The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has expressed serious safety concerns to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regarding alleged safety violations by Air Peace, a Nigerian airline newly operating on the Lagos-London route.
The UK CAA has already issued two mandatory occurrence reports (MORs) regarding Air Peace’s safety practices.
Titled ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report’ (reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217) and ‘NATS Management System Safety Report,’ these reports were sent to the NCAA for further investigation.
They outline significant safety issues, particularly regarding Air Peace’s use of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) functions.
The UK CAA’s inspection revealed critical problems, noting that Air Peace lacked the necessary operational approvals for using EFB functions.
EFBs are crucial for modern aircraft operations, providing pilots with essential flight data, navigational charts, and other necessary information electronically.
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It said the captain of an Air Peace flight admitted that EFBs were being used for navigational purposes without the required mounting devices, charging points, or backup batteries
The UK authorities noted that the improper use poses significant risks, as it can lead to the loss of critical flight information during operations.
In response, the NCAA has contacted Air Peace for clarification.
A letter from the NCAA, titled “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report,” was sent on May 14, 2024, and signed by Capt. O.O. Lawani, the NCAA General Manager of Operations.
The letter seeks a detailed explanation from Air Peace regarding the issues raised by the UK CAA and demands immediate corrective actions to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Air Peace, which launched its Lagos to London Gatwick flights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, has not yet publicly responded to the NCAA’s inquiry or the UK CAA’s findings.
Air Peace, which launched its Lagos to London Gatwick flights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UK, has not yet publicly responded to the NCAA’s inquiry or the UK CAA’s findings.
