In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development defended the introduction of helicopter landing levies, stating that it is in line with global best practices and cost recovery measures. The ministry emphasized its commitment to implementing international standards in helicopter operations within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
According to the Head of Press and Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, helicopter landing levies are commonplace in countries like the US, the UK, India, and various regions worldwide. He cited examples such as Tallahassee International Airport in Florida, which began implementing such levies in October 2022 under Vector Airport Systems.
Oluseyi explained that helicopter landing levies are common across airfields in the UK, ranging from major commercial ones to small general aviation fields. These levies typically match or exceed those for fixed-wing aircraft and vary based on factors like location and services provided.
The statement highlighted the federal government’s decision to grant NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd. exclusive rights to collect helicopter landing levies in collaboration with relevant aviation authorities. This decision aims to address a gap in revenue generation in the lower airspace, where helicopter operations are dominant.
The ministry expressed confidence that this move would enhance capacity, efficiency, safety, security, and attract more investments in Nigeria’s aviation industry. The government sees it as a crucial step towards supporting the self-sustainability of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and improving the overall quality of helicopter operations in the country.
