How fund shortage delayed automated flight plans-NAMA

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has come out in strong defence of the implementation of Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) automation, saying that the project has not been abandoned.

Spokesman for NAMA, Mr. Khalid Emele said the disclosure by the Aeronautical Information Management Association of Nigeria (AIMAN) that “NAMA management has neglected the implementation of the AIS Automation, thereby exposing personnel to Covid-19 pandemic.” was no true.

The AIS Automation contract, he explained was signed since 2009 and without prejudice to previous efforts the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari through the dedicated leadership of the Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika has made remarkable interventions targeted at actualizing the AIS Automation project.

These interventions, he reiterated came by way of granting and approval of funding for the project which never happened in the past, stressing that the agency on its part had never relented in its bid to actualize this dream.

“For instance, the installation of VSAT nodes necessary for the transmission of data to remote locations is currently ongoing with eight important nodes already running”.

The objective of the AIS is to ensure the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation. When completed, it will enhance air to ground and ground to ground information and boost interconnectivity between aircraft and air traffic controllers.

The non automation of the AIS has made it very difficult for the adoption and usage of e-flight planning, e-Reception of raw data.

According to Emele,”The joint pilot briefing offices where the AIS automation will operate from are simultaneously being installed with eight offices fully completed.  Just yesterday, another batch of equipment for installation landed at the seaport and is being cleared in Lagos.

Explaining the cause of delay in implementing the project eleven years after the idea was conceptualized, NAMA said following management’s desire to fast-track the automation project, the contractor was recently mandated to air-freight Kano and Kaduna master VSAT equipment for immediate installation instead of shipping.

Kano VSAT, he noted is already up and running while that of Kaduna has been cleared to NAMA stores for immediate installation.

His words, “Furthermore, the Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS) and AIS database have been manufactured and are ready for shipment. The point must also be made that management has vigorously pursued the training and retraining of different categories of AIS staff preparatory to the takeoff of automation”.

“While several batches of personnel have undergone factory training at different times, other AIS staff has equally been trained at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria to ensure they are at par with their colleagues worldwide.

“It is pertinent to note that the ongoing project is huge and all-encompassing, even as it seeks to address many gaps in the sector including the automation of AIS processes which had remained unattended to in the past. However, with the current level of support from President Mohammadu Buhari and Sen. Hadi Sirika as well as the avowed commitment of NAMA management, we are delighted to note that the AIS Automation project will soon be completed to the delight of all”.

Wole Shadare