……be proactive and manage information properly
……urges media to sustain watchdog role….DG NCAA
Stakeholders in the information Management in the aviation industry have called for synergy to effectively manage information within the system to minimize panic and sensational news.
This is just as the managers called for an integrated communication and information sharing amongst all industry information managers to engender harmonious working relationship during an interactive forum for information managers in the industry.
The interactive forum was aimed at providing effective synergy among information managers in the aviation industry. It was the second in its series; the maiden edition being in 2015.
The Managers comprised Public Relations/ Information Managers of aviation agencies, private sector (airlines, Ground handling companies, other airport service providers like Police, Customs, Immigration, Agricultural Quarantine Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, SAHCOL, etc) and the media.
Declaring the interactive forum open organized by the NCAA in Lagos, Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA Captain Muktar Usman said the role of information managers in the various agencies was to communicate implemented policies of government, reputation building for organizations, increasing internal cohesion of the agencies among others.
He advised information managers to take advantage of new information technologies, the traditional media to drive business performance management.
” be proactive, access adequate information, prompt and timely press release, share this information with industry information managers”.
He added,”develop a coherence influence strategy, be consistent, prioritize influence related programme”.
Usman stressed that information managers must improve their information dissemination and information properly managed in the event of an event, particularly during incidences and near mishaps for instance air return.
“Delays caused by technical problems, weather related issues”.
After exhaustive deliberations by seasoned Public Relations/Information Managers of aviation agencies, airlines and other stakeholders which include the media, it was resolved that an association to be named Information Managers in Aviation (IMA) which Secretariat would be provided by NCAA.
“That there must be communication centre for all aviation agencies once there is an accident manned by information manager where information can be disseminated”.
They also noted that there must be improvement in the Manner of disseminating information, particularly during incidence and near mishaps and because aviation was the most regulated industry, negative and sensational reportage ignite incessant audits of the industry.
“Aviation is a business; therefore, there must be controlling centre for timely and coherent release of data/information by concerned agencies. For instance, accident investigation lies exclusively with Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB),”they added.
It was the consensus of all in attendance that the interactive forum should be a yearly affair as this will afford information managers in the industry veritable avenue to analyse, review and suggest ways to move the aviation industry forward.