Aviation Round Table Commends Presidency for Order on Ease of Doing Business, Cautions Agencies - By Stella RONE

Mr. Gbenga Olowo, President, ART.

The Aviation Round Table (ART) unequivocally commends the Presidency for the recently issued Executive Orders designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in the Aviation sector of the economy. In furtherance of this unique presidential initiative, our body also appreciates the dismantling of the "dash table "at our international airports which has improved passenger facilitation.  ART recommends that operators and various agencies involved in Aviation should also address the following administrative and safety issues:

FAAN, NAMA and Trade Unions should desist from embarrassing the country with acts of barricading Check- in- Counters of airlines in order to collect outstanding payments.  The agencies should develop efficient and effective ways of collecting dues, rates and remittances from operators in the industry rather than strong arm tactics that could lead to break down of law and order in the airport environment.

The internal Communication system among all agencies involved in the management of the Air Navigational Services should be immediately overhauled for a modern technology driven with accurate and effective communication system to promote aviation safety. The communication gap often exhibited between airline operators and Air Traffic Controllers has variously resulted in instances of Air & Ground Returns, abortion/cancelation of flights with attendant jeopardy to flight safety and financial losses to airline operators who are the raison d'etre.

The agencies should diligently discharge their duties to operators in the industry by ensuring that Air Navigational Services and Ground handling services both at the point of departure and destination are more efficient in order to prevent incidences of flight clearance /approval at departure and denial of landing rights at destination. A strict enforcement of AIP and AIP bolstered by the imposition of appropriate sanctions for defaulting agency or persons could address this unwholesome operational safety lapse.

The agencies, who render services at a fee should also be insured; while also compensating for financial losses resulting from negligence and failure to discharge responsibilities to operators, clients or passengers. This is the hallmark of corporate governance and ease of doing business.

ART assures the general public of its preparedness to support all measures by government and its agencies in the promotion of flight Safety and passenger convenience towards the revival of the Nigerian economy and the ease of doing business.