ARCO Aviation Academy has called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strictly monitor drone activities, warning that unregulated operations by uncertified individuals could compromise the safety of Nigeria’s airspace.
The appeal was made by Samuel Sunday, Chief Instructor at the NCAA-approved academy, during the graduation ceremony of its students in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Sunday urged the aviation regulator to ensure that only certified personnel operate drones to safeguard air users and support the growth of the nation’s aviation industry.
“Without proper oversight from relevant authorities, the airspace is at serious risk of interference,” he said, stressing the academy’s role as the country’s first NCAA-certified drone training school.
Sunday explained that ARCO Aviation Academy was established to meet the rising demand for drone pilot certification within Nigeria, reducing the need for aspirants to travel abroad for training.
He noted that the school had also helped to retain revenue locally while making certification more accessible.
“ARCO is the first drone-certified training institution in Nigeria and the first to receive the Approved Aviation Organisation (AAO) certification from NCAA.
”With this initiative, Nigerians can now acquire remote pilot certification domestically without incurring the high costs of going overseas,” he said.
The academy graduated its second batch of Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) pilots yesterday.
While the first set consisted of four graduates, the second set added 12 more, bringing the total number of certified VLOS pilots to 16.
Sunday charged the graduates to uphold professionalism, maintain ethical standards, and prioritise public safety, cautioning that any violations would be sanctioned by the regulatory authorities.
“I expect them to represent ARCO Aviation Academy with pride, applying every skill and knowledge gained here in their professional and community engagements,” he said.
Highlighting the broader potential of drone technology, Sunday expressed optimism about the industry’s growth and its contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
“The future of drones in Nigeria is vast, as the industry is still emerging. There is much to learn and accomplish,” he noted.
One of the newly certified pilots, Achimugu Ukwenya, expressed satisfaction with the intensive three-week training, emphasising that it enhanced his understanding of professional drone operations.
