UK Aviation reports Air Peace to NCAA over alleged safety violations

Air Peace is under scrutiny by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) following reports from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) alleging violations of safety regulations.

This is coming just three months after Air Peace launched its popular Lagos-London route.

The route, which Air Peace operates from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, has forced ticket prices to drop from over N3 million to N1.2 million for an economy return ticket.

However, the new route appears to have ruffled some feathers, with accusations of “aero politics” including withheld winter slots and operational interference by Gatwick Airport.

Over the weekend, two mandatory occurrence reports concerning Air Peace were sent to the UKCAA, which then forwarded them to the NCAA.

The UK regulator’s letters of complaint, titled “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report” (reference number: CAA-UK-2024-0217) and “NATS Management System Safety Report,” were submitted to the NCAA.

The NCAA has requested Air Peace to clarify the issues raised by the UKCAA. The NCAA’s letter, with reference number: NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624, titled “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report,” was dated May 14, 2024, and signed by the NCAA General Manager of Operations, Capt. O.O. Lawani.

In the letter, the NCAA stated that the UK CAA had drawn attention to the lack of operational approval for Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) functions, which affects the safe operation of the aircraft.

NCAA further noted that the UK CAA stated in one of its letters that there was “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points or battery for backup.”