FG: Violation of Regulatory Rules by Aircraft Charter Operators Worrisome
Chinedu Eze The federal government is worried about the action of some pilots in corporate aviation and helicopter charter services in violating regulatory rules, which constitutes significant safety breach in
The federal government is concerned about the actions of some pilots in corporate aviation and helicopter charter services who are violating regulatory rules, posing a significant safety risk in Nigeria's airspace. Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Chairman Festus Keyamo affirmed that the NCAA is troubled by private jet operators who disregard directives intended to ensure safe operations.
This issue was highlighted during the 2026 Alliance for Hydromet Development Annual Meeting in Lagos, where it was revealed that some private jet pilots fail to obtain necessary weather reports from the NCAA before flying.
According to NCAA regulations, pilots and flight crews in Nigeria must acquire weather briefings and reports from NIMET aerodrome meteorological offices before conducting flights. Keyamo noted that commercial airlines adhere to these regulations, but private jet operators, due to their status, sometimes believe they are exempt from such rules.
To address this, Keyamo established a seven-member ministerial task force to tackle illegal private chartered operations, non-commercial flight violations, and related security risks.
The Director General and CEO of NIMET, Professor Charles Anosike, confirmed that the agency provides pilots and airlines with access to weather reports via e-folders, which can be accessed via smartphones or web browsers. NIMET has also transitioned from manual paper methods to a digital e-Flight Folder web and tablet application, providing pilots and airlines with real-time weather reports, flight plans, NOTAMs, and maps on tablets or Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs).
Furthermore, NiMet operates a centralized SADIS API platform that supplies high-resolution World Area Forecast System (WAFS) datasets and real-time meteorological information.
NIMET also offers pilots physical Aerodrome Meteorological offices and forecast centres at major Nigerian airports for pre-flight en-route and destination weather briefings. NiMet publishes specialized bulletins covering weather warnings, alerts, aerodrome reports, flight route forecasts, and wind/temperature data. Weather reports are vital in air travel, as past accidents have revealed that pilots ignoring or disregarding weather advisories have caused catastrophic risks.
The Accident Investigation Bureau (now NSIB) has repeatedly attributed aviation incidents and fatal crashes to pilots failing to adhere to weather advisories.
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