The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to commence the review of licenses of fuel suppliers to airports across the country.
The review, according to the NCAA, is to ensure that the suppliers meet its requirements and standards for safety.
This is coming on the heels of the discovery of fuel contamination on one of Max air’s aircraft Boeing 737 engine, being one of the reasons for the recent suspension of all the Boeing 737 aircraft type in the fleet of the airline by the NCAA.
In a zoom meeting with aviation correspondents, the Director-General, Civil Aviation, Captain Musa Nuhu, said investigation had commenced to determine whether the fuel contamination was from the airline or the fuel suppliers.
“We don’t know what really happened but we are doing investigating on two sides. We learnt that that particular aircraft took fuel in Lagos, Abuja and Kano; so, our people have gone to those fuel suppliers one in Lagos, one in Abuja and one in Kano, to see whether that is the source of the water in the tank,” Captain Nuhu explained.
“They are looking at their storage facilities, looking at their bowsers, their fuelling procedures to ensure that everything is okay within the standards required for Aviation fuel.”
He said appropriate action would be taken against anyone indicted in the investigations.
He also announced the decision by the Authority to temporarily “ground all aircraft” in the fleet of Max Air, describing it as “precautionary.
He added that the NCAA would suspend (the licence of) any station or fueler found culpable until “whatever problem is (resolved) to our own satisfaction”.
Captain Nuhu recounted how, some years ago, a fuelling company in Abuja was banned from supplying the product to the airport due to contamination.
But this time, he insisted, the Authority would “work with the fuel regulatory body to ensure they meet and comply with their requirements and standards”.
He assured the public that a circular would be sent to all airline operators reminding them of their safety responsibilities, especially as regards fuelling of their aircraft before embarking on flight operations.
RN
