NCAA releases new protocols for international flights, flight crew now to wear PPEs

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has released COVID-19 Pandemic Public Health Protocols for Nigerian based crew operating international flights as a flight crew must now wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for the duration of the flight.

This is just as the flight crew will not be quarantined but undergo mandatory testing for COVID-19 every 14 days at a cost to the Air Operator upon return to Nigeria as flight crew members who test positive for COVID-19 will be taken to a treatment center for further management.

In a letter with reference NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/120 dated 27th May, 2020 signed by the Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu to all operators, airports and other service providers, the new protocol approved by Federal Ministry of Health replaces the current practice where Nigerian based flight crew members who operate international flights are quarantined for 14 days upon their return to Nigeria

The Protocol, flight crew operating regional & international flights follows: “1. Nigeria based Airlines/Aircrew wishing to conduct flight operations outside the country shall be required to comply with the following: (a.) Ensure orientation and sensitization of crew on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures as per training and guidance from public health authorities. (b.) Ensure they have adequate stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), minimum 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizers and Universal Precaution Kits (UPK) on board aircraft before the flight. (c.) Ensure flight crew wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe IPC measures for the duration of the flight as follows:

“Flight deck Crew: Non-medical face mask and gloves. A face mask can be removed when the cockpit door is closed for safety reasons Cabin crew – Non-medical face mask, gloves, disposal surgical gowns and safety visors/goggles.

“Ensure safe removal of gloves after performing specific tasks (iv) Avoid touching their face and eyes with unclean hands d. Flight crew are to ensure that all passengers wear a non-medical face mask for the duration of the flight except when eating or using emergency oxygen. (e) Flight crew are to ensure that passengers rub their hands with alcohol-based sanitizer as they embark the aircraft.

“(f). Put up a notice in the lavatory/washroom on handwashing that requests passengers wash their hands after using the lavatory (g.) Flight crew are to maintain a safe distance between passengers and themselves;  avoiding direct physical contact. (h.) Cabin crew will serve only pre-packed meals to passengers. (i) Where practicable, flight crew will reserve one lavatory for their own use. (j). Cabin crew will apply the disinfectant spray in lavatory every 60 minutes during the flight (k). Airline will carry augmented crew to ensure the immediate turnaround of the flight with no crew member disembarking from the aircraft, except the pilot that will conduct the mandatory walk around in which case the pilot is required to wear a non-medical facemask and gloves.

“ 1. The flight deck crew that will carry out the mandatory walk around will wear PPE  (non-medical facemask, gloves and disposable protective gowns) and will ensure he/she keeps a physical distance of at least 2 meters from ground handling staff,  fuelers, dispatchers, baggage handlers and other persons handling the aircraft. m. Airline shall carry return catering.

“(a) n. Filing of the flight plan by Flight deck crew is to be done via online channels. Where this is not possible, crew members are to exercise extreme caution (wear a face mask and gloves) when filing a flight plan and receiving documentation from ground staff/flight dispatchers. Flight deck crew members are to rub their hands with minimum 70  per cent alcohol-based sanitizers after interfacing with ground staff/dispatchers. ( 0.) After the flight, Crew members are to safely remove their PPEs and ensure safe disposal in line with IPC procedures.( p). For flights of longer duration where augmented flight crew may not be practicable, arrangements are to be made with the country of destination for the flight crew to layover and comply with the mandatory duty time rest period requirement. (q).

According to the NCAA,  If the flight crew will have to layover in a foreign country to enable them to observe crew duty time rest period, “the Air Operator is to coordinate with the foreign country’s Public Health Authorities at the airport and implement the following: Commute arrangements (between airport & hotel if required): the Air Operator should arrange for the commute between the aircraft and the crew’s individual hotel rooms ensuring hygiene methods are applied and the recommended physical distancing adopted, including within the vehicle to