….Minister’s Actions Erode Autonomy of Regulatory Agencies
The Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ART) says, the suspension of DANA Airlines’ operations is a step backward, threatening safety and security in the sector.
The ART in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Olumide Ohunayo
expressed disappointment with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s actions, which disregard the law and process.
This is coming on the heels of a letter by the minister to the NCAA Acting DGCA to initiate action against Dana Air over the incident involving one of its aircraft that veered off the runway at the Lagos airport.
The body condemned the Minister’s interference, which erodes the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) autonomy and jeopardizes safety, reiterating their commitment to the NCAA’s autonomy, as stated in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act.
It advised that, the NCAA should conduct financial audits and impose sanctions independently and called for the immediate lifting of the suspension and an apology to the aviation community.
According to the statement, the NCAA should focus on its role in investigating the affected MD 82 aircraft or fleet and the company Dana.
They urged the minister to focus on efforts on policy issues that positively impact the airline industry.
“ART also demands that other agencies be allowed to carry out their statutory obligations without interference, including the observed interferences at FAAN. ART also requests that the HMA&A move promptly to appoint the required Boards to enable the smooth and properly guided operations of Agencies”.
In a word of commendation, “The ART commends the NCAA for the recent suspension of three non-schedule operators for operational infractions and urges the NCAA to make public, the list of the airlines concerned in the reported infractions for transparency as well as to highlight actions others must avoid to prevent the same outcomes”.
Similarly, the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria, FLIDAN says, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) bears the primary responsibility for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft, not the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.
In a statement, its General Secretary, Victoria Adegbe noted that, as long as an airline, as the holder of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), can prove that its aircraft are airworthy, they are permitted to continue flying.
Consequently, suspending the entire operations of an AOC holder is unduly severe.
FLIDAN asserts that the decision to suspend Dana Air’s operations was rushed, overly harsh, and warrants immediate reconsideration.
