FirstNation grounds operations as only aircraft develops fault

First Nation Airways has again suspended operations following the breakdown of its only functional aircraft.

It was learnt that the airline grounded its operations on Monday after days of epileptic services with just one plane.

Though no airline is allowed by regulations to operate scheduled commercial flights with one aircraft, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had granted waiver to the airline to operate with one aircraft.

It would be recalled that First Nation had in August last year suspended operations for two weeks over what the airline called, “inadequate equipment”.

Though it resumed operations two weeks after, one of its aircraft, an Airbus 319 was said to have been grounded since December, parked at the tarmac of Murtala Muhammad Airport two in Lagos.

Spokesman of NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye had told Daily Trust then that the authority granted waiver temporarily to the airline to operate with one aircraft to enable it sort out its other planes.

He said, “There is a waiver granted on condition that it cuts down its flight operations to only three per day one route only. Secondly, the aircraft will be operated on condition that it is serviceable/ airworthy. Thirdly, have enough flight crew to handle the flight to avoid over labouring. Fourthly, the approval is for a short time. This is to enable them get through with their other planes”.

Checks by Daily Trust showed that the only functional aircraft in the fleet of the airline developed technical fault on Sunday necessitating the stoppage of operations.

Prior to that, the airline, it was learnt had been cancelling its only flight to Abuja and as a matter of fact it had not operated any flight to Abuja through Kaduna.

When contacted again yesterday, Adurogboye confirmed that the airline had presently grounded operations but blamed it on lack of flight crew. He said their pilots went for simulation training because they needed to validate their certificates.

Efforts to speak with the airline yesterday proved abortive as an official who picked a call put to the official line of the airline said, “We have not been advised on this information”.

It would be recalled that the airline received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in 2011.