Abstract
The air transport system carried approximately 2.9 billion passengers in 2012, representing a 5.5 per cent increase in scheduled commercial revenue passenger-kilometers (RPKs) over the previous year. In addition, today’s expanding aviation system comprises multiple and interrelated systems that are geopolitically diverse, technologically complex and highly multidisciplinary. In light of the complexity and anticipated sustained expansion of the industry, continued efforts to improve safety are essential. ICAO is committed to developing proactive and risk based solutions to reduce the global accident rate and the Organization calls on the aviation community to recognize the importance of adhering to a globally harmonized approach to improving and monitoring safety.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the study
Air Travel in Nigeria commenced during World War II (1939-1945) when it become necessary to move troops and supplies fast across the country. Several air strips were built then which were converted after the war, to Civilian use (Ileoje, 2003). Nigerian Airways was established in October, 1958 as a Joint Venture between the Nigerian Government, Elder Dempster Lines and the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). The Airways took over the operation of domestic flights from the disbanded West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) which had been operating commercial aircraft within the country since 1946 (Filani, 1983). In 1963, the Nigerian Federal Government bought out the other shareholders and Nigeria Airways became wholly-owned by the Nigerian government. The airline has a monopoly for providing domestic air services in Nigeria. It was also the national flag carrier for international services along the West African Coast, Europe and the United States of America.
Recognizing the importance of a global framework to support ICAO’s Strategic Objectives for the safety and sustainability of the air transportation system, the Organization developed and began to implement its strategic Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) in 1997. The 37th Session of the Assembly confirmed the Organization’s intent to continue to apply the GASP as a strategic tool for safety enhancement, focusing action where it is most needed. The changes that the GASP has undergone were driven mainly by its strengthened role as a high-level policy, planning and implementation document guiding complementary and sector-wide air transport progress in conjunction with the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP). In July of 2013, the ICAO Council approved the first edition of the revised Global Aviation Safety Plan and submitted the document for endorsement by the 38th Session of the Assembly. The GASP specifically establishes targeted safety objectives and initiatives while ensuring the efficient and effective coordination of complementary safety activities between all stakeholders. In this latest iteration of the GASP, the objectives and related initiatives have evolved to reflect progress in the implementation of proactive safety management practices for Member States and industry. They are furthermore aligned with ICAO’s strategic planning processes. A key priority of the GASP is to continually reduce the global accident rate through a structured and progressive approach comprising near-, mid- and long-term objectives. In addition, the GASP objectives are supported through specific safety initiatives that are categorized according to distinct Safety Performance Enablers. The Plan recognizes that States and regions face varying safety challenges and provides a means for establishment of priorities within the global framework. In this way, the initiatives included in the GASP will serve to deliver tailored progress within the framework of each Member State’s safety oversight capabilities, their safety management culture as well as with the implementation of a safety structure necessary to support the air navigation systems of the future. The high-level GASP objectives involve the continuous enhancement of safety and quality in aviation operations. This is achieved through the promotion of collaborative approaches including increased sharing of safety information as well as the prioritization of necessary investments in the people, technologies and assistance projects required to improve safety worldwide. The GASP will continue to focus on improvements in regions experiencing significant traffic growth, or continuing to encounter specific safety challenges.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Considering the inevitability of air transport and the high level of risk involved, maintenance of good safety culture is considered imperative. To ensure that adequate priority is given to safety, effective management, maintenance and inspection of the safety integrity of equipment must be guaranteed. Management must respond promptly and appropriately to reported safety information, ensuring that same is disseminated to designated sections immediately. In response to safety demands, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) have stipulated regulations, to which Nigeria is a signatory. To this end, individuals, airlines and parastatals within the aviation industry must be held accountable for unsafe behaviour. Contrary to the above submission however, most airlines in Nigeria do not work in tandem with foreign airlines with respect to ICAO and IATA safety rules. Non – airworthy aircrafts ply the nation’s airspace; proper inspection of airports is seldom conducted; defaulting operators cut corners and free themselves from stipulated sanctions.
1.3 Aims and Objectives of study
The main aim of this study is to ascertain the role of international civil aviation organization in the development of civil aviation in Nigeria. However, for the successful completion of this study, the following objectives were set out by the researcher:
- To ascertain the role of ICAO in the development of Nigeria aviation sector
- To ascertain the relationship between ICAO and the NCAA in attaining safety on air travel.
- To ascertain if there is a relationship between the control of the records of airlines and achievement of objective
- To determine if control is related to the system of communication within NCAA
1.4 Research Questions
For the successful completion of the study, the following research question was put forward by the researcher
- What is the role of ICAO in the development of Nigeria aviation sector?
- What is the relationship between ICAO and NCAA in attaining safety on air travel?
- What is the relationship between records control and attainment of NCAA objectives?
- How does control relate to system of communication within the NCAA?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be useful to the Nigerian civil aviation authority (NCAA) in the regulation of the activities of air transport companies. The study will also be useful to ICAO in implementing control measures on different air travel agency across the globe to ensure safety in the sector.
The finding will also be of benefit to all air travelers in adopting safety measures ha is put in place by the regulatory bodies.
Finally the study will be of benefit to academia’s as it will add to the pool of knowledge, lecturers, teachers, students, researchers and the general public.
1.6 Scope and Limitations
The scope of this study is on the role of international civil aviation organization in the development of Nigeria aviation sector. However, the course of the study, the researcher encounter some constrains to the scope of the study which are enumerated below:
Finance: is a major limitation to the scope of the study, as available resources does not allow for a wider scope
Time: the time allocated to the research work is limited because of other academic works
Availability of research materials: material for this work is not readily available as the researcher has to go to the field and source for materials.
1.7 Research Methodology
The data collected was not an end in itself but it served as a means to an end. The end being the use of the required data to understand the various situations it is with a view to making valuable recommendations and contributions. To this end, the data collected has to be analysis for any meaningful interpretation to come out with some results. It is for this reason that the following methods were adopted in the research project for the analysis of the data collected. For a comprehensive analysis of data collected, emphases were laid on the use of absolute numbers frequencies of responses and percentages. Answers to the research questions were provided through the comparison of the percentage of workers response to each statement in the questionnaire related to any specified question being considered.
Frequency in this study refers to the arrangement of responses in order of magnitude or occurrence while percentage refers to the arrangements of the responses in order of their proportion.
The simple percentage method is believed to be straight forward easy to interpret and understand method . the researcher therefore choose the simple percentage as the method to use. The formula for percentage is shown as.
% = f/N x 100/1
where f = frequency of respondents response
N = Total Number of response of the sample
100 = Consistency in the percentage of respondents for each item contained in questions.
1.8 Definitions of terms
ICAO:
International civil aviation organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
Administration:
Administration in NCAA entails the practical application by the directorate of administration and corporate affairs, of management principles and concepts in managing the affairs of other directorates/units in the authority
NCAA
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the apex regulatory body, overseeing the activities of all airlines and their pilots, engineers and cabin staff, airports, airstrips and heliports, navigation aids, all service providers including the airport authority and the air traffic service provider, aviation training institutions, etc. NCAA watches over the entire industry
Aviation
Aviation is the practical aspect or art of aeronautics, being the design, development, production, operation and use of aircraft, especially heavier than air aircraft. The word aviation was coined by French writer and former naval officer Gabriel La Landelle in 1863.
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