Despite Suspension of Operations in 2022, Documents Show Dana Air’s Challenges Unresolved
Aviation experts insist FG flouted rules in latest incident
Despite the suspension of its operations in July 2022, documents sighted yesterday by THISDAY showed that many of the issues raised by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the time were not addressed by Dana Air, and remain unresolved till date.
The company’s Air Transport Licence and Air Operator Certificate were suspended indefinitely at the time by NCAA Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, after a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the authority.
Although it was revealed that Dana
Air was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations, it was learnt that many of the issues raised by NCAA were not sorted out before Dana was recalled.
Last Tuesday, an aircraft belonging to Dana Air experienced a runway incursion upon landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from Abuja, leading to another suspension by the federal government.
Though, the latest incident drew flaks from some aviation experts, who insisted that Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, breached the law for directing NCAA to suspend Dana Air.
But in the damning 2022 report seen by THISDAY, signed by the then NCAA DG, Nuhu, the body stated that investigation revealed that Dana Air committed several flagrant operational violations.
The report said, “Dana Air operated several flights on the MD 80 fleet with no licensed captain. A captain of over 65 years of age sat on the jump seat, while a senior first officer on upgrade training sat on the left seat with a line first officer sitting on the right seat.
“A Senior First Officer occupied the left seat while a First Officer occupied the right seat and operated Dana flight 342 LOS – PHC with aircraft 5N-DKI on April 23, 2022. The flight continued from PHC – ABV and then ABV – LOS. The SF/O even went as far as signing the technical logbook.
“On April 20, 2022, a re-qualifying captain flew with a line captain, instead of a line trainer (instructor) or a check airman.
“Dana Air’s Director of Flight Operations conducted checks on the aircraft even though his Check Airman authorisation had expired on the 12 of September, 2020 and, in addition, he was over 65 years of age.
“One of Dana Air’s captains, who had attained 65 years of age in July, 2021, operated several flights on the jump seat. Also, his Check Airman authorisation expired on August 23, 2021 but he continued to exercise the privilege.
“The Chief Pilot of Dana Air, who does not have an NCAA Check Airman Authorisation, yet conducted checks.
“Flight deck crews scheduled for flights disregarded flight duty times and crew rest regulations. The Zapways rostering system utilised by Dana Air, although a good system, is open to manipulation by the scheduling and rostering staff.”
The report reminded the airline that before then the Authority recently sanctioned Dana Air and its personnel for maintenance violations.
It said while Dana Air was fined a total sum of N30 million, which it had not been able to settle till date (at the time) due to financial constraints, the AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) Licence of Dana Air’s erstwhile Director of Maintenance was revoked for making false statements and false entries in the technical logbooks of the aircraft, 5N-SAI and 5N-JOY.
“The AME Licence of Dana Air’s Quality Inspector was suspended for 60 days and the AMEL Validation of one of Dana Air’s expatriate Maintenance Engineer was also suspended for 60 days, for maintenance violations.
“The Authority is convinced that Dana Air and its personnel deliberately violate the provisions of the Nig.CARs relating to safety and therefore the Airline is no longer in a position to conduct safe operations.
“The cumulative and apparent deliberate violations of the Nig.CARS, as indicated above, by DANA Air employees, especially several key post holders is indicative of a toxic corporate safety culture within the organisation.
“This, in conjunction with report of the Financial and Economic Health Audit, is a good indication that safety and security of Dana’s flight operations are under serious threat and can no longer be guaranteed."