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Pilot operated aircraft with expired licence, NCAA applies sanctions
- Execujet handles penalised captain’s aircraft operations
For serious violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revoked the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL) of a pilot whose aircraft operations are handled by Execujet Aviation Group.
Switzerland’s ExecuJet Aviation Group, which manages the world’s largest fleet of private jets, in 2013 chose Lagos as the location for its first West African facility, over several other potential locations in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Globally, ExecuJet manages more than 150 private jets, from Global Expresses (built by Bombardier) to Legacies (built by Embraer). Owned by wealthy private individuals or companies, the jets are chartered out when not in use, usually for many thousands of dollars per hour.
A statement by spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye failed to disclose the name of the operator and the firm or the high profile individual he flies for stated that the revocation was a consequence of the pilot operating flights on non-schedule operations while his medical certificate has expired.
He explained that during these flight operations, the pilot repeatedly exercised the privileges of his License ATPL (A) when he was not qualified to exercise such privileges.
Specifically, the pilot’s medical certificate, he reiterated commenced validity from July 17, 2017 and expired on January 16, 2018, adding that another one was processed on May 11, 2018 which expired on November 10, 2018.
He stated that investigation revealed that instead of the pilot revalidating his medical certificate he conducted flight operations as the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) in flagrant disregard of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
According to Part 2.11.1.2-(b) a flight crew member or air traffic controller shall not exercise the privileges of his/her licence unless he/she holds a current medical certificate appropriate to the licence.
Consequent upon this, the authority has determined that pursuant to Part 2.11.1.2(b) of the Nig.CARs, the Pilot has lost the privileges of his Licence. NCAA further disclosed that he does not hold a current medical certificate appropriate to the Licence.
Resultantly, in Part 2.2.9.3 (a) a licence, rating, authorisation or certificate shall be revoked if the holder has lost the skills for exercising the privileges mentioned in the document or fails to meet appropriate medical standards as shown by the result of a medical examination or a test.
‘Therefore, in line with Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nig.CARs, the Pilot’s Licence ATPL (A] [ A- Aircraft] is hereby revoked with immediate effect, and it ceases to be effective.
The pilot has been directed to return the invalidated licence to NCAA Director of Licensing (DOL) within seven days of receipt of the Letter of sanction’.
Adurogboye reiterated that violation of the NCAA would continue to view very seriously any infraction of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
