The Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu says the agency has put adequate measures in place to ensure the smooth landing of aircraft during extremely bad weather with the installation of category III Instruments of Landing Systems ILS in Abuja and Lagos as pilot projects.
Speaking at the Airport Business Summit and Expo ABSE in Abuja, Capt.Akinkuotu
said the project is geared toward tackling the problem encountered by pilots during the harmattan season when trying to land.
Akinkuotu, whose paper titled, ‘Recent strides for safer 2018 airspace management’ was presented by Engr. Johnson Otitolaye noted that the installation of Doppler VOR and distance measuring equipment were on going in 14 airports to replace the old ones.
According to the NAMA boss, multi-lateration system have been deployed to the Niger Delta region to take care of helicopters flying in the area.
Also installed by NAMA includes, a back up radio in Kano and Lagos remarking that vigorous trainings for air traffic controllers and engineers were being carried out in order to be at breast with current developments.
Akinkuotu revealed that NAMA has taken steps to ensure seamless flight operations in the country’s airspace stressing that the airspace was very safe
He however noted that unmanned area remote vehicle remained a great challenge to air safety across the globe.
To continue to achieve safe airspace, Capt Akinkuotu urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to provide adequate lighting facilities at the airports while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority must not relent in their oversight function.
