TAL suspends AOC renewal, says $7m investment lost

Tropical Arctic Logistics (TAL), an aviation logistics service provider, has said it has suspended the process of renewing its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) despite getting to phase three.

This followed the controversy over the renewal of its AOC even as the airline said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) did not operate in line with the procedure of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

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Chief Operating Officer of the airline, Engr. Femi Adeniji, who briefed newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos said over $7m investment had gone down the drain as a result of the failure of NCAA to renew its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).

The airline alleged a staff of NCAA connived with a foreign operator to ensure that its AOC was not renewed.

Daily Trust reports that there has been a running battle between NCAA and TAL, which commenced operation in 2018.

The NCAA DG, Capt. Musa Nuhu, had insisted the airline had not fulfilled the requirements for the renewal of the AOC.

At the press conference, the TAL COO stressed that all its manuals have been submitted and resubmitted yet the AOC was being delayed.

Adeniji said TAL applied for the renewal of its AOC on 7th September 2020, 47 days before the expiration, as against 30 days required in accordance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations Part 9 (9.1.1.8), with all post holders completed.

He said for two years the airline operated without any incident, adding that the regulatory body had frustrated the airline’s efforts to continue to operate.

The COO asked the Director General to investigate some of its officials, noting that issuance or renewal of AOC has become a matter of “who you know.”

The NCAA DG dismissed the allegations by the airline, challenging TAL to show evidence of misconduct by the NCAA or any of its staff.

“NCAA has no reason whatsoever to refuse the renewal of anybody’s certification. TAL does not meet the requirements for renewal of its AOC and its AOC would not be renewed until they meet all the regulatory requirements,” he said.