NCAA lifts ban on Boeing 737 MAX jetliner

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has lifted the ban placed on Boeing’s best selling aircraft, 737 MAX, and also certified the aircraft to resume operations in Nigeria’s airspace.

In a statement by Musa Nuhu, director-general of NCAA, the lift on suspension took effect on February 12, 2021.

Airline regulators worldwide grounded the MAX in March 2019 after fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

In 2019, TheCable reported that Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, said two years is enough time for Boeing to rectify the problem leading to crashes.

“This is enough period to sort out whatever problem it is with that plane. It is normal standard practice that once a particular aircraft type is involved in accident back to back, it is withdrawn from the market and see if there is something they are doing wrong,” Sirika had said.

In 2020, NCAA said a joint authority technical review (JATR), comprising of international aviation authorities, carried out a joint review of the Boeing 737 MAX safety system alongside Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

On the approval, Nuhu said the aviation regulatory body recognises the joint review of the Boeing 737 MAX safety system, adding that NCAA came up with some actions required of all foreign and domestic operators.

Nuhu said the actions include: “All intending domestic operators are required to work with the Boeing Company and NCAA for the aircraft type certificate acceptance programme in order to have the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in Nigeria and issued with a standard certificate of airworthiness.

“All foreign air operators that intend to operate the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into Nigeria must submit evidence of compliance with the FAA AD 2020-24-02”.

He further said the NCAA would continue to ensure strict compliance to safety regulations as violations would be viewed seriously.

Nigeria has joined the list of other counties in granting approval to lift the ban placed on Boeing 737 Max, including United States, Brazil, Canada and Britain.