The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced new restrictions prohibiting licensed flight crew members from working for multiple airlines. This directive, intended to bolster safety across Nigeria’s aviation industry, was issued in a circular dated November 6, 2024, and signed by the Acting Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo.
According to the circular, the decision follows findings that pilots and other crew members were providing services to more than one airline concurrently. This practice, the NCAA stated, presents significant safety risks. “Instances where pilots operate for more than one airline concurrently without safety considerations of such actions pose a safety risk to the industry,” the circular emphasized.
The directive highlights that flight crew licenses are issued to operate with specific airlines and are tied to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) approved for each operator. The NCAA further clarified that flight simulation training devices and other proficiency checks are tailored to specific operators, making it unsafe for crew members to switch between airlines without proper oversight.
In an official statement addressed to Accountable Managers, Directors of Flight Operations, and Chief Pilots, the NCAA reiterated that cross-airline operations undermine established safety standards. The circular titled “Prohibition of Ad-hoc Flight Operations for Multiple Airlines” urged strict compliance to safeguard Nigeria’s aviation sector.
