Aviation Nigeria
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have maintained that Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers' aircraft was delayed at the Akure Airport because its pilot refused to submit the passengers' manifest.
The Managing Director of the agency, Mr Nnamdi Udoh, said this at a news conference which was also attended by Mr Benedict Adeyinka, the Director of Airworthiness and Standards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Udoh said that submission of documents, including the manifest stating those on board the aircraft, was part of the mandatory requirements and regulations any pilot had to comply with before taking off from any of the nation's airports.
``We need to stress that we operate by rules and regulations in the aviation industry. Aviation is not politics and we don't play politics in the industry,'' Udoh said.
Udoh appealed to pilots and operators to comply with the operating rules at all the airports in the country.
He recalled that the aircraft, which flew the governor to Akure, had registration mark 5N565 RS -Global Express.
The NAMA boss said that the Akure Airport made daylight operations, which ended by 6.00 p.m. after which no aircraft was allowed to land or take off, except with permission from higher authorities.
He said the pilot, who flew Amaechi, called for clearance from 6.35 p.m., which was some minutes after the close of daylight operations.
``The pilot called for Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) clearance at 6.35 p.m., got clearance same time, started taxiing by 6.45p.m. and departed by 6.51p.m. ,'' he said.
Udoh said the delay in the flight being cleared to take off at that time was subject to the approval of the authorities concerned .
``By regulations, the airport manager has no power on his own to clear any aircraft at this period, except an approval is given by the authorities concerned.
``After due clearance and the provision of the needed logistics, the aircraft in reference was cleared for take off,'' Udoh said.
He, however, said that the issue was still being investigated further.
Reports had indicated that an aircraft conveying Amaechi was grounded temporarily at the Akure airport on Friday .
The incident was said to have happened after the burial of Mrs Funmi Olayinka, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, held in Ado Ekiti, (NAN)
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