All owners of foreign registered privately operated aircraft in the country who have failed to regularise their documentation in conformity with their operational status will face severe sanctions from the regulatory authority.

Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) Capt. Muhtar Usman, said the regulatory authority was ready to commence the regime of stipulated sanctions on the erring operators.

According to him, the sanctions will include grounding of operations, revocation of licence and outright seizure of aircraft forthwith.

According to him, “The use of these operators’ aircraft for commercial operations is at variance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation, Nig.CARs 9.1.1.4[a][b] which is tantamount to gross violation”.

The Director General, therefore, reiterated the warning that all private operators that have been issued with NCAA’s Flight Operations Clearance Certificate (FOCC) and Maintenance Clearance Certificate (MCC) in line with Nig.CARs 8.2.1.9, are by these certification authorised to operate within Nigeria strictly for private operation only and not for hire and reward.

It is on this strength that Captain Usman has declared his preparedness to revoke the operating license of any identified defaulting private operator.

Earlier, a committee was set up by the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka to take a holistic appraisal of their operations. The committee has since submitted its report.

Part of the recommendations of the committee is the revocation of a defaulting operator’s licence and having   aircraft impounded immediately.

Thereafter, a mandatory payment of 100,000 US dollars fine will be required to secure the release of the aircraft.

Usman said this directive provided a window of opportunity for all foreign registered privately operated aircraft owners to regularise their documentation. “This will enable them operate a legitimate commercial operation in line with the authority’s regulation if they so desire”, he said.