NCAA to meet EU over Medview ban
.As airlines’ B767 aircraft arrives for Hajj
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it is set to hold high level talks with the European Union Air Safety Committee (ASC) of the European Commission (EC) this week to resolve all discrepancies that will lead to lifting of the ban on Medview Airline.
A statement from NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, said this is part of a series of engagements with the European Commission (EC) in the aftermath of a failed application by Medview Airline for a Third Country Operator Authorisation to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
He disclosed that the application failed during the verification of documents submitted by airline which were found to be non-compliant with Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 and therefore could not qualify for approval.
His words: “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) thereafter received the notification of non-compliance through the office of the Nigerian Mission to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Upon receipt of notification the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, met with senior officials of European Commission in Gaborone, Botswana, during the Regional Safety Oversight Organisation Conference in February of this year. During this meeting extensive discussions were held with a view to resolving the matter”.
Similarly, the Regulatory Authority engaged Medview Airlines to straighten out issues arising from the failed application to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
He revealed that the EU Air Safety Committee invited NCAA and Medview for a tripartite meeting in Brussels on the 25th – 26th April, 2017, adding that after the deliberations, the European Commission (EU) with the full support of the EU Air Safety Committee unanimously decided to ban Medview Airline.
Adurogboye said the ban is in accordance with the common criteria set out in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005. Therefore, the Union’s list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Union should be amended to include Medview Airlines in Annex A to Regulation (EC) No 474/2006. The ban will take effect a day after it is published in an official journal.
He noted that the Commission expressed its readiness to reconsider the inclusion of Medview Airline on the EU Air Safety List as soon as all issues of non-compliance are resolved with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
He reiterated that in addition, as part of the efforts to arrive at a resolution and lifting of the ban, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will conduct a full scale audit of Medview Airlines’ operations. The result would therefore determine further actions and engagements by the Regulatory Authority.
Meanwhile, Medview Airline’s B767 aircraft on Tuesday returned from a comprehensive maintenance at Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved MRO facility.
The aircraft with registration 5N-BQN, which was withdrawn from service to undergo scheduled maintenance (C-Check), flew into Lagos airport last night.
With a capacity of 221 (191 economies and 30 Business class) passengers, the aircraft has now been positioned for the airlift of pilgrims for the Umrah – lesser Hajj with the first flight on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
The airline will operate its schedule flights to Jeddah from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano for the airlift, while charter flights will be operated from Airports of choice.
The airline is building up capacity in preparation for Dubai route come July 4, 2017, the expansion to francophone countries and Hajj operations in July.
