Stakeholders in the nation’s aviation sector including Pilots have expressed divergent views over the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA’s) decision to ban local airline pilots and crews against working for multiple airlines concurrently in the country.
LEADERSHIP reports that the NCAA had in a memo obtained by our Correspondent, addressed to all aircraft operators, the acting director general of NCAA, Capt Chris Najomo, insisted 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 titled, ‘Prohibition of Ad-Hoc Flight Operators for Multiple Airlines Background,’ dated November 6, 2024 with the reference number: NCAA/DGCA/AOL, said that the unprofessional conduct was discovered by its surveillance reports.
However, in response to the NCAA’s memo, pilots have disagreed with the memo saying pilots may be forced to seek greener pastures out of the shores of the country.
According to a pilot, who craved anonymity, in an exclusive chat with LEADERSHIP, argued that operators will be forced to engage expatriates who will charge them more and drain their profits.
“If they ain’t careful, pilots will resign and exit Nigeria for greener pastures where they can earn well to cater for their families. Then, Nigeria as a nation will have a huge pilot shortage, which will force the airlines to engage expatriates and pay in dollars,” the source stated.
However, a local airline operator, had informed LEADERSHIP that the NCAA’s memo is the best to develop the nation’s aviation sector.
According to the management staff of the thriving airline, working for multiple airlines concurrently in the country inhibits new pilots from joining the system.
He also stated that the rest periods for Pilots is so important and mustn’t be compromised in order to ensure safety at all times.
“Rest periods are there for a reason and the truth is some of these pilots are charging $1000 per day. Working with multiple airlines is pure greed over safety and it also inhibits new pilots from joining the system,” he stated.
Another Captain, who craved anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said loyalty is paramount in the employment of personnel, not only in the airline business but in other forms of employment.
He argued that it’s very unprofessional for a pilot employed by an airline to operate flights in the cockpit of an airline belonging to another company.
“It’s unprofessional for a pilot employed by an airline to operate flights in the cockpit of an airline belonging to another company. Just one aircraft is a multi-million-dollar investment. The best pilots are employed to guarantee the safety of the aircraft in service.
“There are other criteria to determine the quality of the pilot to be employed. Among these are the character, social life, and history of the pilot. Loyalty is paramount in the employment of personnel, not only in the airline business but in other forms of employment.
“A pilot employed can automatically lose his job if discovered that he/she has operated a flight for another company. There are also legal implications such as breaching the company bond agreement when a pilot employed operates on the aircraft of another company.
“The insurance of the aircraft operated by an undocumented pilot renders it invalid in case of an accident or if, by a random audit by the insurance company, they discover that the pilot is not on the insurance policy,” he argued.
