NCAA DG affirms digital transformation to shorten licensing to 48 hours, 90 days
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has disclosed that the newly deployed Electronic Master Plan for Inspections and Certification (EMPIC) system will enable the authority to approve licenses to airline operators and medical personnel in the aviation industry in record time.
The Director General Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Ona Najomo said the implementation of the EMPIC software system will assist NCAA to manage and conduct inspections, certifications, and oversight activities within the aviation industry, as well provides a centralized platform for regulators to streamline and automate various processes related to inspections and certifications.
Captain Najomo disclosed this at the NCAA digital transformation Initiative/EMPIC PEL/MED Go-Live Stakeholders Engagement Lagos on Tuesday, adding that the system allows pilots and other aviation professionals to obtain and renew their licenses and medical certificates within days.
In his words: “manual and semi-automated processes and validation, fragmented databases, paper-driven workflows, fragmented databases and limited traceability no longer meet the demands of ICAO SARPs compliance, real-time verification requirements, global mobility of license holders, data integrity and audit traceability, increased industry volume and complexity, hence, the pillars of civil aviation such as security, integrity and operability must be supported by robust digital infrastructure.”
He affirmed that the new transition is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s standing within the global aviation community and enhance international confidence in NCAA-issued secured credentials.
Also speaking, NCAA’s Director of Airworthiness Standards, Engr. Godwin Balang, said “the first phase would focus on personnel licensing and aeromedical certification before expanding into organisational approvals and technical operations.
“Aeromedical examiners will no longer submit physical reports. They will do it from the comfort of their offices and licences will come seamlessly.”
Balang emphasized that the first phase requires stability before the authority would fully transition into digital processing for AOCs, aircraft registration, maintenance approvals and technical certification.