By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced an automated procedure for processing Airline Operators’ Certificates for intending airlines and existing operators.
The Director-General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, in a statement on Tuesday, affirmed that the Authority has adopted electronic processes for AOC acquisition and subsequently directed all intending airlines and existing carriers to follow the new procedures.
Nuhu said that the regulatory body had enhanced AOC Operations Specifications (Op.Specs) for all current AOC holders.
He disclosed that the directive was contained in an All Operator Letter referenced NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/370, dated August 18, 2023, and is applicable to all AOC holders certified by the authority.
Recall that stakeholders in the industry have been yearning for the introduction of electronic processing for the AOC procedures to curb bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The referred stakeholders referenced Europe, America and other parts of the world where manual procedures had been abandoned for automation.
“These new and enhanced multi-paged Op.Specs contain the authorisations, conditions, limitations and approvals issued by the Authority in accordance with the standards which are applicable to operations and maintenance conducted by the AOC holder.
“In view of the above directive, all AOC holders are required to electronically complete the appropriate pages of the attached Op.Specs and return same to the NCAA via only email addresses indicated below on or before August 23, 2023,” the statement read.
Nuhu directed that the new policy be communicated to the appropriate Chairmen, Flight Standards Group, Godwin Balang; Director, Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Ibrahim Dambazau and Director, Air worthiness Standards, Gbolahan Abatan.