In an unexpected development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken the decision to suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft belonging to the Max Air, a domestic carrier, with immediate effect.
The Civil Aviation regulator communicated the suspension to the airline through a letter, stating the suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air.
The Released letter, dated July 12, 2023, and signed by Capt. Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, the Director of Operations, Training, and Licensing, on behalf of Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director General of NCAA, cited a series of incidents involving Max Air’s Boeing B737 aircraft as the reason for the suspension.
With four occurrences recorded this year alone by Max Air involving its Boeing 737 aircraft, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has placed suspension all the airlines Boeing B737 aircraft type.
The mentioned occurrences were recorded between May and July this year in Abuja, Kano and Yola.
These incidents include the loss of a main landing gear wheel during a serious incident, fuel contamination leading to an auxiliary power unit shutdown, an aborted take-off due to high exhaust gas temperature, and an air return caused by a duct overheat indication in the cockpit.
In a letter of suspension to the airline dated and signed by the Director, Operations Training & Licensing, Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau for Director General, Civil Aviation read,
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet”.
“With the above suspension, you are to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet.
As a result of the suspension, all domestic flights operated by Max Air will be put on hold until the suspension is lifted. The NCAA has also formed an inspection team to conduct an audit of Max Air.
The airline’s privileges to operate the Boeing B737 aircraft will only be reinstated if the results of this audit are found to be satisfactory by the Authority.
Parts A3 deals with the airline’s Aircraft Authorization and D43 deals with Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd.
The letter also detailed all the occurrences involving its Boeing B737 aircraft which led to the Authority’s action which includes;
The letter also disclosed that, with the development, a team of inspectors has been constituted to conduct an audit on Max Air and the outcome of the audit if satisfactory will determine whether the suspended aircraft type will return to operation or not.
Max Air must have to work closely with the inspection team and address the issues raised by the NCAA. The airline’s commitment to rectifying the identified problems will be crucial in reinstating their privileges and resuming operations with the Boeing B737 aircraft.
