Nosa Aituamen
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched a new effort to revolutionize airstrip development and operations across the country.
This effort is geared towards the need to establish specific regulatory policies that address the unique nature of airstrips, separate from broader aerodrome regulations.
Speaking at the maiden Airstrip Owners and Operators Stakeholders engagement in Lagos with the theme: “Enhancing Safety, Compliance and Collaboration for Efficient Airstrips Operations”, the Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo pointed out that international and regional aviation bodies now recognize that a poorly regulated operational environment can endanger the entire industry.
In response, he said, the NCAA has intensified efforts to broaden regulatory oversight to include all types of aerodromes, with particular attention now being paid to airstrips.
Captain Najomo reaffirmed that the NCAA’s authority to regulate airstrip operations is firmly rooted in the Civil Aviation Act of 2022.
He explained that while international standards, such as those in ICAO’s Annex 14 Volume I, set out certification requirements for aerodromes, these standards can sometimes be overly stringent when applied to airstrips.
To this end, Captain Najomo said, the NCAA is working to develop regulations specifically tailored for airstrip operations, balancing the need for safety with the principles of ease-of-doing-business.
This initiative, he said, also aligns with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s five-point agenda for sectoral transformation.
According to the DGCA, there are currently 92 airstrips recorded in its database, encompassing operational facilities, non-operational ones, those under rehabilitation, and newly constructed airstrips.
Alarmingly, he said, only a few of these have valid operational permits, underscoring the urgency of the regulatory push.
The stakeholders’ meeting, Captain Najomo explained, is not only about reinforcing safety standards but also about building stronger communication channels between the NCAA and airstrip owners and operators.
Others are, clarifying regulatory requirements, identifying operational challenges, and fostering collaboration for future development.
Captain Najomo noted that, the ultimate goal is to ensure that airstrip operations in Nigeria adhere to global best practices and contribute meaningfully to the broader aviation ecosystem.
In his address of welcome, the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, NCAA, Mr. Godwin Balang, explained that the aviation sector’s rapid evolution necessitates a review of existing regulations to align with current realities.
He emphasized the importance of updating regulatory documents and adopting new strategies to address emerging security threats, while ensuring airstrips contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He also reiterated that modern regulatory approaches have shifted from enforcement-heavy tactics to strategic collaboration, aimed at achieving effective results without compromising safety.
Mr. Balang expressed optimism that the forum would produce valuable and far-reaching contributions towards the transformation of Nigeria’s airstrip landscape.
Recognizing the scale of the task ahead, he admitted that one day would not be sufficient to address all the issues but encouraged stakeholders to continue submitting feedback through various communication channels.
Nosa Aituamen