L-R: Don Spiff, director, operations, licensing and training standards; Edwin Obi, general manager, quality assurance; and Chioma Usanga, general manager, examinations, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, at the workshop on “Managing Approved Organisations’ Compliance With the Nig. CARs.” at Lagos airport, recently
Sade Williams/Business a.m.
The community of approved training organisations (ATO) should ensure total compliance with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) in the course of training personnel within their organisations, Chris Najomo, director general, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has admonished.
At a stakeholders’ workshop on “Managing Approved Organisations’ Compliance With the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs)’, Najomo reminded the stakeholders of the critical role ATOs play in the aviation ecosystem, saying, “the industry, aviation professionals, and ultimately, the travelling public depend on the rigorous training and compliance measures that we establish together.”
According to him, ATOs are the foundation upon which well-trained professionals are built and they ensure the safety and efficiency of the country’s aviation operations, adding that today, “we face significant challenges in maintaining high standards of quality and compliance within our training organisations. Rapid advancements in technology, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the increasing complexity of aviation operations necessitate a proactive and collaborative approach.”
Represented at the workshop by Hyelni Bassi, general manager, licensing, NCAA, Najomo said the workshop is an opportunity for stakeholders to share insights, discuss best practices, and foster a culture of transparency and accountability in their training programmes as they are expected to explore various aspects of compliance management, including regulatory requirements, evaluation methodologies, and mechanisms for continuous improvement.
“Together, let us work diligently to ensure that our approved training organisations not only meet but exceed the expectations set forth by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations,” he added.
Taking stakeholders through the ATO regulatory standards, Adoyi Sunnie, head, ATO Inspectorate, said the workshop is being organised based on the experience of and information at the disposal of the CAA adding that most of the applications received do not comply with the requirements of the regulations.
“As the CAA and also the applicants, we have a responsibility to do what is right, the applicants must comply with regulations. They must have adequate facilities and conducive working environment appropriate for the task to be performed, there must be availability of information, technical data, equipment, training devices and materials to conduct the proposed or approved courses.
“Others are adequacy of key management and instructional personnel to plan, perform and supervise the training to be conducted; development and implementation of appropriate policies, procedures, standards through their manuals; establishment and implementation of an effective quality and safety management system, among others.
“But we are leveraging technology to get this job done as quickly as possible without compromising standards,” he said.
