October 25, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned airline operators who allow unauthorised personnel into their aircraft cockpit during operations to desist from doing so.
The aviation regulatory agency gave the warning in a letter sent to all operators, stressing the importance of the aircraft cockpit and insisting that that compartment is a sterile area.
The letter NCAA/ DG/ AIR/1/11/324 dated 25th October 2021 addressed to accountable managers of airlines, decried the worrisome trend and vowed to take action.
The letter reads in part: ”It has been brought to the notice of the authority of a worrisome development in which passengers are admitted into the flight deck ( cockpit) especially on commercial air transport flights.
”Aircraft flight decks are designated sterile working environment and the presence of unauthorised persons is both a distraction to safe flight operations and a potential security . In addition, it is a violation of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations ( NCARs) 8.5.1.12 and 8.5.1.13.
”All operators and flight crews are hereby warned to desist from admitting unauthorised persons into the cockpit during all phases of flight operations with immediate effect.
”Any violation of non-compliance with the directive will result in the imposition of applicable sanctions on both operators and flight Crew.”
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
