NCAA to sanction pilots for working for multiple airlines

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it would sanction flight and crew members, especially pilots for working for multiple airlines concurrently with their approved privileges simulators and proficiency checks endorsed on their license.

NCAA said that such an action posed serious threat to safety and would be treated as a serious violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

A letter addressed to all aircraft operators by Chris Nojomo, the Acting Director-General Civil Aviation (ADGCA), with the head: ‘Prohibition o Ad-Hoc Flight Operators for Multiple Airlines Background,’ dated November 6, 2024 with the reference number: NCAA/DGCA/AOL and obtained by BusinessDay, stated that the unprofessional conduct was discovered by its surveillance reports.

NCAA in the letter, insisted that the flight simulator training device/facility approved by it is operator specific based on the training programme and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for such an airline only.

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It also declared that instances where pilots operate for more than one airline concurrently without safety considerations of such action poses a safety risk to the industry.

The letter read in part: “With effect from the date of issuance of this directive, all operators and holders of pilot license are informed that this action will be treated as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.

“The authority will take appropriate enforcement action on violators of this directive, effective from November 11, 2024.

“Simulators renewals from henceforth will be filed to the operators.”

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.