Nigeria cleared for takeoff to U.S.

Nigeria cleared for takeoff to U.S.    The U.S. Transportation Department's Federal Aviation Administration on Monday gave Nigeria its top rating for aviation safety.
   The African country has achieved a Category 1 rating under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, which means Nigeria complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO is the United Nations' technical agency for aviation, which establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.
   The FAA said the IASA Category 1 rating is based on its July review of Nigeria's civil aviation authority. With this rating, Nigerian air carriers may now apply to operate to the United States with their own planes.