The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered a comprehensive audit of all airlines in the country in the aftermath of last week crashing of a Bristow helicopter and other ‘grave’ incidents that have occurred in the sector.
Six persons aboard the plane that plunged into the Lagos lagoon died while divers rescued six others who were injured.
NCAA Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, in a statement yesterday in Lagos, ordered an immediate commencement of the safety audit of all the airlines.
According to him, the exercise is in line with the authority’s regulatory and oversight responsibilities. He added that NCAA’s Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) would continue to intensify the routine ramp inspections.
He said the directive was to forestall complacency among airline operators and ensure that they all continue to demonstrate absolute compliance to NCAA’s regulations.
In addition, Usman warned all pilots to take precautionary measures during all adverse weather conditions seriously by ensuring strict adherence to states’ weather minima and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
He, however, assured Nigerians that NCAA would continue to ensure intolerance for non-compliance to regulations.
He said airline operations in Nigeria would continue to be done according to the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) thereby ensuring safe and secure operations.
