NCAA cautions pilots, others on thunderstorm prevalence

Airline operators and pilots have been cautioned over the prevalence of thunderstorm and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather alert cautioning them and Air Traffic Controllers on the inherent danger associated with severe thunderstorms.
 
A statement by the aviation regulatory body signed by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye stated that these hazards include severe turbulence, microburst, low level wind shears and hail events that could affect the safety of flight operations.
 
He stated that the weather alert is necessitated by the fact that rainy season, at onset, is usually accompanied with severe thunderstorms and many other hazardous weather phenomena.
Ncaa
Adurogboye stated that the Advisory Circular (AC) is based on the year 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) which indicated that rainy season is predicted to commence in March/April and May/June 2017 in the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria respectively.
 
Adurogboye noted that Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) may temporarily close airspace when hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms, squall lines microburst or low level wind-shear are observed or forecast;
He mandated flight crews/operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) shall ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima; pilots shall exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast.
 
He asked pilots/flight crew members shall obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet Aerodrome Meteorological Offices prior to flight operations.
 
He reiterated that the regulatory authority will expect strict compliance. The NCAA had always issued weather warning to airlines during rainy and harmattan seasons.
Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind that blows southwards from the Sahara across the country between the end of November to March, the following year.
On its passage over the desert, it picks up large amount of fine dust particles (0.5 to 10 micrometers) which are transported hundreds of kilometres over the south.
The effect of the dust and sand stirred by the wind is known as Harmattan Dust Haze”
In addition, the consequence of the Harmattan is a heavy fog hence air – to – ground visibility is considerably reduced. Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions; dust haze can blot out runways, the markers and airfield lightings over wide areas. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible”.
Wole Shadare