IATA certifies Arik, 2 others as enforcers of safety regulations

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had awarded its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificates to Arik Air, Aero Contractors and FirstNation for enforcing safety regulations during their operations.

IATA’s newly appointed Regional Director for Africa, Tanja Grobotek, said this when he led a team to pay a familiarisation visit to Capt. Muhtar Usman,the Director- General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in Lagos on Sunday.

He said that those on the verge of attaining their IOSA certifications include: Allied Air and Cargo Services, Overland Airways and Dana Air.

Grobetek added that Air Peace had done its last workshop but the carrier was about to be audited.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate is issued to airline after a successful assessment and demonstration of compliance to safety regulations as specified by the body.

However, Grobetek condemned the Consumer Protection Council’s (CPC) incursion into aviation regulatory responsibilities of the NCAA with reference to the recent issue of passengers’ complaint with Turkish Airlines.

She said that IATA was taking up the matter with the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, for proper delineation of agency roles to avoid a breach of aviation protocols in Nigeria.

“A situation whereby our member airlines that are by international conventions answerable to NCAA are now being questioned by another body in Nigeria is confusing and needs to be addressed,” she said.

While commending NCAA for a long-standing collaboration with IATA on operational safety, she expressed optimism in seeing more airlines obtain IOSA certification which would be a boost to the industry.

She also said that there were round table conferences on the impacts of environment on aviation under the leadership of the International Civil Aviation organisation (ICAO).

Grobetek disclosed that Kenya and Nigeria had been tipped in Africa to host the next conference scheduled for March 10.

NAN reports that teams from both aviation agencies discussed the proposed meeting with upcoming operators in order to raise their safety level.

They also discussed the need for transition from Aeronautical Information System [AIS] to Aeronautical Information Management [AIM].

IATA Area Manager (South West Africa), Mr Samson Fatokun, who accompanied the visiting Regional Director also stated that there were training programmes lined up for NCAA personnel by IATA for the year.

The NCAA D-G, Capt.Usman, in his response, thanked the IATA team for its visit and expressed NCAA’s leadership willingness to partner IATA on issues of safety, security and training.

The D-G said that the regulatory authority had already transited from AIS to AIM, adding that its staff had also undergone training on implementation.

“Safety is not by accident but a product of sufficient planning.

“Hence, NCAA is ever committed to work with IATA on training which is key to safety and security. These trainings will be domesticated where necessary for cost effectiveness,” he said.