NCAA unveils digital platform to fast-track pilot licensing

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has taken a major step toward modernising aviation regulation with the launch of a new digital platform designed to fast-track pilots’ licensing and medical certification processes.

The platform, known as the EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification System, was unveiled on Monday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja during a stakeholder engagement session with key players in the aviation industry.

It was stressed that the deployment of the EMPIC PEL/MED platform would follow a phased approach, with full operationalisation scheduled for April 2, 2026.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the ICAO-approved technology would significantly reduce the time it takes pilots and other aviation professionals to renew their licences and medical certificates, cutting a process that once took weeks to just a few hours when fully operational.

According to him, the system represents a complete overhaul of how the authority manages licensing, medical certification, inspector oversight and data management.

Najomo said, “This is not just a software rollout. It is a fundamental modernisation of our regulatory processes. It aligns with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan and our vision of becoming a fully digital, data-driven aviation regulator.

“The phased rollout is deliberate and necessary to ensure system stability, data integrity, stakeholder readiness, and regulatory continuity.”

He added that between now and the full go-live date, the NCAA would complete data validation and migration, continue onboarding stakeholders, finalise the accreditation of aviation medical examiners, and issue operational guidelines to support a smooth transition.