Pioneer airlines gets flight operations certification

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Pioneer Airlines for unscheduled flight operations. The Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, who handed over the certificate to the management of the airline in Abuja on Wednesday, congratulated the airline while commending it for its high safety standard.  […]

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Pioneer Airlines for unscheduled flight operations.

The Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, who handed over the certificate to the management of the airline in Abuja on Wednesday, congratulated the airline while commending it for its high safety standard. 

He, however, charged the airline to maintain the standard as the operatives of NCAA will continue to monitor its operations to ensure the best standard of practice.

Speaking after receiving the operation certificate, the Managing Director of Pioneer Airlines, Capt Henry Ungbuku, said the airline got the certification in just over four months as a result of its readiness for business.

“We have two aircraft, which are owned by the Bayelsa State Government. Before the certification process, the regulation states you must have a minimum of six aircraft for you to be able to get the certification for scheduled operations. 

“So, since we had two, we applied for unscheduled, which is like charter and group booking and things like that. But before we finished the certification process, the civil aviation authority reviewed the process and now brought the aircraft requirement down from six to two.

“That is why we are applying for the scheduled operation from tomorrow [Thursday]. Because the requirement is two and we already have two aircraft,” he said.

Capt Ungbuku said the company is leasing the aircraft from the Bayelsa State Government, adding that “once we start flying, we pay on a monthly basis in terms of lease rentals.”