Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) reveal that its N16bn ($21,000,000) Boeing 737NG simulator remains inactive due to NCAA certification. Captain Ambursa Abbas, the College’s Simulator Director, cites the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) incapacity to certify the 2020-acquired equipment.
Captain Abbas stresses the CAA’s excuse as insufficient certification capacity in response to queries on the simulator’s relevance amidst Nigeria’s evolving aircraft fleet.
Highlighting the Boeing 737NG simulator potential users, Capt. Abass mentioned proposals from several Middle Eastern companies. However, lack of certification hinders utilization.
”We have not had any users of our simulator; however, we have proposals. We have companies waiting for us. So it is not about the relevance. As I speak, we have more than five(5) companies in the middle east that are waiting for us.”
“ As far as there is no certification, there is nothing we can do. But the NCAA, with NCAT, has sent people out to get certification.” He said.
Despite joint efforts by the NCAA and NCAT to obtain certification, according to NCAT’s director, the process stalls.
Addressing certification challenges, Captain Roland Iyayi suggests leveraging certified 737 pilots like Captains Araba and Caulcrick, former NCAT rectors, for co-optation.
Underscoring NCAT’s certificationcertification struggle, Dr. Harold Demuren says the CAA can hire people who can certify people.
He further advocates for hiring certification experts or enlisting FAA and EASA assistance if local expertise proves inadequate.
Sometime in 2022, a former NCAT Rector, Capt. Alkali Modibbo, promised deployment of the simulator in April 2022. Capt. Modibbo outlined efforts to secure international certification by March or April.
