UK reports Air Peace to NCAA over safety regulations violations

In what seems like a deliberate attempt to frustrate Air Peace out of London route the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority has filed a report to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority against Air Peace, informing it about the airline’s violation of some of its aviation safety regulations. This was after London Gatwick Airport filed two mandatory occurrence reports to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regarding the airline’s operations at the airport. In the reports titled ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report’ with reference number CAA-UK, -2024-0217′ and ‘NATS Management System Safety Report’, and itemised Air Peace safety violations at the Gatwick Aerodrome, leading to the CAA reporting the airline to the UK’s Department of Transport (DOT).

The UK Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) also reported the alleged safety violations by Air Peace in London, to the NCAA. Following that, the NCAA wrote a letter to Air Peace’s CEO with reference number NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624, titled ‘United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report dated May 14, 2024’. It was signed by the NCAA general manager of operations, O.O. Lawani. The NCAA, in the letter, told Air Peace that the UK CAA said the report was conducted at London Gatwick on April 7, 2024, at 09:30 local time “on your B777-200 aircraft with registration Number 5N-BE (S/N 28324).” In the letter, the NCAA said the UK CAA called its attention to the lack of operational approval of electronic flight bag functions affecting the safe operation of its aircraft and that the flight captain admitted that an electronic flight bag was being used for navigational purposes.

Adding that the CAA reported in the letter that the airline had “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points or battery for backup,” the NCAA asked Air Peace “to notify the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of your corrective actions on these findings.” The letter also revealed that evidence showed that the paper charts were not readily accessible, which violated OMA 46 chapter 1H. The flight crew was not familiar with the approved company procedures and manuals, and the required charts were not available within easy reach. Additionally, the UK CAA alleged that the airline’s navigation plates were retrieved from outside the flight deck, and there was no established two-way communication with the ground crew supervising the refuelling with passengers on board. This allegation came just as Air Peace began operating on April 30, 2024, from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the London Gatwick route under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and the UK.