NCAA AME Basic Air Law flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Civil Aviation Act 2022

Nigeria's principal aviation statute. It repealed the 2006 Act, establishes the NCAA as regulator and sets out its powers, functions, funding and enforcement authority.

NCAA body corporate

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is a body corporate headed by a Director-General. It can hold property, sue and be sued, and exercises regulatory functions under the Act.

NCAA rulemaking power

NCAA issues Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) to implement ICAO standards. These regulations bind operators, AMOs, training organisations and licence holders in Nigeria.

NCAA right of entry

Authorised NCAA inspectors may enter aircraft, hangars, maintenance facilities and operator premises to inspect equipment and records. Obstructing an inspector is an offence under the Act.

NAMA versus NCAA

NAMA provides air navigation services such as air traffic control and communications. NCAA is the separate safety and economic regulator that oversees NAMA and other aviation service providers.

Article 1 sovereignty

The Chicago Convention recognises that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory, including territorial waters and the underlying land.

Article 33 recognition

Contracting States must recognise certificates of airworthiness and personnel licences issued by another State, provided the issuing State's standards equal or exceed ICAO minimum standards.

Article 37 standards obligation

Each contracting State undertakes to collaborate in securing the highest practicable degree of uniformity in regulations and to adopt international standards and procedures to the greatest possible extent.

Article 38 differences

If a State cannot comply with an international standard, it must notify ICAO of the difference between its national practice and the standard. Differences are published by ICAO.

Annex 8 Airworthiness

ICAO Annex 8 contains standards for aircraft airworthiness, including type certification, continuing airworthiness and the conditions for recognition of certificates of airworthiness.

Annex 13 investigation

ICAO Annex 13 sets standards for accident and incident investigation: notification, investigation participation, evidence protection and report content. Its objective is prevention, not assigning blame.

Nineteen ICAO Annexes

The Chicago Convention's standards and recommended practices are published in 19 Annexes, covering personnel licensing, rules of the air, operations, airworthiness, investigation and safety management.

AME licence categories

Nigeria issues Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licences with category ratings: A for airframe, P for powerplant and E for avionics/electronics. Type ratings are added for specific aircraft.

Type rating endorsement

A specific aircraft type entered on an AME licence after assessment. The holder may certify maintenance on that type only within the category ratings held.

AME basic eligibility

Applicants must meet the minimum age, complete approved training, gain supervised practical experience, pass NCAA examinations and be recommended by the approved training organisation.

AME privileges

Within the categories and type ratings held, an AME may certify maintenance, inspection, repair and modification. The holder is accountable for each certification made.

Foreign AME licence validation

NCAA may validate or convert a foreign AME licence after verifying it with the issuing authority and assessing the holder against Nigerian requirements and regulations.

AME licence action grounds

Fraud, incompetence, regulatory violation or failure to maintain recent experience can lead to suspension, revocation or variation of an AME licence by NCAA.

AME record keeping

AME licence holders maintain a personal log of certification work and training. Records must be produced to NCAA inspectors on request during surveillance or investigation.

Certificate of Airworthiness

Issued under Nig. CARs Part 5 after inspection confirms the aircraft conforms to its approved type design and is safe for flight. It is renewed periodically.

Airworthiness Directive compliance

ADs are mandatory. An aircraft must not fly until every applicable AD is complied with, and the compliance must be recorded in the maintenance records.

Approved Maintenance Organisation

An organisation approved under Nig. CARs Part 6 with suitable facilities, personnel, procedures and quality system to perform maintenance within the scope of its approval.

Minimum Equipment List

The operator's approved document permitting flight with specified equipment inoperative, subject to stated conditions, limitations and rectification intervals. Defects outside the MEL ground the aircraft.

Certificate of Release to Service

A certification made after maintenance confirming that the work was performed satisfactorily and the aircraft is airworthy for the intended flight.

Major modification approval

Major repairs and modifications require approved design data, such as a supplemental type certificate or NCAA approval, before installation and return to service.

Continuing airworthiness responsibility

The operator or owner ensures the aircraft remains airworthy, defects are rectified, and mandatory continuing airworthiness information such as ADs is acted upon.

Accident under Annex 13

An occurrence associated with aircraft operation in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains substantial damage, or the aircraft is missing or inaccessible.

Serious incident definition

An incident involving circumstances indicating a high probability of an accident, such as an engine failure, near collision or landing gear collapse, as listed in Annex 13.

Mandatory occurrence reporting

Operators, AMOs and licence holders must report specified occurrences to NCAA so that hazards can be analysed and preventive action taken. Reports are used for safety, not blame.

Just culture principle

A safety reporting environment where reporters are protected from punitive action except for wilful violations or gross negligence, encouraging disclosure of errors and hazards.

NSIB investigation role

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau independently investigates accidents and serious incidents to determine causes and issue safety recommendations. It does not assign blame or liability.

USOAP audit

ICAO's Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme assesses a State's effective implementation of ICAO standards across eight critical elements, including legislation, organisation and surveillance.