By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has condemned the call for the inspection of aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, in Nigeria after it has been flown into the country from abroad.

The chairman of AON, Captain Nogie Meggison who made the condemnation said  such proposal  could make Nigeria  a dumping ground for bad aircraft if, after bringing the aircraft into the country, it was discovered that the aircraft had a major fault which could not be repaired.

Captain Meggison stressed that such proposal may affect the safety and development of the aviation sector as aircraft that do not fit into the Nigerian NCAA’s specifications in terms of airworthiness could be flown into Nigeria.

He said the usual practice where, aircraft safety inspectors from the NCAA, travel to the maintenance facility or the manufacturers facility or country of sale to carry out the necessary check on the aircraft before being flown into Nigeria is better and safer.

He said defects or faults found by NCAA inspectors on any aircraft requiring rectification could be carried out at the seller’s  C Check Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO), before such planes are flown into Nigeria.

According to him “If you say the aircraft should be flown into Nigeria first , before NCAA inspectors carry out technical checks on arrival in Nigeria  and it is discovered that there is a major defect or the aircraft does  not comply with Nigerian specification, what do you do “?