The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has banned airplane mode during flights.
In his speech during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Director General of Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo, stated that all phones must be turned off during flight.
He said, “All mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phase of flight on all Nigerian airlines. Switched off.
“There’s nothing like anything like flight mode any longer. Must be switched off. Nigerian air operators are therefore required to amend their operations manual to reflect this requirement and submit to the NCA for approval, if different from this resolution.”
He stressed that the era of business as usual is over noting that the authority was taking a series of tough measures to address the growing trend of unruly passenger behaviour across the country’s airports.
He further affirmed the Authority’s committment to enforcing stricter compliance by both airlines and passengers, while also introducing public enlightenment campaigns to sensitize travelers on their responsibilities.
He added; “And, you know, I had to call this stakeholders meeting because going further, we know what the responsibilities of the airlines are, what the responsibilities of passengers are, and where the CA, the FAAN, AVSEC stands. I can assure you where we have decided. I’ve told the Director of Consumer Protection we’re going to do a lot of radio jingles, TV series.
“We’re going to go on air. We’ll make sure that we take all these preambles of informing passengers, going further of their responsibilities, and going further, things will not be as usual as what it is. If you’re unruly, you’re unruly.
“So, you see, we have a new beginning from where we are. It will not be as business as usual. I can assure you that. It will not. And I want to also tell the airline operators here, we are going to start checking that you would do the adequate training.”
Capt. Najomo also stated that the NCAA would ensure that all airlines implement adequate training of conflict resolutions for their staff.
This is just as he warned operators who had not done so to go back and make sure they get this done.
The Captain further ighlighted the growing security risks in the sector noting that the aviation face threats steaming from deliberate sabotage.
According to him; “The threats we face in aviation, steaming from deliberate or attempted sabotage, non-compliance with aviation protocols by traveling public, non-implementation of approved standard operating procedures by service providers, non-cooperation or collaboration among agencies at the airports or systemic oversight require, one, a decisive, united, and accountable response, which I’ve just explained.
“We are going to do a mock response next week. We are going to carry it out in Lagos and Abuja, and we are going to come up with a result. And I’m going to go public and tell them what we have come, what we have decided.
“So if you think in your mind you are going to come and be unruly passengers, we’re waiting for you. Aviation security personnel and law enforcement must be reinforced with training, professionalism, and clearly defined rules of engagement. All stakeholders, from airlines to intelligence partners, must work without silos to share threat intelligence and coordinate rapid response.”
He also urged airline authorities to always be prepared to handle unruly behaviours professionally and responsibly as they cannot be totally eliminated.
Similarly, the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, who spoke on enforcement procedures, stated that Nigeria faces lighter unruly behaviors.
He explained that in most cases abroad, even if you are cooperative, unruly behaviour is treated with extreme prejudice.
Achimugu urged passengers to always channel complaints through the NCAA.
