NCAA Suspends 3 Private Jet Operators

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has restricted private jet operators from contravening their permits by suspending the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) of three operators for conducting commercial flights. This imposition comes after cautions were issued in March 2024.

Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director General, hinted that the deployment of inspectors to ramp up the surveillance of private jet activities at Nigerian airports resulted in the grounding of no fewer than three private jet operators. 

These operators were found to be in infringement of the terms of their PNCF, especially the annexure provisions and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

Following the grounding of the three operators, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority DG also revealed a thorough re-evaluation of all PNCF holders. This invention, he said, is aimed at enhancing obedience to regulatory requirements and will be completed by April 19th, 2024.

To speed up the process, all PNCF holders have been instructed to submit important documents to the authority within the next 72 hours. Najomo noted that these steps give a demonstration of the NCAA’s dedication to sanitising the whole aviation sector and prioritising passenger safety in Nigerian airspace.

Part of the statement reads, This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who utilise aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

It must be emphasized that only aircraft highlighted in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are allowed to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it in the AOC operations specification.

The Authority, however, advises the travelling public not to patronise any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA when they wish to procure charter operations services.