Posted by Nigeria Travels Mart.com
Rising from a meeting with airline
operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON),
Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka has granted the requests of private
owners to shift the 90 days ultimatum given to them to regularize their
operations. The new time for them to do so is now 120 days.
Chidoka extended the ultimatum earlier
given by him to revoke Flight Operations Clearance Certificate (FOCC)
and Maintenance Clearance Certificate (MCC) of all foreign registered
privately owned aircraft operating commercial charters, instead of their
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) authorization for private (Not
for hire or reward) operations within Nigeria.
The ultimatum was given at the
conclusion of a meeting between the officials of the Ministry of
Aviation and stakeholders in the general aviation sector; which
warehouses all the owners and operators of private jets.The new
extension was given in his office in Abuja today where he met with the
Aircraft Operators Association of Nigeria (AOAN).
The minister said, effective March 1,
2015, all foreign registered private category aircraft that are listed
on the OpSpec Part G of some Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders,
must be removed from the status by NCAA.
Consequently, the aircraft operations
will remain grounded until NCAA approves an alternative operational
status for the aircraft.
Consequent upon this earlier directive
and eventual compliance by NCAA at the expiration of the ultimatum, the
members of AON visited the minister at his instance upon receiving a
letter from them asking to meet with him.
The General Secretary of AOAN, Capt.
Mohammed Joji, in his opening remarks said the purpose of their visit
was to appeal to the government to give them a 120 day window upon
expiration of the earlier deadline to enable the members to regularize
their operational documents.
Joji debunked the impression that the
activities of the privately owned aircraft operators were responsible
for a reduction in the revenue of the government, instead, he said they
contribute more to the revenue of the government more than any one else.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry
of aviation, Alhaji Mohammed Abass, while announcing the extension of
90days as against the 120 sought by AOAN on behalf of the minister said,
it still holds that no private jet will be allowed to operate without
authorization within the extension period.
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