NCAA rejigs personnel licencing exams to align competency assessment with ICAO

THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced a comprehensive review of its Personnel Licensing (PEL) examinations to strengthen competency assessment, update technical examination content and align licensing requirements with evolving aviation regulations, technologies and operational practices.

The review is also aimed at improving the reliability and integrity of examinations used to determine the professional competence of pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and air traffic controllers, whose proficiency is critical to aviation safety.

Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed this in Lagos, while delivering the opening address at a five-day workshop organised by the NCAA personnel licencing Examination Committee.

Najomo, who was represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards (DOLTS), Capt. Donald Spiff, said the exercise would focus on reviewing existing examination questions, developing new questions to address emerging technologies and operational demands, and ensuring conformity with national regulations and international standards, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Annex 1 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The workshop, themed: “Transforming Personnel Licensing Through Computer-Based Testing,” is expected to support the modernisation of the authority’s examination framework and strengthen the technical basis for licensing aviation personnel.

According to Najomo, the personnel licencing examination Committee was established to support the NCAA’s examination responsibilities, including the development, administration and periodic revision of tests required for the issuance of licences, certificates and ratings under Part 2 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.

He emphasised that the committee’s mandate required a high level of technical expertise, professional integrity and regulatory knowledge because the quality of licensing examinations directly influences the competence of personnel operating within Nigeria’s aviation system.

He said examination questions must be technically accurate, objective, fair and consistent with approved training syllabi and applicable regulatory requirements.

The DGCA noted that the expansion of Nigeria’s aviation industry, reflected in the growth of operators, airports and aviation training organisations, had increased the need for competent personnel supported by credible and effective assessment systems.

He maintained that the quality of personnel licensing examinations must keep pace with developments in aircraft technology, operational procedures and the regulatory environment to ensure that licence holders possess the knowledge required to discharge their safety-critical responsibilities.

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The review is expected to cover examination questions across various licence categories, with particular attention to developing new assessment materials for modern-generation aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aircraft.

Participants at the workshop include members of the Examination Committee, aviation safety inspectors, licence examiners, industry subject-matter experts and representatives of Approved Training Organisations (ATOs).

Their deliberations are expected to contribute to the updating of examination question banks and the strengthening of assessment processes under the NCAA’s personnel licensing framework.