Nigerian government introduces helicopter landing levies
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has introduced helicopter landing levies, arguing that the introduction was in line with global best practices and cost recovery measures adding that it’s a global practice.
Penpushing reports that this development was made known in a statement by Head, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi stressing that the ministry recognises the importance of helicopter operations in Nigeria’s aviation industry and is committed to implementing international best practices in helicopter operations.
The statement explained that helicopter landing levies were commonplace in countries such as the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), India and various other regions worldwide, emphsising that Tallahassee International Airport in Florida began implementing helicopter landing levies under Vector Airport Systems, since October 1, 2022.
Penpushing further reports that Head, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry stated that helicopter landing levies were common across airfields in the United Kingdom, ranging from major commercial ones, to small general aviation fields.
The Ministry spokesperson added that, typically, helicopter levies matched or exceeded those for fixed-wing aircraft, and varied based on factors like location and services provided, stating that Nigerian government has given exclusive rights to NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Limited to collect the landing levies
‘The federal government has granted NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd exclusive rights to collect helicopter landing levies in line with the MoU between NAEBI Concept and NAMA (focal Agency), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’, he added.
‘It is instructive to note that NAMA, under the Act as amended in 2022, is empowered to collect aeronautical revenues in both the upper and lower airspace to support her self-sustainability. However, over the years, NAMA has predominantly relied on the upper airspace for her revenue generation’, the statement said.
‘Government in her wisdom, having discovered a lacuna on the lower airspace where helicopter operations is dominant, directed NAMA to live up to its responsibilities, to enable them generate enough resources, to sustain their aeronautical architecture, enhance security and surveillance and improve the overall quality of helicopter operations in Nigeria’, Oluseyi said.
Penpushing also reports that Head, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry said, the government is confident that the move will improve capacity, efficiency, safety, security and attract more investments in the aviation industry.
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