By LAWANI MIKAIRU

Strong indications have emerged that Chanchangi and IRS are likely to resume flight operations before the end of the month after several months of stopping operations following “technical advise “  by the regulatory body, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

MMA Lagos.

A source from Chanchangi, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this last Thursday. According to him, “God’s willing we will be resuming flight operations either on the 12th or 13th of January, 2014.  We will operate Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos routes respectively as soon as we resume duty.

Also another source from IRS airline at the airline’s ticketing stand said that they are also likely to re-commence flight operations once their aircraft is back on ground from maintenance check.

In his words, “Once our machine is back from maintenance check, we will resume flight operations by end of January or first week of February,” he said.

It will be recalled that the aviation industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA,  grounded the operations of IRS Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines following a memo signed by the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, ordering all scheduled airline operators whose fleet size had been reduced to only one operational aircraft to immediately stop flight operations.

The memo, which was addressed to all scheduled airline operators and dated October 14, 2013  read in part, “You will recall that recently, the NCAA, through the Director-General, expressly suspended the continued operation of airlines possessing otherwise valid Air Operators Certificate, but who were operating with a single aircraft.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority regulations provide for more than a single aircraft for any operator to secure or operate under a valid AOC.

“This directive is, therefore, issued to formalise and clarify that prior order suspending such operations. As such, all AOC holders or operators whose operational fleet has been reduced to a single operational aircraft for whatever reason shall immediately and forthwith suspend their flight operations.

“Such operations may only resume upon clearance from the NCAA that there is more than one operational aircraft for continued flight operations and satisfaction that such AOC holder has the capacity to have safe flight operations prior to commencing any such operation.”

Chanchangi airline had only three aircraft in its fleet and two of the aircraft had gone for routine checks in Belgrade, Serbia and South Africa, respectively, while only one was operational.