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At summit, controllers seek regulatory framework on drone proliferation
The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has enjoined Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fast track the implementation of the regulatory framework guiding the operations of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) within the Nigerian airspace in line with international best practices.
The group stated this today in a communique signed by NATCA President, Victor Eyaru and General Secretary, Banji Olawode at its 46th Annual General Meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The duo regretted that in recent times, RPA/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance.
To them, with the preponderance of these operations particularly in a non – segregated airspace, there has to be proactive safety guidelines.
But the aviation regulatory body had recently taken cognisance of the growing requests for the use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) leading to its proliferation in Nigeria and has therefore issued safety guidelines accordingly.
In recent times, RPA/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance. Therefore with the preponderance of these operations particularly in a non – segregated airspace, there has to be proactive safety guidelines.
The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.
The association encouraged NAMA to speed up the ongoing upgrade of the VHF radios and other associated communication/surveillance facilities to meet with the required standards for sustenance of air safety.
The airspace had for long been hampered by lack of efficient and adequate radio communication which before now exposed the underbelly of the airspace safety.
Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu recently said the agency is currently optimising the VHF radio and also installing a high-powered stand-alone VHF radio as backup to the total VHF coverage of Nigeria, adding that controller working positions on the ACC consoles are also being aligned to ensure they are in proper ergonomic positions.
Akinkuotu said in order to efficiently man these installations, the agency has embarked on aggressive manpower training and simulation exercises in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to shore up capacity, just as he revealed that on-the-job training for air traffic control officers at Kano Area Control Centre which already has a running two-sector operation is in progress.
Created out of Kano Area Control Centre which hitherto controlled the entire Nigerian airspace in 2001, the Lagos Area Control Centre manages 15 subsidiary aerodromes within the southern sector of the Nigerian airspace including flights overflying the upper airspace.
