NCAA issued air operator certificates to five airlines in one year, says Najomo

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it has issued air operator certificates (AOCs) to five airline operators within the past 12 months.

Chris Najomo, NCAA’s director-general (DG), spoke on Friday during a stakeholders meeting, presided over by Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development in Lagos.

An AOC is a certificate that allows an operator to perform specific operations of commercial air transport.

He attributed the increased issuance of certificates to a more seamless and less cumbersome certification process, enhanced by technology and specialised committees.

Addressing concerns about aircraft age, the NCAA DG said proper maintenance is more crucial than an aircraft’s age.

“The age of an aircraft is measured by how well it is maintained. Maintenance is key, and surveillance on our part is crucial,” Najomo said.

He noted that efforts under the Cape Town Convention practice had improved airlines’ access to newer aircraft.

On workforce development, Najomo assured stakeholders that plans were in place to integrate younger pilots into the system as older pilots retire.

In his remarks, Keyamo said recent facility upgrades at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and improved access to foreign exchange have positively impacted the aviation sector.

Keyamo commended the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the ministry of interior for upgrading the E-Wing at MMIA.

The minister also noted that the relocation of foreign airlines to operate from MMIA had yielded positive results.