Najomo acknowledges role of designated pilots examiners, check airmen in aviation standards

The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has acknowledged the critical role played by designated pilot examiners and check airmen in maintaining aviation safety standards.

Najomo maintained that examiners must remain unbiased and objective while assessing pilot competence.

The NCAA boss stated this at the seminar for Designated Pilot Examiners and Check Airmen themed “Strengthening Safety Standards and Compliance” in Abuja recently.

The aim of the seminar was to improve operational standards, reinforce regulatory oversight and promote best practices in pilot training, examination and certification within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Represented by Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Captain Donald Spiff, Najomo stressed the importance of professionalism, integrity, objectivity and continuous learning in the conduct of pilot skill tests and proficiency checks.

According to him, aviation safety depends heavily on the quality of training, evaluation and adherence to internationally accepted standards, adding that the seminar would provide an opportunity for participants to deliberate on current regulatory requirements, exchange knowledge and improve operational efficiency.

In another development, Captain Chris Najomo, described the Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification (EMPIC) system on personnel licensing and medical certification as a key milestone in the NCAA’s drive to modernise aviation regulatory oversight and strengthen the industry’s regulatory framework.

Najomo made known at the PEL/MED Go-Live stakeholders engagement at the NCAA Lagos Regional Office in Lagos.

According to him, the EMPIC software system, which represents the first phase of NCAA’s broader digital transformation programme, will enhance efficiency through real-time services, reduced administrative processes, improved data integrity, and alignment with global best practices, covering both personnel and organisational certification processes.

In his address, the Director of Airworthiness Standards, who is also the EMPIC Focal Point and Chairman of the Flight Standards Group (FSG), Engr. Godwin Balang, expressed deep satisfaction with the transition from paper-based processes to a digital system, noting that the EMPIC platform will simplify licensing procedures and allow stakeholders to access services remotely, thereby improving efficiency.

NCAA commenced the implementation of Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification (EMPIC) system on personnel licensing and medical certification with a view to reducing delays in aviation licensing through a centralized database.