The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been advised to focus on improving the aviation environment to minimize flight disruptions rather than managing their symptoms. This advice comes in the wake of recent comments made by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu. Achimugu suggested that airlines experiencing technical issues with their aircraft should reduce their schedules until the problem is resolved. However, this approach has been criticized as it could lead to significant financial losses for airlines.
The aviation industry expert, Fred Chukwuelobe, argues that acquiring an aircraft comes with a substantial financial burden, and no airline deliberately keeps an aircraft idle as a buffer against unforeseen technical issues. Chukwuelobe notes that the airline business is not comparable to motor transportation, where another bus can be easily deployed to pick up stranded passengers. With an aircraft costing millions of dollars, keeping one idle means tying up huge capital while the airline continues to meet its financial obligations.
Chukwuelobe suggests that the NCAA should advocate for improvements in the aviation environment to minimize disruptions. He notes that aircraft are designed for intensive operations, but Nigerian airlines are unable to fully utilize their aircraft due to several operational and infrastructural limitations. These limitations include restricted airport operating hours, weather conditions, bird strikes, and inadequate landing infrastructure, all of which contribute to lost flying hours.
The Tinubu administration, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been working to modernize and make the aviation industry more efficient. However, Chukwuelobe believes that there is still more work to be done. He emphasizes that the NCAA should focus on regulating the industry, setting and enforcing standards, inspecting and monitoring operators, and taking action when airlines or other aviation service providers breach the rules.
In addition to improving the aviation environment, Chukwuelobe also questions the role of the NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection in calming down restive passengers during flight disruptions. He argues that this responsibility should lie with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and airport security, while the NCAA focuses on its regulatory role.
Chukwuelobe also emphasizes the need for the NCAA to provide more context when publishing delay and cancellation statistics. He notes that the public should be informed about the causes of these disruptions, including technical problems, bad weather, bird strikes, airport restrictions, inadequate infrastructure, or air traffic management issues. This information will help Nigerians understand the reasons behind flight disruptions and hold the relevant parties accountable.
Ultimately, Chukwuelobe believes that the NCAA should prioritize fixing the aviation environment, reducing the causes of disruptions, improving infrastructure, enforcing rules, and protecting passengers. By taking a proactive approach, the NCAA can help minimize flight disruptions and ensure a more efficient and modern aviation industry in Nigeria.
Key points
- The NCAA should focus on improving the aviation environment to minimize flight disruptions rather than managing their symptoms.
- The authority should provide more context when publishing delay and cancellation statistics to inform the public about the causes of disruptions.
- The NCAA's role should be focused on regulation, standard-setting, and enforcement, rather than intervening in situations that are outside its remit.
