The management of First Nation Airline has reacted to the suspension of its Air Operators Certificate AOC by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA.
The airline noted that the suspension of its AOC was not safety related as the airline operating aircraft and crew held the relevant, safety-critical approvals and authorizations. The company noted that it achieved above industry dispatch reliability of over 95%.
The company further revealed that it presented two airworthy aircraft to NCAA in September 2017. Noting that the basis of NCAA’s decision is apparently commercial and not about safety concerns of the airline.
The management of the airline, however, promised to cooperate with NCAA in good faith, to address all concerns and the alleged infractions to reach a resolution.
“It is pertinent to add that the allegations are not safety related and that our operation achieved above industry dispatch reliability of over 95% and reputed for on-time performance and schedule integrity. The operating aircraft and crew hold the relevant, safety-critical approvals and authorizations.”
Meanwhile, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has thrown its weight behind the indefinite suspension placed on the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of the airline.
Olayinka Abioye, the General Secretary of NUATE said the suspension of the airline’s AOC was a good one for the industry.
He said the airline ought to have focused on charter services alone instead of engaging in the illegality of commercial flight operations without the prerequisite requirement.
Recall that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of First Nation Airline’s AOC citing unauthorized and illegal operations which were in violation of the terms and conditions of issuance of it AOC by the Airline.
First Nation Airways was founded by Tolu Odukoya who had previously run the defunct Bellview Airlines.
Bellview airline was founded in 1992 and eventually shut down in 2009. Prior to First Nation’s suspension of operations, the airline flew the Lagos-Abuja and Lagos-Portharcourt routes.
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