NAMA Successfully Deploys Area Surveillance Facility

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA’s) infrastructural base received a boost in the wee hours of Thursday (yesterday) with the successful deployment of surveillance system for area radar control.

The development occurred at NAMA’s two area control centres in Lagos and Kano to allow for optimal flight operations by pilots within the airspace.

Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, managing director of the agency, who was elated by the feat, described the migration from procedural  to area radar control as part of the dividends of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the aviation sector as  being promoted by Princess Stella  Adaeze Oduah, Aviation minister.

NAMA boss, who praised the initiatives of the previous leaders of the agency over their foresight in conceptualizing the idea of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) for the country, equally applauded the efforts of the regulatory agency-NCAA for ensuring the smooth take off of the new air traffic service.

Mr Supo Atobatele, general manager, Public Affairs of the Agency said 18 flights operated by some foreign airlines like Air France, British Airways, Lufhansa, Air Portugal, Turkey Airlines, South African Airways, Egypt Air and Saudi Air took advantage of the new air traffic service that commenced midnight -00hr UTC as they were vectored on radar within the Kano flight information region.

Area radar control is air traffic control service, provided for airplanes flying within the Flight Information Region (FIR).This morning exercise kicked off simultaneously in Kano and Lagos.

He enumerated benefits of the new traffic management to include increased airspace capacity, improved safety, reduced fuel consumption, reduced flight time and efficient flow of air traffic within the nation’s airspace.

Albert Taylor, director, Air Traffic Services, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority who witnessed the launch alongside dignitaries in aviation industry drawn from within and outside the country said the inauguration of area radar control in Nigeria would improve safety and enhance reduction in emission of carbon.

Also, Uzoma Fyneboy Felix, head of TRACON operation, remarked that with this deployment, the agency is bound to make more revenue as the service he noted, would attract more flyers within the nation’s airspace.

The agency had since Thursday, May 2, 2013 issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) to all airlines to meet the mandatory 28 days notice required by industry regulation for full trial of the new operation.

NAMA had equally upgraded the radar maps and harmonized with its data base for accurate co-ordination of traffic when the enroute area radar control is fully deployed.