Pilots Archives - Aviation metric

Honouring pilots: A global perspective, through the lens of operational excellence

Posted on April 28, 2026April 28, 2026 by Wole Shadare

In commemoration of World Pilot Day (April 26, 2026), Captain Cooker, Director of Operations at OAS Helicopters, shares insights into the realities of aviation, unpacking the discipline and systems that define the profession beyond what the public typically sees. The conversation also comes at a notable moment for the industry, following Nigeria’s recent achievement of a 91.45% aviation safety performance mark, a milestone that reflects continued progress in safety standards, oversight, and operational compliance across…

Pilots’, ATC shortage: High Demand, Low Supply

Posted on November 19, 2025November 19, 2025 by Wole Shadare

The global shortage of pilots and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) is a systemic problem caused by a combination of generational shifts, financial barriers, and critical disruptions to the training pipeline, writes WOLE SHADARE The Nigerian aviation industry faces a complex and paradoxical challenge: a severe shortage of experienced, type-rated personnel alongside a pool of unemployed, low-hour graduates. This is a critical issue that poses a threat to safety, limits operational capacity, and hinders the…

Pilots’ group to provide loss of license insurance for members, aircraft engineers

Posted on November 3, 2025November 3, 2025 by Wole Shadare

Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has unveiled plans to provide comprehensive Loss of Licence Insurance Cover for all Nigerian pilots and aircraft engineers. This initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening the welfare and professional security of aviation personnel nationwide. The scheme, developed in partnership with First Standard Insurance Brokers, is designed to protect pilots and engineers who lose their professional licences due to medical incapacity or other qualifying conditions that render them…

Najomo disagrees with Kalu over pilots’ substance use

Posted on October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 by Wole Shadare

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Wednesday, gave clarifications on the comments made by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on the floor of the Senate, about alleged inadequacies in pilot preparation, and substance use among flight crew, and supposed lapses in the NCAA’s oversight responsibilities. In a statement personally signed and forwarded to journalists by Capt. Chris Najomo, Director General of the NCAA, disagreed with Kalu over his allegations on the floor of the Senate…

Fadairo carpets Senator Kalu over pilots’ Indian hemp allegation

Posted on October 15, 2025October 15, 2025 by Wole Shadare

Says comment injurious to aviation sector Aviation journalist and publisher of Arrival Magazine, Adeola Fadairo, has criticised the former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, alleging that some Nigerian pilots smoke Indian hemp and are unfit to fly, describing the allegation as not only reckless and ill-considered but also gravely damaging. Fadairo, in a statement made available to Aviation Metric, stated that for a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria…

FG pardons Emmanson, restores pilots’ licenses, airlines staff, agencies to undergo training

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Wole Shadare

Asks airlines to lift no-flight ban on Emmanson Orders withdrawal of charges against disruptive passenger K1 gets flight ban reduction from six to one month In a sweeping effort to restore sanity to the aviation industry, which had been hit by bad publicity due to unruly behaviour by music star Ayinde Marshal and Ms. Confort Emmanson, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has offered amnesty to the parties involved. The Minister…

NCAA to stop pilots, crew flying for multiple airlines, experts say action rare

Posted on November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by Wole Shadare

Seek licence revocation of violators The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a critical directive that prohibits licensed flight crew members from conducting cross-crew operations for multiple airlines. Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation, signed this order, referenced as DGCA/26/24, and directed it to all Nigerian aircraft operators. In this context, cross-crew operations involve pilots performing flights for more than one airline, which, according to the NCAA, increases safety…

Pilots’ seminar holds Oct 4 in Lagos

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Wole Shadare

The pilots seminar’s second edition will be held on October 4 in Lagos at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority annexe (NCAA). This is the second in the series. The first one was organized by the Mentorship Academy of Mamaj Aviation Consult Limited in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) 2019 in Lagos. Convener of the seminar, Joy Ogbebo said, “We are privileged to have Capt. Jim Hassan of the Nigerian college of…

Harmattan haze: NCAA raises concern, warns pilots, airlines

Posted on January 29, 2024January 29, 2024 by Wole Shadare

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution over a three-day dust haze starting on Monday to Wednesday across the country. A statement signed by the Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, said this warning was contained in a statement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) on weather, alerting the public on the possibility of deterioration in visibility as a result of…

NCAA raises concern over harmattan haze, warns pilots, airlines, others

Posted on November 2, 2023November 2, 2023 by Wole Shadare

Advises on airport closure, flight delays over inclement weather The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution over hazardous weather in the dry season. This warning was contained in a release by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) on weather alerting the public on the possibility of deterioration in visibility as a result of observed dust haze propagated into the country from the source region. The Director-General of…