…Joins Arik, Aero

First Nation Airlines, one of the few surviving domestic airlines has secured the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Certification.
This achievement by the airline brings to three the number of Nigerian domestic airline that have passed IOSA certification.
The other two airlines that had earlier secured IOSA certification are Arik Air and Aero.
However, there are still four domestic airlines that have not secured IOSA certification. They include Azman, Dana Air, Air Peace and Overland Airways.
The attainment of the feat by the airline was disclosed in an online statement signed by the Director, Flight Operations, Capt. Chimara Imediegwu and made available to journalists in Lagos.
Imediegwu stated that First Nation is now the first out of the 10 airlines across the African continent, chosen by IATA in 2014 to undergo the prestigious IOSA certification, to successfully complete the certification process and achieve IOSA registration within the timeline.
First Nation, he stated has joined the elite group of airlines across the globe holding IOSA certification, adding that the fact that the airline was able to attain this certification within record time attested to the airline’s robust structure.
First Nation from launch has assembled young crop of dynamic and motivated professionals which has resulted in the airline building a strong brand with respectable market presence within a relatively short period.
The airline, he said was currently working on aircraft fleet expansion that would see the airline grow aircraft fleet and route network.
Recalled that the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council held on January 25th-26th, 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia endorsed the Abuja Declaration and Associated Plan of Action on Aviation Safety in Africa, making it a requirement for all African Airlines to successfully complete IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification by end of 2015.
IOSA programme is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control system of an airline.
IOSA certified airlines have the highest safety standard worldwide in 2014 and as such IOSA has become a global standard recognised well beyond IATA membership.
The certification will help to enhance African airlines safety and operational standards to world class and in line with industry best practice.
Meanwhile, as at the time of compiling this report, it was not clear if the remaining four airlines would be able to beat the 2015 deadline.