One of the top airlines in Nigeria, Max Air, has had its domestic flights temporarily halted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
NCAA instructed the immediate suspension of Parts A3 and D43 with regard to the operation of the Boeing 737 aircraft type in a letter designated NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363.
Aircraft Authorization for the airline is covered in Parts A3 while the Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications given to Max Air Ltd. is covered in Part D43.
By extension, until the regulatory body removes the ban, the airline’s domestic activities would be suspended.
“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.
“The Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft as listed hereunder,” read the letter signed by Director, Operations Training & Licensing, Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, for Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu.
The occurrences listed in the letter include the Loss of Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBDwhich occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7th May, 2023;
Another incident was Fuel Contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on ground Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023.
The third incident was the aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on the 11th of July, 2023.
Lastly, an air return by aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the 11th of July, 2023.
The NCAA said it had constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of Max Air.
The result of this audit, it said, must be found satisfactory by the Authority prior to considering the restoration of the privileges of the Operations Specifications to your organisation to further operate the aircraft type.