The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather alert cautioning Pilots, Airline Operators and Air Traffic Controllers on the inherent danger associated with severe thunderstorms.
These hazards include severe turbulence, microburst, low level wind shears and hail events that could affect the safety of flight operations.
In a statement by the Authourity, 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.
According to the statement, the Advisory Circular (AC) is based on the year 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which indicates that rainy season is predicted to commence in March/April and May/June 2017 in the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria.
Air Traffic Controllers are therefore advised to temporarily close airspace when hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms, squall lines microburst or low level wind-shear are observed or forecast.
Flight Crews/Operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) are expectef to ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima; while Pilots are to exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast.
The NCAA also advised that Pilots/Flight Crew Members to obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet Aerodrome Meteorological Offices prior to flight operations.
The NCAA urged all to adhere strictly to the directive.
