NCAA Lifts Ban on Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft in Nigerian Airspace

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the lifting of its ban on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Nigerian airspace, with the approval effective from 12 February 2021. The announcement was confirmed in a statement signed by NCAA Director-General Captain Musa Nuhu.

The aircraft type had been grounded in Nigeria, alongside most of the world's aviation regulators, following two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX: Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff in October 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed six minutes after departing Addis Ababa in March 2019. Then-Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika had announced Nigeria's ban on the aircraft type in the wake of the accidents.

Return to Service Conditions

The NCAA said its decision followed receipt of a Continued Airworthiness Notification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in November 2020, which detailed a set of return-to-service requirements including new flight control computer software, updated crew operating procedures, and modified stabiliser trim wire routing. The Authority said it had reviewed the FAA's Airworthiness Directive alongside the findings of the international Joint Authority Technical Review.

Under the new approval, domestic operators intending to fly the Boeing 737 MAX must work with Boeing and the NCAA through an Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Programme before the aircraft can be registered in Nigeria and issued a Standard Certificate of Airworthiness. Foreign carriers operating the type into Nigeria must submit evidence of compliance with the relevant FAA directive.

Industry Implications

The lifting of the ban is significant for Nigerian carriers with 737 MAX aircraft on order, including Air Peace and Arik Air, as well as Green Africa Airways, which had previously announced a commitment for up to 100 of the aircraft. The NCAA said it would continue to enforce strict compliance with safety regulations going forward, describing any violations as a serious matter.