Dana Air, Overland,
Air Peace, and Allied Air and Cargo Services – are about to earn the
much coveted international IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
Certification in the industry. Tanja Grobotek, The IATA’s regional
director for Africa who disclosed this, also confirmed that the IOSA
certifications have been obtained by Arik Air, FirstNation Airways, and
Aero Contractors.
Grobotek said that while Dana, Overland and Allied Air and Cargo Services are currently on the verge of securing the IOSA certification, Air Peace has done its last workshop and is about to be audited.
The IOSA certificate is issued to an
airline after a successful assessment and demonstration of compliance to
safety regulations as specified by the body. While commending the NCAA
for a long-standing collaboration with the IATA on operational safety,
its chief expressed optimism in seeing more airlines obtain the IOSA
certification which will be a boost to the industry in Nigeria.
Grobotek hinted that there were roundtable conferences on the impact of the environment on aviation under the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) slated for March 10, 2016, that Nairobi and Nigeria have been tipped in Africa to host. Other issues discussed at the meeting with the director-general of the NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman, include the proposed meeting with upcoming operators in order to raise their safety level and also on the need for transition from Aeronautical Information System (AIS) to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM).
The 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
the NCAA by the IATA this year which he hopes will be approved by the
authority. In his response, Usman expressed the NCAA’s willingness to
partner with the IATA on issues of safety, security and training. The
NCAA boss said that the regulatory authority has already transited from
the AIS to the AIM and that staff of the authority had undergone
training on implementation.
“Safety is not by accident but a product of sufficient planning. Hence, the NCAA is ever committed to work with the IATA on training which is key to safety and security. These trainings will be domesticated where necessary for cost effectiveness,” he said.
