Protocol for reciprocal inspections of maintenance facilities
I fly an EASA registered aircraft in Nigeria, operating on an Nigerian CAA AOC. We intend to fly the aircraft back to France for maintenance, then return to Nigeria.
The NCAA insist that we obtain a Schengen visa and pay (flights, hotel) for an NCAA official to "inspect" the maintenance facility in France to verify that it meets "Nigerian standards".
Can anybody advise what our obligations are? My initial reaction is that since the aircraft is EASA registered and the maintenance is being undertaken in an EASA facility we should have no obligation to organise their "inspection". They would, of course, be in their rights to insist that they inspect the aircraft once it is back on Nigerian territory. I would also imagine that if the NCAA do want to inspect the maintenance facility, they would first need to get authorisation from the French DGAC?
Thanks in advance for any help.