The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) has raised serious safety concerns with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regarding alleged safety violations by Air Peace, a Nigerian airline that recently commenced flights on the Lagos-London route.
This route, which began operations just three months ago, has already prompted the UK CAA to issue two mandatory occurrence reports (MORs) about Air Peace’s safety practices.
The reports, titled ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report’ (reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217) and ‘NATS Management System Safety Report,’ were forwarded to the NCAA for further investigation.
The reports highlight significant safety concerns, particularly related to the airline’s use of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) functions.
The UK CAA’s inspection revealed several critical issues, stating that Air Peace lacked the necessary operational approvals for using EFB functions.
EFBs are essential for the safe operation of modern aircraft, providing pilots with critical flight data, navigational charts, and other necessary information electronically.
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.
Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace, has previously alleged both internal and external conspiracies against Nigerian airlines.
