NSIB’s Findings Trigger Investor Concerns, Exposing Illegal Charters; Alleged CAA Neglect

Following the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau’s preliminary findings, investors are questioning the due diligence done on aircraft owners.

The NSIB report revealed that Flints Aero Services Limited, which airlifted Adelabu, lacks a license for passenger and cargo carriage, violating its permit for non-commercial flights.

Investors Express Concern:

Despite core investors in the charter service arm of Aviation loudly expressing concerns over the years, little action has been taken.

Accusations are directed at the Civil Aviation Authority, allegedly fully aware of the situation but failing to intervene.

A charter operator shared with NigerianFLIGHTDECK that these people were doing illegal charter operations. “They get a PNCF, and someone flies this aircraft to Lagos three/four times a day.”

“ If you are doing your surveillance properly, how does someone who has a private operator license go to Lagos three, four times a day? He takes off in the morning and flies all over Nigeria daily, you should suspect him.”

Mshelia’s Take:

Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, Chairman West-Link, termed the trend as economic sabotage, highlighting tax evasion by these unlicensed operators.

“ People with AOCs will get your bill at the end of the day and you pay it over time and this goes to Government coffers. However, these ones are totally off the radar of taxes and when last I checked tax evasion is still a crime.” He explained.

Tracking Defaulters:

Under conditions of anonymity, another operator urged the NCAA to ground non-compliant airplanes, emphasizing the ease of tracking defaulters. “The NCAA should wake up and go and start grounding these aeroplanes one by one.”

“ The NCAA is capable of getting data of movement if they wish to track them. So tracking should not be a difficult thing for the NCAA; they just chose not to do it.”

Recalling a plane crash involving a member of the House of Assembly and Flints Aero Services Limited’s unlicensed flight, preliminary findings expose regulatory violations.

Hawker 800XP aircraft flight with registration marks 5N-AMM departed Airport Abuja for Ibadan Airport Oyo State before the crash.