There are indications that First Nation Airways that is billed to commence operations in May is likely to have its aircraft impounded by European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EuroControl) when it (the airline) flies to Europe.

With its headquarters in Brussels, EuroControl coordinates and plans air traffic control for all of Europe and these involve working with national authorities, air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports, and other organisations.

It was gathered that FNA was indebted to EuroControl when it (FNA) operated under Bellview.

The director-general of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren who commented on the matter in Lagos recently, declared that any airline indebted to any agency in Europe or America would have itself to blame if and when it commences operations to those regions.

It was learnt that EuroControl through the European Airspace Management Agency (EASA) had shown interest in FNA as soon as it was announced that it was the offshoot of Bellview Airlines.

Demuren countered that EASA was a safety agency and that it showed interest in the new airline because they (EASA and NCAA) are currently sharing information, adding that FNA may operate its progenitor's European route (s).

However, he declared: "If they owe money to any agency in Europe, they will impound their aircraft when they get there. It happened during the era of Nigeria Airways and so it is not new."

On the airline's operations, Demuren maintained that the carrier would have to undergo the rigours of re-certification.

"There are no double standards as regards re-certification in the country. Those days of giving certification in the night are over. We are a Category One country and every airline must pass through the same process that Arik Air passed through when it was going for re-certification before it started flying to the United States.

"FNA comes from Bellview. They have been working for their air operator's certificate (AOC) for the past 18 months. They are now doing their demonstration flight and they have to fly 50 hours without passengers. They have done about 20 already. They have formed a new company registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). They have recapitalised; they have new aircraft which is better for us. They have new A320 series. Right now, they have not started operations," he added.

Besides, he said every airline would go through all the five processes of the exercise which include pre-application, formal application, manual evaluation, demonstration and certification.

Meanwhile, the chairman of FNA, Mr. Kayode Odukoya said he had set up a team that would look into Bellview's debt profile.

"We are already discussing with the creditors and we have agreed on what to do. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is one of our creditors; we are not going to lie about that, but we have reached an agreement. When you are honest with people, you are not dodging, you change brand. The management team is in place; we have not relocated from the Bellview office.

"It is in the creditors' interest that you have a going entity to deal with your liabilities. The creditors are actually happy that you have the capacity to do something. The creditors have been patient all this while, but what you just need to do is to have a payment plan with them. To have a liability is not a crime," Odukoya stated.