The federal government on Sunday disclosed that airlines operating within and into the country airspace can begin the use of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft following its lifting of the ban on the aircraft brand in 2019.
The Boeing 737 Max was the fastest selling aircraft model in commercial aviation before two fatal accidents involving the model provoked global outcry and condemnations which led to its ban across airspace in the world.
On 29 October 2018, a Lion Air Flight 610 (JT610/LNI610), scheduled domestic flight operated by the Indonesian airline Lion Air from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang the Boeing 737 MAX operating the route crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew.
It was the first major accident involving the new Boeing 737 MAX series of aircraft, introduced in 2017, and the deadliest involving the Boeing 737 series.
The second crash involved an Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 also on a scheduled international passenger flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
On 10 March 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft which operated the flight crashed near the town of Bishoftu six minutes after takeoff, killing all 157 people aboard.
Following the deadly crash, the Nigerian authorities through the Ministry of Aviation on March 13, 2019 joined countries of the others to halt the operations of the aircraft in their airspace.
Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu in an electronic statement on Sunday announced the decision to allow the aircraft type to resume operations in the Nigerian Airspace.
The approval, according to him took effect from February 12, 2021.
He explained that “On the 18th November 2020, the Authority received a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) CAN-2020-24 advising it of the United States Federal Aviation Administrations (FAAs) ongoing continued operational safety activities related to returning Boeing Model 737-8 and 737-9 (737 MAX) aircraft service.
He said the FAA later issue a final rule/Airworthiness Directive (AD) that mandated Boeing Manufacturer to install new flight control computer software and new 737 MAX display system software, incorporate certain Airplane Flight Manual flight crew operating procedures, modify horizontal stabiliser trim wire routing installations and conduct an angle of attack sensor system test and conduct of an operation readiness flight by Boeing.
The NCAA DG acknowledged that it recognised that a Joint Authority Technical Review (JATR) that comprised of International Aviation Authorities such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada (TC) and the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority amongst others carried out a joint review of the Boeing 737 MAX safety system alongside FAA and NASA.
In the light of the above, Captain Musa explained that the FAA had released documents on Boeing 737 Flight Standardisation Board Report, revision 17, identifying special pilot training for the 737 MAX and Safety Alert for Operators, stressing that NCAA recognises the joint review of the Boeing 737 Max Safety System.
He thus directed that all intending domestic operators are required to work with the Boeing Company and NCAA for the Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Programme in order to have the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in Nigeria and issued with a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness, while all foreign air operators that intend to operate the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into Nigeria must submit evidence of compliance with the FAA AD 2020-24-02.
The NCAA he added would continue to ensure strict compliance to safety regulations and warned that any violation would be viewed seriously.
