Preliminary report released by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted Flints Aero Services Ltd., the airline that flew Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, from Abuja to Ibadan Airport, of violating the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued to it by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
NSIB cited the violation of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to airlines in the country.
According to the bureau’s preliminary report, “Flints Aero Services Limited was issued with a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF). The PNCF issued to Flint Aero Services Limited stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used for carriage of passenger(s), cargo, or mail for hire or reward.”
A rule that the airline violated when it decided to engage in a hire service other than what NCAA permitted it for.
Tunji Oketunbi, Head, Public Affairs, NSIB, who issued the report, said the preliminary report wasn’t final and presented a graphic picture of what happened.
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Oketunbi said, “The flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA), Abuja, for Ibadan Airport (DNIB), Oyo State, as a charter flight on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. On board were 10 persons inclusive of two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with a fuel endurance of three hours.
“The flight crew were licensed and qualified to conduct the flight and the Captain had 49-night flying hours only. The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was programmed for an RNAV approach using the autopilot, which was cleared by the ATC.
“The aircraft touched down in the grass verge on the extended centreline of the runway, about 220 m from the threshold and veered progressively right of centreline runway 22 on entering the paved area until a point 156 meters from the runway threshold, crossed the right runway shoulder and entered the grass verge. There was no evidence of braking action from the tyre tracks on the runway.
“Post-incident inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, the landing gear and flaps. The passengers disembarked without any injury, while the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered in good condition, and recordings were intact after the occurrence.”
However, as is the practise, the bureau made some recommendations. The top of them is that Flints’ Aero operates within the limits of the approval given to it, under Section 18.2.4.3 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation 2015.
Aside from the above recommendation, it urged NAMA to follow airport operational hours and ensure that Flints Aero improves the night-time flight crew experience. Also, ensure that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) clears overgrown grass near the runway promptly.
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