NAMA appeals to traveling public over Flight disruptions

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has expressed concern over the challenges and airlines and the traveling public are facing over bad weather.

The acting Managing Director of NAMA, Mr Emma Anasi said, “while the agency is not unmindful of the economic losses to airlines, passengers   and   other   airport   stakeholders,   the  agency   is   however   primarily required   to  ensure   safety   of   lives   and   properties   by   ensuring   that   all   flight operations   are   in   compliance   with   minimum   state   weather   conditions   as published by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for each airport.”

The agency, Anasi said, had earlier taken appropriate measures to ensure the availability and reliability of air navigation facilities atall   airports.

NAMA had, in   October   2015,   implemented   and published   Performance   Based   Navigation   (PBN)   flight   procedures   for   the guidance of aircraft into and out of 16 domestic airports in addition to similar procedures implemented at Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt in 2012.

“The agency however to used the opportunity to encourage Nigerian airline operators   to   equip   their   fleets  and  take  advantage  of   these  new   PBN  flight procedures,   as   well   as   other   satellite   based   navigation   systems,   such   as Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract (ADS-C) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communication Systems that were implemented in 2015, with increasedlevel   of   safety,   accuracy,   reliability,   integrity,   availability   and   continuity   of service,” he said.

‘Furthermore, while the current severe weather conditions are expected to improve within the next few days, NAMA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, has embarked on the upgrading of existing facilities, as well as the deployment of new communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems that will further enhance capacity as well as safety, efficiency and economy of flight operations.

“NAMA wishes to state that flight operations in 2016 have been relatively very safe following significant investments made in the developmental safety critical infrastructure and manpower. The agency wish to reassure all Nigerians that all efforts are been made to ensure more efficient and safe air navigation service delivery in the year 2017.”

“NAMA also sympathised with those who have suffered losses or inconveniences as a result of flight delays and or cancellations,” Anasi added.