The Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria(FLIDAN) has faulted the pilot and the Air Traffic Controller over the United Nigeria Airlines flight  NUA0504 scheduled for Abuja but landed in Asaba on November 26,2023.

FLIDAN stated this in its reaction through a press release signed by its General Scretary,Victoria Adegbe.

The Association indicated that both the Pilot and the  ATC seem not to follow  what was filed which by implication, meant that they disregarded “Operational Control  of the Flight Dispatcher which empowers  a 50% Joint and Equal Responsibility of the Safety of the flight to the Flight Dispatcher.”

It said” The Tower granted the request against the legal flight plan submitted by the Flight Dispatcher.”

According to FLIDAN, “The weather folder given showed Abuja weather was ok, The Pilot called the Air Traffic Control (Tower) for clearance to depart to Asaba”.

“ The Airlines’ Operational control which allowed a pilot to generate his own Operational Flight Plan, OFP, thereby taking the full responsibility of the Dispatch Release, is an outright breach of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR Part 8”

The Airlines’ Operations Control,FLIDAN indicated, further contravened the NCAR which states that an airline pilot shall take to the destination airport a copy of the Flight Plan, Dispatch Release and Load Manifest.

“ By implication, if the pilot had the flight plan on him, he would have gotten his destination right, the Dispatch Release if it was with him summarises the departure and destination which was clearly disregarded.”

The Association stated that the ATC should not have granted a scheduled flight clearance to depart to a destination that was not  filed by the Flight Dispatcher

It said that the Airline in a show of absolute disregard for Aviation Law went ahead to suspend the Flight Dispatcher who upheld the Licence issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and carried out his job as required by law.

The  Flight Dispatcher Association calls  on the NCAA to beam a search light on the Operations Control of the Airline which has seized Operational Control from the Flight Dispatcher.

FLIDAN advised that the  ATC might  want to look into  the regulations  that govern granting  clearance contrary to filed flight plan.

The Secretary General indicated in the press release  that: the Flight Dispatcher followed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 8-Operations; by filing a flight plan with Aeronautical Information Service, AIS which was transmitted to the Control Tower.

FLIDAN is the umbrella body of Flight Dispatchers in Nigeria.