NCAA Regulatory review mulls raising retirement age of pilots, others
Oru Leonard
As stakeholders holds an opening session for a proposed amendment meeting on Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2015 (Nig CARs), The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Regulatory review has recommended raising the retirement age of pilots to 75 years and 65 years for electronic personnel licencing.
NCAA Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu in his opening remarks noted that the proposal would require risk analysis and regulatory impact assessment pending which they would stick to ICAO standard.
Issues also raised was raising Fine for Airlines Violations to a maximum of N10,000,000 , while the minimum will be 2 million naira, depending on the offence.
The DG said the amendment became necessary following the passing of the civil aviation act 2022.
The Chairman Civil Aviation Authority regulations committee Engineer Godwin Baking who is the head of BAGASOO delegation said the new addition to the rule making process making it 21 parts as against 20 is the part on Remotely piloted aircraft systems.
Captain Nuhu further disclosed that the delay in licensing would soon be over because the process of fully automating licencing of personnel is in progress.
Senator Musa Adede who joined the hybrid meeting virtually expressed concerns on enforcement which he says is key to regulation, adding that offences should be investigated before sanctions.
The DG assured stakeholders that all comments on the proposed amendments would be considered critically.
According to media reports of the previous meeting, the committee was set up in accordance with Part 1.7 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2015.
The Director General also said that the review and eventual implementation would bring the regulations in compliance with Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as contained in the latest amendment of the Annexes to the convention on the International Civil Aviation signed in Chicago in 1944 and include some pertinent national issues.
The circular read in part: “All comments and responses received by the Regulations Committee Rulemaking Working Group 2022 in accordance with Section 3.7 of the NCAA Approved Rulemaking Process Policy and Procedures Manual (RPPPM). All proposals shall be submitted to the committee not later than March 21, 2023.”
