Air traffic controllers lament degraded safety tools, flight diversions
Air traffic controllers have expressed concern about the diversion of international flight to Accra, Lome and other places as a result of poor integrity of navigational aids at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
President, Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) Abayomi Agoro in a statement described the situation that led to diversion of British Airways and Air France flights as, “unwholesome”.
Agoro disclosed that the sad event was occasioned by poor visibility and haze but more worryingly accentuated by the degraded state of navigational and landing facilities due to lack of calibration.
He further stated that they were equally concerned with the untold hardship the situation had visited on their members working in Lagos Terminal Approach position whose statutory responsibility is to ensure a round the clock safety in taking off and landing.
His words, “In as much as we sincerely appreciate government’s huge investment in the upgrade of aviation infrastructure in the sector, NATCA is nevertheless concerned about the perennial state of degradation of the essential facilities and working tools with attendant increased stress and workload which in practical terms translate to serious safety implications for the flying public”.
NATCA therefore urges the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to restore the full serviceability of the navigational and landing aids to ensure an effective end to the uncalled hitches recently experienced and prevent the re-occurrence of same.
“This is not the time to apportion blames but it must be emphasized that the time has come for all hands to be on deck to ensure seamless safety regime and prompt navigational services”.
“May we also use this medium to assure the flying public of our competence and preparedness to work with airlines and aviation stakeholders to ensure safety in our airspace’.
Foreign Airlines into the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos have continued to divert flights into neighbouring countries especially Accra, Ghana due to poor visibility for landing.
A top airline official at the Lagos airport who pleaded anonymity said two carriers from Europe, one from North Africa and another from East Africa diverted their flights because visibility was not good enough for landing.
Two days ago, the visibility fluctuated and impeded aircraft landing and take off.
The newly installed category three Instrument Landing system (ILS) recently installed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to aid seamless landing are not fully in use due to the absence of runway and approach lights.
