Private jet owners barred from carrying friends, associates

The revolution sweeping through the nation's aviation industry is
likely to cause discomfort to private jet owners as a new policy
introduced by the Federal Government has come up with stringent
conditions for their operations, OYETUNJI ABIOYE writes

The long awaited National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013, which took the
Federal Government over one year to prepare, was finally unveiled on
Friday with severe rules for private jet owners in the country.

The policy has barred individuals with private jets from carrying
their friends and business associates on board the aircraft, stating
that only members of their families are allowed aboard.

It states further that companies with private jets are permitted to
carry only their employees or members of the Boards of Directors.

Moreover, the policy has also directed that the identities of all
passengers onboard any private jet must be made known through a
manifest before air traffic control clearance will be sought.

It states, "Approval or clearance from the Director-General, NCAA,
will not be required from Nigerians operating non-revenue flights with
appropriate insurance policies in the following cases: "For private
aircraft owned or leased by individuals, only the family members of
the owner/lessee of the aircraft will be permitted on board as
passengers; "For private aircraft owned or leased by companies or
corporate entities, only the employees and members of the Board of
Directors of the company will be permitted on board as passengers.

"For aircraft belonging to non-scheduled or scheduled operators, only
the employees and members of the Board of Directors of the company or
the corporation may be permitted on board as passengers; all operators
will declare the identities of all passengers on non-revenue charter
flights in the appropriate general declaration forms prior to
obtaining ATC clearance.