Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Distance Themselves from Proposed TSC Review

The single sharpest fact is that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers has distanced themselves from the proposed review of the Ticket Sales Charge sharing formula. This move comes after the association's national leadership recently expressed support for the review, which has sparked heated debate within the aviation industry.

The chapter, led by its Chairman, Agunloye Fredrick, made their stance clear in a communiqué, stating that the position presented by the national leadership does not represent the views of their members. They claimed that they were neither consulted nor carried along before the publication was made, and as a result, they dissociate themselves from it.

According to the communiqué, the Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy collected from airline passengers and shared among aviation agencies. The funds are used to support certification and licensing of airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, maintenance organisations, and aviation training organisations. The revenue also enables the authority to meet Nigeria's financial obligations to international aviation organisations.

The chapter warned that reducing the NCAA's share of the TSC would undermine aviation safety oversight and regulatory effectiveness. If this happens, they fear that it could lead to reduced frequency of safety inspections and surveillance activities, delays in certification, licensing, and regulatory approvals, and reduced capacity for continuous training and requalification of aviation safety inspectors.

They also pointed out that weakening the regulator would ultimately weaken the entire aviation industry. The communiqué stated: "A strong regulator remains the foundation of every safe aviation system. Effective regulation provides oversight over every operator, every airport, every air navigation service provider, and every aviation organisation."

The proposed review of the TSC sharing formula has been met with resistance from various stakeholders within the aviation industry. Airlines have warned that a change in the formula could lead to increased costs and potentially collapse within 30 days.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers has made it clear that they will not back down from their stance on the proposed review. Only time will tell if their concerns will be addressed and if the TSC sharing formula will be revised.

A strong regulator remains the foundation of every safe aviation system. Weakening the regulator through reduced funding ultimately weakens the entire aviation industry.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers has made it clear that they will not back down from their stance on the proposed review. Only time will tell if their concerns will be addressed and if the TSC sharing formula will be revised.