……..to take effect from 4th January, 2018
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in conjunction with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has carried out a review of Aerodrome Operating Weather Minima for 18 airports in Nigeria.
The reviewed Aerodrome Operating Minima would serve to enhance the operating capacity of the aerodromes and avail the operators with improved minima for low visibility operations.
This is in compliance with the provision of Part 8 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs Part 8), and in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Doc.9365.
The affected aerodromes where the operating minima and takeoff minima has been reviewed are Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Dutse, Eket and Enugu.
Others are Gombe, Ilorin, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola and Zaria.
Also based on on the review, the following airports now have ILS Cat II Approach and Landing Minima, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ilorin, Gombe, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola, Dutse, Calabar and Enugu.
In a statement, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA Mr. Sam Adurogboye said “In this review, the Regulatory Authority took cognisance of improvements in visual and navigational aids within the affected airports.
According to the review, the landing minima specified for all the 18 (Eighteen) airports were determined based on applicable criteria as defined in the ICAO PANS-OPS Doc. 8168, Doc.9365.These includes all relevant amendments, as well as available navigational facilities (ILS,VOR/DME, etc) or PBN Navigational Specification (RNAV/GNSS)”.
“On the other hand, the reviewed operating minima provided for a performance based Takeoff minima for the affected aerodromes in Nigeria is determined by available visual aids for takeoff. These are Runway Centre Lights, Touchdown Zone lights, Runway Edge Lights, Threshold Lights, Runway End Lights and Runway Surface Markings”, he added.
All airlines, Aerodrome Operators and Air Navigation Service Providers are required to ensure adequate training of their personnel and flight crew that would be involved in low visibility operations.
The Air Navigation service provider is expected to ensure regular flight calibration of all available navigational aids to ensure safe and efficient flight operations, especially during low visibility operations.
Explaining when the last review was carried out, Adurogboye noted, “It should be noted that the last time weather minima were actually reviewed was in 1983. However, a semblance of revision undertaken in 1993 only stated that the takeoff minima shall be equal or greater than landing minima at all airports. This is to allow for an air return to the same airport should there arise an emergency.
However, this present review allows for takeoff as low as 150 metres Runway Visual Range (RVR). While some airports in the country with Category Two Instrument Landing Systems (ILS Cat II) can permit landing with 300 metres Runway Visual Range (RVR).
Before this review, the lowest visibility with Category Two ILS in the nation’s airports was 800 metres/550 RVR (Runway Visual Range)”
To ensure the seamless operation of these revised minima, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) had been urged to continue to ensure prompt and regular provision of required meteorological information.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also promised to continue to provide a proactive regulatory oversight that would ensure safety and security of all flight operations.
