NCAA Suspends Three Private Jet Holders for Operating Commercial Flights
Mary Akanbi
17th April, 2024
At least three private operators have been found to have violated the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, took notice of the use of private jets for commercial purposes by their owners in 2023 and issued directives to cease such practices.
Promptly, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a stern warning in March 2024 to holders of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF), cautioning against engaging in the transportation of passengers, cargo, or mail for hire and reward.
In response, the regulatory body dispatched its officials to monitor the activities of private jets at terminals across airports in Nigeria, resulting in heightened surveillance and subsequent consequences for violators.
According to a statement issued and signed by the Director-General, Captain Chris Najome, the NCAA declared: “In line with our zero-tolerance policy for violations of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To further sanitize the general aviation sector, I have directed a re-evaluation of all PNCF holders to be carried out by April 19, 2024, to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements. All PNCF holders will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.
“This directive also applies to existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.”
“It is important to emphasize that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized for use in providing such charter services. Any AOC holder wishing to use aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it in the AOC operations specification.”
The NCAA reiterated to the traveling public not to patronise any charter airline operator lacking a valid Air Operator’s Certificate issued by the NCAA when seeking charter operation services.
NCAA also encouraged legitimate players in the aviation industry to promptly report the activities of such unscrupulous elements to the authority for necessary action.