworthiness Standards, NCAA, Kayode Ajiboye, said “the provision originated in the past and does not factor in the demands of today’s aviation business”.
“It is almost impossible for a two-aircraft airline to maintain efficient service once one plane is out on maintenance. It just cannot work. So, we have to review this regulation.
“It is not of our making that the minimum is two. The stakeholders chose it. We only hope that ASRTI will be there to make proposals when we are set for a review later this year.”
Business Hilights recalls that NCAA had in the last your years, issued new AOCs and renewed of no fewer than 11 operating licences.
