NCAA warns pilots over adverse weather conditions

• Lagos, Abuja airports may not be affected

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned pilots and airline operators to observe safety precautions in line with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) during flight operations in adverse weather conditions.

This warning was contained in an Advisory Circular with reference no. AC: NCAA-AEROMET- 26: to all pilots and airline operators signed by the Director General of the Authority, Capt Muhtar Usman.

This warning is coming amid acquisition of Category 111 Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Lagos and Abuja airports. Other aerodromes are yet to get the equipment which would made pilots to land their aircraft in adverse weather conditions through instrument landing.

While these two airports can be said to possess state-of-the art navigational system, allowing unhindered flight operations, airports in the North and South East are totally not covered by these new equipment but that does not in any way hinder flight services when the weather is clement.

This Circular became imperative as the rainfall cessation will likely herald a long and severe dust haze (Harmattan) in the months ahead.

With this information, NCAA said pilots are expected to be cautious and uphold Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) while conducting flights during hazardous weather associated with dust haze at this period.

Spokesman for the aviation regulatory agency, Sam Adurogboye in a statement stated this haze comes with – a dry and dusty wind that blows southwards from the Sahara across Nigeria in the months of November to March.

He advised pilots to note that air-to-ground visibility may be considerably reduced due to the dust haze.

His words, “In addition, 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”.

However, where visibility falls below the prescribed weather minima, Adurogboye said flight operations are expected to be delayed, diverted or outrightly cancelled.

He reiterated that all pilots are obliged to exercise maximum restraint especially when severe weather condition is observed or forecasted by NIMET.

“Pilots should obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET prior to flight operations at all the airports. Flight crew/operators and air traffic controllers (ATC) should ensure adherence to aerodrome operating minima.Operators are therefore advised to ensure necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of flight delays or cancellations on their passengers in accordance with Nig. CARs, Part 19”.

“All passengers are therefore required be patient, understanding and exhibit exemplary conduct during flight delays and cancellations as safety is paramount in flight operations”.

Similarly, he noted that stakeholders are expected to ensure strict compliance with this Advisory Circular as the NCAA will view any infraction very seriously.

The Federal Government had recently on aggressive deployment of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure in the next one year to further boost the safety of air travel in the country.

Consequently, the agency has put in place arrangements for the installation of Category 3A Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at the Lagos and Abuja Airports.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu stated that other areas of progress include improvement in ATC capacity through training and retraining of critical personnel and others, addressing depleting ATC manpower, enhanced staff welfare through implementation of harmonization of salaries and the signing of new condition of service which is awaiting approval by government.

 On critical projects to be embarked upon by his administration in the next one year, Akinkuotu said although the issue of Aeronautical Information Services Automation by the agency has dragged on since 2009, his administration was determined to see to its completion so that NAMA can migrate to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) in view of all the deliverables that would accrue to the agency.

Other areas to be addressed according to Akinkuotu include another set of ILS and DVOR to be installed in Maiduguri, Jos, Minna and other airports even as he promised to commence the installation of multilateration equipment recently approved by government to capture and provide guidance to low-flying aircraft at the Gulf of Guinea.

Wole Shadare