NCAA suspends 3 private jet operators for engaging in commercial flights

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of three Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), otherwise known as private jet owners, over alleged failure to comply with regulatory requirements.

The Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, made this known in Lagos on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Najomo said after issuing a stern warning to the private jet operators in March, the NCAA deployed its officers to monitor the activities of private jet owners at airport terminals across the country.

He said consequent upon the heightened surveillance, three private operators were found to have violated the annexure provisions of their PNCF and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, 2023.

Najomo noted that the NCAA would be carrying out a re-evaluation of regulatory requirements compliance of all PNCF owners within the next 72 hours.

This, he said, was in line with the authority’s zero tolerance for violations of regulations.

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The NCAA DG said: “In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators.

“To further sanitise the general aviation sector, I have directed that a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before April 19 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements.

“All PNCF holders will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.”

Najomo recalled that in 2023, the use of private jets for commercial purposes got the attention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who issued marching orders for the cessation of such acts.

He said in March, the NCAA issued a stern warning to holders of the permit for non-commercial flights against engaging in the carriage of passenger-cargo or mail for hire and reward.

Najomo said the riot act was also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who utilised aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

He added: “It must be emphasised that only the aircraft listed in the Operation Specifications of the AOC are authorised 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 into the AOC operations specification.

“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronise any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid AOC issued by the NCAA, when they wish to procure charter operation services.”

The Star