Alleged Safety Violations: UK Aviation Authorities File Report Against Air Peace

Indications have emerged that Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Air Peace may be sanctioned following an alleged safety violation filed against it by the London Gatwick Airport.

According to reports, the London Gatwick Airport had filed two mandatory occurrence reports to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) against Air Peace’s operations at the airport.

The CAA’s letter of complaint forwarded to NCAA was entitled; ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report with reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217’ and ‘NATS Management System Safety Report.’

Consequently, the Nigerian carrier could be heavily fined as the pilots of its B777-200 aircraft were said to have ‘missed all available runway exits at Gatwick Airport on landing.”

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According to experts, these are severe infractions, hence the Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) to the UK CAA, alleging that Air Peace B777 exceeded the clearance limit at Gatwick Airport.

Aside from that, the UK’s Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) also wrote to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on alleged safety violations of the carrier in London.

The letter, with reference number: NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624 was titled, “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report.

It was dated May 14, 2024, and signed by the NCAA General Manager of Operations, Capt. O.O. Lawani.

In the letter, the NCAA said the UK CAA had called its attention to the no operational approval of Electronic Flight Bag functions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft, while adding that the captain of the flight admitted that an Electronic Flight Bag was being used for navigational purposes.

The NCAA stated in the letter that it received a SAFA Ramp Inspection Report numbered CAA-UK-2024-0217 which was conducted at London Gatwick on April 7, 2024, at 09:33 local time ‘on your B777-200 aircraft with registration Number 5N-BE (S/N 28324).

Nigeria’s aviation regulatory body noted that the UK CAA highlighted no operational approval of EFB functions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft, stressing that the Captain admitted that an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) was being used for navigational purposes, however, it was noted that there was no mounting device for use of EFB, no charging points or battery back-up.

Further evidence to support this according to the letter was that paper charts were not readily accessible which contradicts the OMA 46 chapter 1H.

Other findings were that the flight crew was unfamiliar with approved company procedures and manuals, and required charts were unavailable within easy reach.

Air Peace recently commenced operation to London Gatwick from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which Nigeria has with the UK.

The spokesperson of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa, could not be reached as of press time.

When called, the spokesperson of the airline picked but when this reporter began to enquire about the development, he kept mute until the call ended.

Our correspondent also sent a text message of enquiry to the spokesman but there was no response as of the time of filing this report.