Captain Ado Sanusi, an aviation specialist and commentator, has refuted the Federal Government’s assertion that the contentious Nigeria Air will go into operation before to the next administration’s scheduled May 29 inauguration.
Sanusi, who is also the CEO of Aero Contractors, revealed this on Friday during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program.
She said that the arrival of the aircraft did not imply that it would start conducting business any time soon due to the upcoming change in leadership.
Despite the court decision halting the national carrier project, the aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, has hinted that the airline may start operations before the swearing-in ceremony.
The operation of domestic and international flights would start soon, according to Sirika, who spoke on Thursday at the National Aviation Stakeholders Forum 2023 in Abuja. We will fly before this administration ends on May 29,” Mr. Sirika declared.
“Negotiation sessions with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ethiopian Airlines Group Consortium are now taking place.
The Full Business Case must now be approved by the Federal Executive Council.
The aviation expert argued against him, stating that given the rigorous process required and the fact that the entire world is watching, he believed the regulatory body, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, would not waive it.
It is practically impossible for the airline to begin commercial passenger operation in two days.
“It’s one thing to bring an airplane into the country; it’s quite another to start an airline and secure all the necessary NCAA approvals,” he said.
“Demonstration flights are a highly significant and crucial part of obtaining an AOC.
Of course, the Director General of the NCAA has the authority to provide waivers, but since the demonstration flights are essential to the safety of operations, I doubt he would do so.
This makes the airline’s ability to take off in the next two days all but impossible. It’s not feasible, he continued.
