The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development announced on Monday that implementing helicopter landing fees aligns with global best practices and aims to recover costs. Odutayo Oluseyi, the Head of Press and Public Affairs for the ministry in Lagos, stated this matter.

Mr. Oluseyi emphasized the importance of adhering to international standards in helicopter operations within Nigeria's aviation sector. He noted that helicopter landing fees are commonly applied in countries such as the US, the United Kingdom, India, and various other regions worldwide. For instance, Tallahassee International Airport in Florida began implementing such fees under Vector Airport Systems on October 1, 2022.

The statement highlighted that helicopter landing fees are widespread across airfields in the United Kingdom, from major commercial airports to small general aviation fields. Typically, these fees match or surpass those for fixed-wing aircraft and vary depending on factors like location and services provided.

The federal government has granted NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd. exclusive rights to collect helicopter landing fees under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NAEBI Concept, NAMA, FAAN, and NCAA. It was emphasized that NAMA, empowered by the amended Act of 2022, is responsible for collecting aeronautical revenues in both the upper and lower airspace to enhance self-sustainability.

The government's decision to implement helicopter landing fees aims to address a gap in revenue generation in the lower airspace, particularly where helicopter operations are prevalent. This initiative seeks to ensure adequate resources for sustaining aeronautical infrastructure, enhancing security and surveillance, and improving the quality of helicopter operations in Nigeria.

Mr. Oluseyi expressed confidence that this move will enhance capacity, efficiency, safety, security, and attract more investments in the aviation industry.