FG grounded eight airlines in six years --Report

The Federal Government grounded eight airlines and suspended the operating licences of another 13 from 2006 till date, a report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has revealed. The report, detailing the activities of the aviation industry regulator in the last eight years, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, revealed that it had also revoked the operating licence of another operator. The report stated, "Unsafe operators sanctioned so far between 2006 to date:  eight operators grounded; 13 Air Operator Certificates suspended, many others not renewed; one AOC revoked; six operators fined a total of N16.2m ($120, 000). "NCAA has been assisting Nigerian airline operators on fleet renewal and also facilitating the operators' participation in the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit. Already, five domestic operators have signed for gap analysis." However, the report failed to give the names of the affected airlines and aircraft operators. According to the report, the Port Harcourt airport was at a point closed for repairs by the government, while the Maiduguri airport's operation was also restricted. "Many pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers' licences have been suspended," the paper added. The report further revealed that Nigeria had reviewed its Bilateral and Multilateral Air Services Agreements with the United States, United Kingdom and France during the period under review. Other countries, which have also had their BASA reviewed by Nigeria are Egypt, Chad, Zambia, Liberia, Isreal, Mali, Algeria, Libya, Brazil and Qatar, among others. According to the report, the government has also reviewed its BASA with some countries in line with the Yamoussoukro Decision signed in Ivory Coast some years ago. The countries are Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sao-Tome, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda. In the area of economic regulation, the report said a periodic economic audit of Nigerian airlines had been introduced as a surveillance mechanism to create a synergy between the financial health of an airline and its ability to provide safe and secure commercial aviation operations. The report also explained how Nigeria attained the United States' Category One status in 2010. Punch