Air Peace defends its safety practices against UKCAA claims of violations, citing NCAA approval for its electronic flight bag. The Nigerian airline addresses specific concerns and criticizes media sensationalism, emphasizing its commitment to safety and compliance with international standards.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, has robustly defended itself against allegations from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) regarding supposed safety violations. The dispute centers on the airline's use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), which the UKCAA claims lacks operational approval.
In an official statement released on Monday, Air Peace emphasized that its operations have been meticulously scrutinized since its inaugural flight to London. The airline assured the public that all safety measures are fully compliant with international standards.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports alleging a safety breach by Air Peace in the United Kingdom, which contain a lot of falsehood aimed at creating fears and doubts in the minds of the flying public,” the statement read. “From the commencement of our inaugural flight to London, our operations have been subjected to intense scrutiny by the relevant authorities, which we most welcome as we pride ourselves in our continued pursuit of operational excellence and unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our esteemed passengers.”
The controversy stems from a UKCAA "Ramp Inspection" report dated April 7, 2024. The UKCAA raised concerns over Air Peace's compliance with UK safety regulations, specifically highlighting the use of EFB functions without apparent operational approval.
Air Peace has categorically denied these claims, asserting that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved its EFB. “We can confirm that the UK Civil Aviation Authority wrote to Air Peace, after their statutory Ramp Inspection on April 7, 2024, to request clarification on our use of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and some other concerns.
We provided the necessary information, and the matter was resolved without any issues,” the airline stated.
Air Peace also addressed other specific concerns raised by the UKCAA. For instance, the UKCAA's claim that Air Peace’s Boeing 777 aircraft lacked iPad mounts and charging ports was refuted. “All B777 aircraft are equipped with charging ports in the cockpit, and we ensure that all our B777 aircraft have iPad mounts,” the airline clarified.
Further, the airline addressed the UKCAA’s concerns about the location of the cockpit library and the captain’s choice of runway exit, which allegedly caused a minor delay for another aircraft. Air Peace acknowledged these issues and confirmed that corrective measures have been implemented.
The airline criticized the media for sensationalizing the matter, emphasizing that the issues were resolved amicably with the authorities over a month ago. “Ramp Inspection is a normal procedure carried out by aviation authorities globally, and the UKCAA did the right thing by notifying the NCAA of the outcome of their inspection,” the statement noted.
Air Peace reiterated its commitment to safety, maintaining that its safety record is exemplary and compliant with all established standards.
As the debate continues, the aviation community will be closely watching the resolution of this dispute, which underscores the importance of uniform safety standards in the global aviation industry.
