The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has adopted automated procedures for processing Airline Operators’ Certificates for intending airlines and existing operators after several years of processing them manually, The PUNCH reports.

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu, the NCAA had adopted electronic processes for AOC acquisition and directed all intending airlines and existing carriers to follow the new procedures.

Nuhu said that the regulatory body had enhanced AOC Operations Specifications (Op.Specs) for all current AOC holders.

According to him, the directive was contained in an All Operator Letter referenced NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/370, dated August 18, 2023, and is applicable to all AOC holders certificated by the authority

Aviation stakeholders have long been advocating for the adoption of electronic processing for the AOC procedures, citing Europe, America and other parts of the world where manual procedures had been abandoned for automation.

The statement added, “These new and enhanced multi-paged Op.Specs contain the authorisations, conditions, limitations and approvals issued by the Authority in accordance with the standards which are applicable to operations and maintenance conducted by the AOC holder.

“In view of the above directive, all AOC holders are required to electronically complete the appropriate pages of the attached Op.Specs and return same to the NCAA via only email addresses indicated below on or before August 23, 2023.”

Nuhu directed the operators to send the appropriate pages to Chairman, Flight Standards Group, Godwin Balang; Director, Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Ibrahim Dambazau and Director, Airworthiness Standards, Gbolahan Abatan.