Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs)
Where the rules come from
Nig. CARs are the binding regulations made under Nigeria's Civil Aviation Act and administered by the NCAA. They implement ICAO standards but are enforceable as Nigerian law. Advisory circulars explain how to comply; they do not replace the regulations. For exam purposes, distinguish the Civil Aviation Act, the CARs and the advisory circulars.
Parts a PPL holder meets daily
- Personnel licensing: licence privileges, ratings, medical validity, recency and logbook requirements.
- Operations: documents on board, flight rules, fuel policy, passenger briefing, duty limits and emergency procedures.
- Airworthiness: certificate of airworthiness, maintenance release, defect reporting and MEL use.
- Enforcement: the NCAA can suspend, revoke or vary a licence and can prosecute offences.
Worked example
A PPL holder's Class 2 medical expires and they fly a friend the next day. Is there a breach? Yes. The licence privilege depends on a valid medical; without it, the pilot is not entitled to exercise PPL privileges. Insurance cover may also be affected. The correct action is not to act as pilot until the medical is renewed. The answer is based on the CARs, not on what the flying school permits locally.
Traps that cost marks
- Quoting ICAO Annex 1 when the question asks for Nigerian law.
- Confusing an advisory circular with a regulation; the AC is guidance, the CAR is binding.
- Missing amendment dates and applying an old rule.
- Treating a licence as an unconditional right rather than a privilege with conditions.
- Forgetting that enforcement can include suspension, revocation and financial penalties.