Engr. Balang Godwin
Engr. Godwin Gyang Balang is currently the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Before his appointment as DAAS in May 2023, he served as General Manager -Air Operators Certification and Surveillance from Nov 2017 to May 2023 with the NCAA. He is the current Chairman of NCAA Regulations Committee and is also the current Chairman of the Technical Committee-Regulatory for BAGASOO (Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organization). Godwin has over 25 years of aviation regulatory and industry experience.
Based on his GCE/WAEC result, he was awarded scholarship by the Bureau for External Aids to the former USSR where he specialized in Avionics and graduated with a first class from Riga Aviation University, Latvia Republic in 1996 with an MSc in Aeronautical Engineering (specialized in Avionics Radio Communication, Navigation and Surveillance systems). He is a COREN registered engineer, a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and also a holder of an Aircraft Maintenance Engineers License.
He started his career as an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (1996-2000) He was the Safety and Quality Manager for various helicopter companies involved in transportation of passengers to offshore locations- Aerocontractors 2008-2014, Atlantic Aviation Ltd 2014-2016 and Nesto Aviation Services Ltd 2016-2017. While with these operators, he successfully led the deployment and implementation of effective Safety Management Systems for them;
He is also a HSE professional and holds a NEBOSH-IGC (International General Certificate) levels 1, 2 and 3 in HSE. He is also an expert in the use of different Safety Management tools including BOW-TIE XP and several Safety Management software. He has attended several aviation professional courses with renowned organizations including FAA Oklahoma Academy, United Kingdom CAA, Singapore Aviation Academy, University of Southern California, Aviation Management Courses with IATA, CAE Aircraft Type Courses, ICAO Safety Oversight 2 of 2 Courses and many more. He possesses comprehensive knowledge of Aircraft, Air Operators Certification (AOC), Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) Certification and Safety Management Systems from both regulatory and industry perspectives.
Engr. Balang has participated both, as an airline officer and as a regulator, in the development of a software called SMS Pro that is in use by many aviation service providers for the implementation of Safety Management System and by Civil Aviation Authorities for implementation of State Safety Programme. Engr. Balang initiated and led young NCAA ICT staff in the development of the NCAA Flight Safety Dashboard(fsgdashboard.com) for which the DGCA has issued a letter of commendation to him for supporting NCAA’s drive for the use of technology in regulatory service delivery. In November 2005 he served as a member to a high-level Ministerial task force on the verification of the airworthiness status of aircraft and operational competences of commercial airline operators in the country.
In his new role as Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards his main drive and objective is to assist NCAA achieve its vision of being a leading Civil Aviation Authority in the world by ensuring that Nigerian Aerodromes and Airspace are transformed to be comparable to the best airports and airspace in the world to the satisfaction of all the travelling public. He has passion for mentorship of younger persons at work, charity and voluntary work and has been involved in a few charity and voluntary activities.