Why airport certification is key to expanding country’s aviation sector
Over the years, the federal government through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has failed to certify any of the nation’s airports, even though it is a mandatory requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The wakeup call for the NCAA and the concerned authorities came rather too fast and to the surprise of many as the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) refused to renew Nigeria’s Category 1 safety status because Nigerian airports did not meet up to the safety and security requirements.
FAA therefore gave Nigeria 65 days from 24th of August 2017 to resolve the identified issues or stop operating flights to and from the United States of America.
The NCAA therefore swung into action to ensure it bridges the identified gaps by starting with the certification of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. It also promises to certify other airports concurrently.
John Ojikutu, member of aviation industry think tank group, Aviation Round Table (ART) and Chief Executive of Centurion Securities told BusinessDay that he doubts if Nigeria can attain the Category 1 safety status without having its major airports certified.
According to Ojikutu, airport certification is a requirement and compliant to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) Part 12.6.4, which carries obligations on the operator to continuously maintain standards and competence in operation and ensuring availability of skilled manpower in sufficient number for the periodic maintenance of the facilities and the system.
He disclosed that the certification was not meant for ICAO to conduct but for it to witness as observer.
“The implications of the certification are that FAAN can now be sued by any operator for damages to property or equipment due to negligence. For example, like the loss of the Emirates aircraft undercarriage on the badly maintained Abuja runway. The NCAA too could be jointly sued and hopefully, it must have ensured that the certificated airport is properly and sufficiently insured for damages to any airline aircraft that could be caused through operational inadequacies or by its staff,” he added.
Airport certification is an ICAO strategy for the standardization and harmonization of airport services, facilities and procedures, as well as ensuring uniformity in safety critical aerodrome elements irrespective of differences in ownership and management of such aerodromes.
It is also a means by which State demonstrate that airports in its territory meet regulatory safety requirements on a continuing basis, and that it is providing uniform conditions for safe and efficient operation of aircraft from all other States, as required by Article 15 of the Chicago Convention.
Few weeks back the NCAA approved the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as the certified aerodrome operator for the provision of required airport services, facilities, systems and equipment at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, in line with international standards and recommended practices.
The current drive towards the certification of Nigerian airports is very significant not only as a requirement by ICAO and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, but even more importantly as one of the critical safety targets set by the Abuja Ministerial Declaration of July 2012, that mandated all African states to certify their international airports. The certification is also an enabler for the attainment of a regional hub which Nigeria desires for Lagos and Abuja.
Muhtar Usman, director general, NCAA said the objectives of ICAO Aerodrome Certification Programme are to assist States to effectively implement the critical elements of a safety oversight system in accordance with Annex 14 Vol. I, and other relevant ICAO specifications.
“Airport certification is also to signify to aircraft operators and other organizations operating at the aerodrome that, at the time of certification, the aerodrome meets the specifications regarding its facilities and operations, and that it has, according to the certifying authority, the capability to maintain these specifications for the period of validity of the certificate.
“The certification process also establishes the baseline for continued monitoring of compliance with the specifications,” Usman added.
The requirement for the certification of aerodromes stems from Article 15 to the Chicago Convention which states that “all airports in a contracting State that are open to public use, shall provide uniform conditions for aircraft of all other contracting states”.
Furthermore, Section 1.4.1 of ICAO Annex 14 Volume 1 Amendment 4, requires that “States shall certify aerodromes used for international operations in accordance with the specifications contained in Annex 14, as well as other relevant ICAO specifications through an appropriate regulatory framework.”
Similarly, Section 12.3 of Part 12 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations provides for the certification of all Nigerian aerodromes designated for public use by day and night, for international flight operations of aircraft with maximum take-off mass exceeding 2,730kg.
Usman explained that aerodrome certification provides the baseline for continued monitoring of compliance with the standard specifications and facilitates the identification and closure of critical infrastructural gaps.
“Aerodrome certification enable states to enhance the competency level of safety critical manpower as required for safe operations and leads to implementation of airport collaborative decision making (ACDM) as required by ICAO ASBU.
“It enhances aerodrome capacity, enhances the net-worth of an airport, increases competitiveness and potentials for a regional hub and attracts external funding,” he said.
Usman disclosed that NCAA is required to immediately commence the implementation of a post certification surveillance plan for the continuous monitoring of airport services, facilities, procedures and manpower levels to ensure that the acceptable Level of Safety is not infringed on.
NCAA in her Safety oversight responsibilities, would ensure compliance with ICAO and national regulations at all times, and where necessary, sanctions would be imposed or certificate suspended to enforce compliance with standards.
Similarly, FAAN has the utmost responsibility of operating the Murtala Muhammed Airport in accordance with ICAO standards and recommended practices, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, as well as any special conditions on which the certificate is issued.
FAAN is also required to promptly notify the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of any changes in aerodrome services, facilities, procedures or staffing levels that can affect the certification of the aerodrome.
Likewise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is required by Para 2.13.1 of Amendment 35 to ICAO Annex 15, to publish in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) the certification status of all Nigerian aerodromes, showing: aerodrome name and ICAO location indicator; date and if applicable, validity of certification and remarks, if any.