The
revolution sweeping through the nation’s aviation industry is likely to
cause discomfort to private jet owners as a new policy introduced by
the Federal Government has come up with stringent conditions for their
operations, OYETUNJI ABIOYE writes
The long awaited National Civil Aviation
Policy, 2013, which took the Federal Government over one year to
prepare, was finally unveiled on Friday with severe rules for private
jet owners in the country.
The policy has barred individuals with
private jets from carrying their friends and business associates on
board the aircraft, stating that only members of their families are
allowed aboard.
It states further that companies with
private jets are permitted to carry only their employees or members of
the Boards of Directors.
Moreover, the policy has also directed
that the identities of all passengers onboard any private jet must be
made known through a manifest before air traffic control clearance will
be sought.
It states, “Approval or clearance from
the Director-General, NCAA, will not be required from Nigerians
operating non-revenue flights with appropriate insurance policies in the
following cases: “For private aircraft owned or leased by individuals,
only the family members of the owner/lessee of the aircraft will be
permitted on board as passengers; “For private aircraft owned or leased
by companies or corporate entities, only the employees and members of
the Board of Directors of the company will be permitted on board as
passengers.
“For aircraft belonging to non-scheduled
or scheduled operators, only the employees and members of the Board of
Directors of the company or the corporation may be permitted on board as
passengers; all operators will declare the identities of all passengers
on non-revenue charter flights in the appropriate general declaration
forms prior to obtaining ATC clearance.
“Nigerian carriers operating revenue
passenger charter flights will be required to have a current
non-scheduled or scheduled operator permit with operations manual that
contains flight duty time limitations, which will be strictly monitored
on regular basis.”
Similarly, the Minister of Aviation, Ms.
Stella Oduah, has directed that all foreign-registered private jets
will no longer be allowed to stay in the country beyond 15 days as
recommended by the NCAP.
She, however, said foreign-registered
private jets on special mission in Nigeria would be allowed to stay for
only 60 days, following a special approval from the office of the
minister.
Part VII of the NCAP 2013, which deals
with general aviation (private jets), read in part, “Retention of
foreign registered aircraft in Nigeria will not be permitted beyond a
period of 15 days from date of entry. However, the Minister of Aviation
may, in certain circumstances, grant the extension of this period for up
to 60 days.”
The development will affect some
pastors, business moguls, governors and politicians, whose private jets
are currently carrying registration of countries like the United States,
United Kingdom and South Africa among others.
Over 70 per cent of private jets in the
country are carrying foreign registration, a former Managing Director of
Aerocontractors Airlines, Captain Akin George, has said.
Some industry chief executive officers
said the new policy might force most of the business moguls and pastors,
whose private jets are currently carrying foreign registration, to fly
their jets outside the country every 15 days in order to comply with the
policy.
The other option for owners of private
jets with foreign registration is to de-register them and subsequently
register them in Nigeria, some industry experts have said.
“I think what the government is saying
is that most of these people should go and de-register their planes and
put them on Nigerian registration,” an industry CEO, who pleaded
anonymity, told our correspondent.
Some business moguls and pastors, who
have their private jets registered in foreign countries are: Pastor
Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Pastor David
Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church; President, Christian Association of
Nigeria; Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Alhaji Aliko Dangote of the Dangote
Group; Mr. Jimoh Ibahim of Global Fleet; Chief Mike Adenuga of Globacom;
and Chief Harry Akande.
State governments, whose jets carry foreign registration numbers, include Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.
The policy has, however, attracted criticisms from industry stakeholders with only a few supporting it.
On the declaration of the identities of
all passengers on board a private jet flight, aviation experts said
there was no where in the world where such a rule was obtainable; adding
that the filing of manifest for private aircraft was not known in
international aviation circle.
They said no single country required filing of manifest for local travel in a private aircraft.
An aviation expert and former Military
Commandant, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain
John Ojikutu, said the demand for passengers’ manifest on private
aircraft could only be the responsibility of the State Security
Services.
“The need for passengers’ manifest on
private aircraft, if required, can only be the responsibility of the
State Security Services, and in the case of private aircraft on
international flight, the Nigerian Immigration Service,” he said.
On the policy allowing only family
members and employees/members of Board of Directors on board private
aircraft owned by individuals and corporate bodies, respectively,
industry experts said the rule was not practicable.
An aviation lawyer, who spoke under
condition of anonymity, said, “This new policy means that pastors and
business moguls who own private jets cannot carry business associates or
friends on board their aircraft. Also, if the jets belong to their
churches or companies, it means they cannot carry on board their family
members.
“Contrary to this policy, the acceptable
standard all over the world is that private aircraft owners are given
opportunity by law and regulation to put the aircraft to use for the
purpose for which they are being bought.”
PUNCH
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