Aviation Ministry Says Helicopter Landing Levy, “New Normal”, Pleads For Cooperation

Mr Festus Egwarewa Adeniyi Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development

The novelty arrangement of a third party to issue invoices for Helicopters that are landing has been described by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, as a new normal

The ministry also announced that the boutique organization saddled with the collection of helicopter landing charges, NAEBI Dynamic Concept Limited, had duly entered into a quadrilateral collaboration with the concerned aviation agencies including the regulatory authority.

According to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, NAEBI Dynamic Concept did sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

The media statement by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, signed by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head, Press and Public Affairs, made these disclosures.

The statement stated that “the introduction of helicopter landing levies, which is in line with international best practices to enhance the quality of helicopter operations is a cost recovery measure”.

Hadi Sirika receives on behalf of NAMA, one of nine TRACON equipment

One of the nine (9) units of RPA-200MC mobile 3D primary radar equipment was received by the former minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, a year ago. Although the equipment is primarily used by the military, NAMA and Sirika said it was meant to capture all the low-flying equipment in Nigeria’s airspace especially those prospecting in the Niger Delta region of the country.

It affirmed the ministry’s support for the collaboration thus, “We are confident that this move will improve capacity, efficiency, safety, security, and attract more investment in the aviation industry”.

The ministry thus appealed, “We encourage all stakeholders to be committed to this laudable initiative that has followed due processes and procedures, and should embrace the new normal”.

The statement enunciated further that, “Government in her wisdom having discovered a lacuna on the lower airspace where helicopter operations are dominant, directed NAMA to live up to her responsibilities to enable them generates enough resources to sustain their aeronautical architecture, enhance security and surveillance, and improve the overall quality of helicopter operations in Nigeria.

The ministry’s statement attempted an abridged background thus; “Helicopter landing levies are commonplace in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and various regions worldwide”.
It stated further that “For instance, Tallahassee International Airport in Florida began implementing helicopter landing levies under Vector Airport Systems on October 1, 2022. Helicopter landing levies are common across airfields in the United Kingdom, ranging from major commercial ones to small general aviation fields”.