NCAA, Sam Adurogboye
The
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has conducted random alcohol
and drug tests on 87 licensed aviation personnel in the industry.
The General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam. Adurogboye, who
stated this on Monday in Lagos, said the exercise was in compliance to a
directive from the agency’s Director-General(D-G), Capt. Muhtar Usman.
Adurogboye in a statement said the test was duly communicated in an
Advisory Circular NCAA – AMS – 004 titled “Drugs and Alcohol Policy for
Air Operators Certificate holders, Air Navigation Service Providers and
other aviation stakeholders” issued to the stakeholders in the industry
on July 1,2016.
According to him, 87 personnel from Air Peace, Medview Airline and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were tested.
He said that they were randomly tested as they were about to embark on flight operations and air traffic control duties.
Adurogboye said 10 pilots and 19 cabin crew were tested from Air
Peace while nine pilots and 32 cabin crew were tested from Medview
Airline.
He said the other 10 were from NAMA’s Air Traffic Controllers and six trainees from the Control Tower and TRACON Centre.
“However, out of the 87 personnel tested, only one crew member tested
positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana)
and was immediately suspended by the Authority from carrying out
further flight operations.
“NCAA carried out other investigations on the crew member to
ascertain the quantity of the substance on the urine sample of the
respondent.
“Quite clearly, the crew member violated the provisions of Part
2.11.1.7. (a) and Part 8.5.1.5(a) (3) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation
Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015),” he said.
Adurogboye said the NCAA had, therefore, sanctioned the offending
aircrew member in accordance with Part 2.11.1.8(f) (i) and Part
2.11.1.7(c) of Nig.CARs 2015.
According to him, the Medical Certificate and Licence of the aircrew
member had been suspended for 180 days with effect from April 5.
He said : “Accordingly, the respondent shall cease to exercise the privileges of the Licence for the period of his suspension.
“In addition, the crew member shall within seven days of receipt of
Letter of Sanction, hand over the Licence to the NCAA’s Director of
Licensing (DOL).
“The aircrew member shall undergo a comprehensive treatment and
rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension
period under the care of a consultant psychiatrist.
“At the end, the report of the Consultant Psychiatrist shall be reviewed by the authority’s consultant psychiatrist adviser.
“This is to enable the NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended medical certificate and licence.’’
Adurogboye said the random drug and alcohol tests for licensed aviation personnel would be carried out periodically.
He said this is to rid the industry of menace of crew members and
ATCs conducting flight operations under the influence of psychoactive
substance which could jeopardise flight safety.
Adurogboye said the exercise was conducted by medical assessors from the Aeromedical Department of the NCAA.
The spokesperson said the NCAA would continue to carry out consistent
surveillance on the aviation industry to ensure full compliance with
extant regulation, adding that failure would attract adequate sanction.
