The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permits of 10 private jet operators over illegal operation.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the permits of 10 private jet operators over illegal operation. The action comes three months after suspended three private jet operators’ permits for commercial flights.
The affected operators which had their Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) suspended had failed to undergo a recertification process as directed by the regulatory authority.
It was also gathered that most of the operators were abusing the PNCF and using their jets for commercial flights or what is simply called in aviation parlance as hire and reward.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 forbids holders of PNCF from using their aircraft for carriage of passengers, cargo or mail for hire or reward (commercial operation or charter services).
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Following the flagrant disregard of this rule, the NCAA had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo re-evaluation which should have been concluded by the 19th of April 2024.
To this end, the NCAA has suspended the permit of 10 operators.
In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA told the public “that it is illegal to engage PNCF holders for commercial purposes.”
“The NCAA will not hesitate to initiate enforcement actions against any PNCF holder found guilty of illegal operations.
“Furthermore, NCAA officials have been deployed to General Aviation Terminals (GAT) and private wings of the airports to monitor activities of the PNCF holders,” the statement added.
Those affected include:
Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd
Bli-Aviation Safety Services
Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd
Matrix Energy Ltd
Marrietta Management Services Ltd
Worldwide Skypaths Services
Mattini Airline Services Ltd
Aero Lead Ltd
Sky Bird Air Ltd
Ezuma Jets Ltd.
In April, the NCAA suspended three private jet operators’ permits for commercial flights.
The Acting Director General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, at the time, said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, gave marching orders for the cessation of the use of private jets for commercial purposes in 2023 but the operators continued in such act.