By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operations of Max Air in Nigeria for a series of irregularities.
In a letter NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363, signed by Director, Operations Training & Licensing, Mr Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, for the Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr Musa Nuhu, the authority directed the suspension of Parts A3 and D43 with regards to the operation of Max Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft type with immediate effect.
Parts A3 deals with the airline’s Aircraft Authorization, and D43 deals with Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Limited.
This simply translates that the airline’s domestic operations would be halted pending when the regulatory agency lifts the suspension.
The statement reads, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby suspends Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd. with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in your fleet.”
“With the above suspension, you are to immediately suspend the operations of all Boeing B737 aircraft in your fleet.
“The Authority’s action is due to the several occurrences that involved your Boeing B737 aircraft as listed hereunder,” read the letter.
The occurrences, according to the statement, listed a number of irregularities, including the Loss of the Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBDwhich occurred between Take-off at Yola Airport Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on May 7, 2023.
Another incident was fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shut down on the ground at Yola Airport on July 7, 2023.
The third incident was the aborted take-off of Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD, which occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) due to high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication on July 11, 2023.
Lastly, an air return by aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM, to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on July 11, 2023.
The NCAA said it had constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit of Max Air.
The result of this audit, it said, must be found satisfactory by the Authority prior to considering the restoration of the privileges of the Operations Specifications to your organisation to operate the aircraft type further.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Modupe Gbadeyanka