The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the suspension of three private jet operators in the country for the misuse of permits for non-commercial flights (PNCF).

This followed heightened Surveillance and the deployment of NCAA officials to monitor private jet terminals nationwide.

Before this recent action by the regulatory body, a directive was issued in November 2023 by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, calling for an end to such practices and in March 2024, the NCAA also issued a warning to priva jet operators against carrying passengers, cargo, or mail for hire.

Based on this violation of the regulations outlined in their permits and Part 91.14 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, the NCAA has directed a re-evaluation of all permit of Non-commercial flights PNCF holders starting April 14, 2024.

Handing down a series of measures to address the misuse of private jets for commercial purposes, in an address to to the industry, the Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo insists all permit holders must submit relevant documents within 72 hours.

This crackdown by the NCAA, according to Captain Najomo aims to ensure safety and compliance within the Nigerian aviation sector, particularly regarding private jet operations.

“In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators to further sanitize the general aviation sector”.

For Air Operator Certificates (AOC) holders, the NCAA Acting General Director emphasized that only aircraft listed in an AOC holder’s operation specifications can be used for commercial charter services, adding that, existing AOC holders found using PNCF-listed aircraft for commercial charters will face consequences.

Captain Najomo said, AOC holders are required to formally apply to the NCAA to remove such aircraft from their PNCF and include them in their AOC operation specifications if they wish to use them for commercial charters.

“Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCA to delete the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it into the AOC operations specification”.

He urged air travelers to only use charter services from operators with valid AOCs issued by the authority.

The regulatory body encouraged legitimate aviation industry players to report any suspicious activity to the authority for prompt action.

END.