We'll See...

Nigeria's Ministerial Task Force on Audit of Aircraft and Airlines Competencies reported Monday the agency had restored an "appreciable" level of safety standards to the country's much-maligned aviation industry.

The task force -- which was called on to investigate the state of Nigeria's commercial aviation fleets in the wake of several highly-publicized fatal accidents in 2005 -- also took the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to task for lax oversight and failing to maintain compliance with safety regs.

"So far, the Task Force has carried out audits/aircraft inspection on Chanchangi, Sosoliso, Bellview, EAS, ADC, Spaceworld, Virgin Nigeria and Aero Contractors Airlines," said Task Force Chairman Folashade Odutola to Nigeria's Vanguard news service. "In the course of the audits, the Task Force has examined records, inspected airline facilities and interviewed key personnel of the operators in order to ascertain adequacy of manning levels, safety management and other systems required to be in place which will determine the operational competence of the aircraft operators."

Odutola stated Nigeria's airlines are now safer to fly than ever -- and the Task Force intends to make sure they stay that way.

"Although monitoring of directives on rectification of the observed deficiencies is always recommended to the NCAA, the Task Force revisits the airlines as necessary in order to verify closure of open items/rectification of deficiencies," she said.

Odutola told a press gathering Monday all auditing was done in compliance with IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) procedures.

FMI: www.nopa.net/Aviation/messages/6.shtml