NCAA grounds Max Air B737 aircraft from operation

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operations of all Boeing 737 aircraft in Max Air fleet. The suspension was issued through a letter dated July 12, and titled “Suspension of parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air with immediate effect.” The letter was signed by Capt. Ibrahim Dambazau, Director, Operations Training and Licensing, NCAA, on behalf of Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director General, NCAA. Part A3 deals with the airline’s aircraft authorisation, while D43 deals with Aircraft Listing of the operations specification issued to Max Air Ltd.

The letter reads in part “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorisation) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet. With the above suspension, you are to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet”. The NCAA listed several occurrences that involved B737 aircraft in the fleet of the airline that prompted its action, adding that it had constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of airline. It said the results of the audit must be found satisfactory by the authority prior to considering the restoration of the operation specifications to the organisation to further operate the aircraft type.