NCAA suspends crewmember

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licence of an air crewmember as sanction for use of ban substance.
The yet unidentified crewmember tested positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro–Cannabinol (Marijuana) and was immediately suspended from carrying out further flight operations.

Spokesperson of the apex regulatory body, Sam Adurogboye, yesterday said the official was detected from a random alcohol and drug tests on 87 licensed aviation personnel in the industry.

The exercise, mandated by the NCAA Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, was carried out on personnel from Air Peace, Med-view and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as they were about to embark on flight operations and air traffic control duties.

Among the tested are 10 pilots and 19 cabin crew from Air Peace, while nine pilots and 32 cabin crew were from Med-view airlines. Others are 10 licensed ATC and six trainees from the control tower and TRACON Centre.

Adurogboye said the crewmember violated the provisions of Part 2.11.1.7. (a) and Part 8.5.1.5(a) (3) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015).

He said the NCAA has therefore sanctioned the offending aircrew in accordance with the provisions of Part 2.11.1.8(f) (i) and Part 2.11.1.7(c) of Nig.CARs 2015.

“The Medical Certificate and License of the aircrew has been suspended for 180 days from the 5th day of April, 2017. Accordingly, the respondent shall cease to exercise the privileges of the License for the period of his suspension.

“In addition, the crew member shall within seven days of receipt of Letter of Sanction, hand over the License to the Authority’s Director of Licensing (DOL).”

The spokesperson added that the aircrew shall undergo a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension period under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist.

At the end, the report of the Consultant Psychiatrist shall be reviewed by the Authority’s Consultant Psychiatrist Adviser. This is to enable NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and License.

“The random drug and alcohol tests for Licensed Aviation Personnel will be carried out periodically to rid the industry of menace of crew members and ATCs conducting flight operations under the influence of psychoactive substance which could jeopardise flight safety.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will continue to carry out consistent surveillance on the aviation industry to ensure full compliance with extant Regulations. Failure will, however, attract adequate sanction,” he said.