The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has rejected the decision of the Federal Government to impose landing and take-off charges on helicopter operations in the country especially, on oil platforms.
The body in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo also rejected the appointment of a private firm, Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the collection of the charges.
The Air operators said agencies of the Federal Government do not provide any special services to oil platforms to warrant the charges, noting that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) does not provide any additional service to helicopter operators to justify the imposition of the fee at all helipads, oil rig platforms and others in Nigeria.
The association further explained that such action is contrary to the provisions of Section 7 (1) (r) of the then applicable NAMA Act as well as to section 1, paragraph 2 (1) of ICAO Document 9082.
The body accused NAMA for not adhering to the policies, principles and guidelines contained in ICAO documents, policies on charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services and 9161 (Manual on Air Navigation Services Economics) before imposing the Helicopter Landing and Take-off Fee, as well as Part 18, Section 18.8.1.1 (e) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
AON stated that the former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Hadi Sirika had approved the proposal for collection of Landing and Take-off Fee for all helicopters landing and taking off on and from oil fields/terminals/platforms/rigs/FPSOs and conveyed his approval for NAMA to engage and collaborate with Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited for the collection of the fee/charge/levy.
It noted that consequent upon the approval and engagement, Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited has been demanding payment of hundreds of thousands of US Dollars from already overcharged helicopter operators as Landing/Take-off Fee for landing on and taking off from oil rig platforms and private helipads without providing any service whatsoever to the operators.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
