By OLUSEGUN KOIKI, Lagos

Barely 24 hours to the resumption of domestic flight services, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Skypower Express, a charter operator for non-compliance to its regulations.

The regulatory authority also stopped some private charter operators from participating in flight operations for same offence.

This is as Overland Airways, one of the indigenous scheduled flight operators, said it would resume flight services Wednesday next week.

NCAA in a letter dated June 30, 2020 with the reference number NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/129, signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director-General, NCAA titled: ‘Suspension of the Ops specs Part G (Aircraft Leasing Operations) of your organization’s Air Operator’s Certificate,’ said the airline violated the Specs Part G of the Air Operator’s Certificate.

It said the airline did not also comply with the provision of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARS) Part 9.2.3.4(b). The letter was addressed to the Managing Director of the airline.

NCARS Part 9.2.3.4(b) refers to wet leasing aircraft and states: (b) No holder of an AOC issued under this Part 9 may allow another entity or air operator to conduct wet-lease operations on its behalf (a wet lease in) unless—(1) That air operator holds an AOC or its equivalent from a Contracting State that authorizes those operations;(2) The AOC holder advises the Authority of such operations and provides a copy of the AOC under which the operation was conducted;(3) Such operation does not exceed a period of 12 months and(4) The Authority approves the operations. (Daily Independent)