- Says Ramp Inspection Normal Procedure In Aviation
- CHIGOZIE AMADI
LAGOS – Air Peace has denied viral reports, which claimed that it violated safety in its United Kingdom operations.
A statement signed by the management of the airline and circulated to aviation journalists on Monday night, insisted that the reports contained a lot of falsehood aimed at creating fears and doubts in the minds of the flying public.
Air Peace The airline insisted that from the commencement of its inaugural flight to London on March 30, 2024, its operations had been subjected to intense scrutiny by the relevant authorities in the United Kingdom.
The airline, however, said this scrutiny was welcome, saying that it would continue to pursue operational excellence and display commitment to the safety and security of its passengers.
The airline in the statement, confirmed that the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) had written to it, after the agency’s statutory ramp inspection on April 7, 2024, to request clarification on the use of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and some other concerns.
According to the statement, the airline provided the necessary information, and the matter was resolved without any issues.
Air Peace insisted that it was wrong to say it didn’t have an approval for its EFB, clarifying that it received approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), while all its Boeing 777 aircraft were certified to operate with EFBs.
On the claim that its B777 aircraft lacked iPad mounts and charging ports in the flight deck, the airline insisted that this was incorrect.
It explained that its entire B777 aircraft are equipped with charging ports in the cockpit, while the aircraft are also equipped with iPad mounts.
On the location of its cockpit library on the B777 aircraft, which was raised by the UK CAA, the airline insisted that the B777 designates two locations for storing manuals and books – one behind the captain, while the other is under the jumpseat.
The statement hinted that during the inspection, the books were stored under the jumpseat, as it is commonly practised.
The statement added: “We understand the inspector’s preference for the books to be placed behind the captain and have ensured this preference is accommodated for all operations going forward.
“There was also a concern about the captain’s choice of runway exit after landing. Instead of exiting at the middle runway exit, the captain, out of his professional discretion, opted to exit at the end of the runway.
“This may have delayed the arrival of another aircraft. We acknowledge this deviation and have addressed the matter with the captain to ensure adherence to preferred exit procedures in the future.”
The airline insisted that ramp inspection was a normal procedure carried out by aviation authorities globally, and the UK CAA did the right thing by notifying the NCAA of the outcome of their inspection.
It however expressed shock on the exaggeration and sensationalisation of the issue, which it said was closed with the authorities over a month ago.
The airline insisted that it was unprofessional for the media to publish slanted and alarmist reports to create public panic and impugn its deeply ingrained safety culture.
The airline insisted that its safety record was second to none, stressing that it goes above and beyond to comply with all established safety standards.
“Safety is the bedrock of our operations, and we have robust operational mechanisms to guarantee full compliance always,” the statement said.
