Appeal panel upholds NCAA’s N33.5m sanctions against FirstNation, pilot

A five-man appeal panel has upheld and reaffirmed the N33.5 million sanctions imposed on FirstNation Airways and one of its pilots by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
Adurogboye said the panel had concluded its sitting and submitted its report to the regulatory authority.
He said FirstNation Airways had earlier filed an appeal following a letter of sanction written to the airline on January 23, 2017.
“It will be recalled that violations were detected during a ramp inspection on the airline’s aircraft, Airbus A319, with registration mark 5N-FNE, on November 8, 2016, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
“After the exercise, it was discovered that the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) was not in possession of a current medical certificate.
“In addition, the airline similarly rostered the pilot to carry out operational flights when obviously his medical certificate had expired.
“Therefore, the airline and the pilot violated Parts 8.4.1.5 (a), 8.14.1.2 (1), 8.14.9.4 (a) (1) and 8.2.1.8(a) (24) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015.
“Consequently, in accordance with IS 1.3.3. (1)(14) of the Nig.CARs, 2015, the airline and pilot were fined N32 million and N1.5 million being moderate civil penalty for the violation,’’ Adurogboye said.