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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended three private jet operators for violating the terms of their permits and using their jets for commercial purposes.
Recall that the NCAA had earlier deepened surveillance on holders of permit for non-commercial flights (PNCF) after several reports claimed private jet operators are using their aircrafts for hire, thereby violating the terms of permits.
The Acting Director General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, announced the suspension of the three private operators in a memo to all airlines, on Tuesday.
The NCAA boss said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had in 2023 ordered that private jets should not be used for commercial purposes, but the operators continued with the act.
“Subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA had issued a stern warning to holders of the permit for non-commercial flights, PNCF, against engaging in the carriage of passenger, cargo or mail for hire and reward.
“The Authority had also deployed its officials to monitor activities of private jets at terminals across the airports in Nigeria.
“As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.
“In line with our zero tolerance for violation 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 holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 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 riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.
“It must be emphasized that only aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorized to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it into the AOC operations specification.
“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronize any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA, when they wish to procure charter operations services.
“Finally, NCAA encourages the legitimate players in the aviation industry to report the activity of such unscrupulous elements to the authority promptly for necessary action,” he said.