Nigerian startup 7Star Global Airlines (SGL) has been awarded an air operator’s certificate (AOC) for non-scheduled rotor-wing operations, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed to ch-aviation.

A presentation of the operational specifications (OpSpec) and AOC took place at the NCAA’s head-office in Abuja on January 5, 2023, according to several Nigerian news reports. Speaking at the event, 7Star Global Airlines chairman Daniel Richard announced the start-up would soon deploy its helicopters to service international oil companies across Africa.

He said 7Star was partnering with Belgian firm NHV Group, which specialises in B-to-B helicopter services with a strong geographic presence in Europe and Western Africa. NHV started operations in Nigeria in 2010, where it introduced the AugustaWestland Leonardo AW139 for oil and gas flights for Shell.

Richard said the company would initially focus on rotor-wing and later add fixed-wing operations.

In October 2020, 7Star Global Airlines announced it had received an airline transport license (ATL) from the NCAA, and planned to operate both rotar- and fixed-wing aircraft, in particular five helicopters and ten E145. At the time, Managing Director Isaac Balami claimed the company would take delivery of three E145 jets in a few weeks to start the business.

7Star Global Airlines could not be reached for comment. It is a subsidiary of 7 Star Global, which also owns air maintenance organisation (AMO) 7Star Global Hangar incorporated in 2012 as the first privately operated AMO licensed by the NCAA, according to company information.