Regulation: NCAA stalls use of Lagos govt’s helipad
For its non-compliance with safety regulations, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refused to sanction for use, the helipad built two years ago by Lagos State government near the medical emergency unit of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
The facility had been completed but yet to be used for emergency medical services because of masts and high rise building inside the hospital which the aviation regulatory body said would expose emergency helicopter operations to danger.
A helipad is a landing area or platform for helicopters and powered lift aircraft. While helicopters and powered lift aircraft are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where such aircraft can land safely.
Helipads are common features at hospitals where they serve to facilitate medical evacuation or air ambulance transfers of patients to trauma centres or to accept patients from remote areas without local hospitals or facilities capable of providing the level of emergency medicine required. In urban environments, these heliports are typically located on the roof of the hospital.
Woleshadarenet gathered that Lagos State entered into a contract with Caverton Helicopters to fly patients who are in dire need of emergency medical evacuation to the hospital.
Spokesman for NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye confirmed that there were ‘Open Items’ that needed to be closed before permission is granted before the helipad could be used.
He said NCAA stopped Caverton Helicopters from operating the facility because of many things that there were supposed to do which he said they did not follow.
His words, “They were supposed to get back to us to inform us that they have complied with the open items we observed. They didn’t get back to us. Suddenly, we heard them advertising that they would start operations and we subsequently stopped by us.”
He listed the obstruction of masts, high rise buildings around the same environment as reasons for denying them permission to use it, adding, “They need to bring down the masts and buildings.”
Adurogboye noted that the NCAA is set up to regulate air safety within the country’s airspace, stressing that the agency does not take kindly to obstruction of airways either by masts or buildings.
To underscore the importance NCAA attach to safety, the agency in 2015 directed removal of all unauthorized high rise structures erected on flight paths.
These structures are telecommunications masts, towers and high rise buildings built without obtaining aviation height clearance.
NCAA said the action was to ensure the safety of all aircraft on approach to land at our various airports in Nigeria.
To prevent any untoward consequences, the regulatory authority then appointed Messrs Noon Mast Ventures Nig. Ltd to commence a nationwide identification of such erections and pull down all such illegal structures within the airport environment and along the flight paths.
According to NCAA’s regulation, those who are compelled by whatever reason to erect a mast or high rise structure within the airport environment and along flight paths are required to contact NCAA to obtain the appropriate Aviation Height Clearance.
Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had on August 2016 commissioned the first state-owned helipad for medical emergencies in the country at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
He stated that the Helipad would serve as lifesaving asset and critical complement to the efficient functioning of this Unit and other emergency services being rendered by the State.
He added that the Helipad would also aid the movement of patients from remote areas where healthcare facilities to provide the level of emergency medicine required are not readily available.
He equally stated that government would intensify efforts to acquire an Air Ambulance to complete the cycle, stressing that the Helipad would be operated by specially trained personnel who would give 24-hour service, guarantee expert medical care during emergency transfer and safe landing at all times.
His words, “Over the years, we have witnessed emergency situations which require timely movement of victims to appropriate medical facilities. Keeping in mind that every minute matters in securing the lives of people involved in these incidents, the usual movement by road is not the best option in such situations. Helicopters have therefore become an efficient and reliable option which can only be made possible with the availability of helipads within the hospital environment”.
