NCAA Warns Pilots, Airlines of Harmattan Haze

Henceforth, no pilot is expected to take off without being properly briefed by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET), in view of the current harmattan haze being experienced across the country.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in an ‘Advisory Circular’-AC:NCAA-AEROMET-13 endorsed by Dr Harold Demuren, director general, raised alerts and offered guidance to help prevent accidents caused by this weather phenomenon.

Hazards and Operational Problems associated with harmattan are comparable to that of heavy mist. Thus, air-to-ground visibility is considerably impaired.

Others include poor aerodrome visibility  which might fall below the prescribed minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways and markers over wide areas making visual navigation impossible; where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed weather minim airlines and pilots should flights be delayed, diverted or cancelled.

Pilots are further advised to recognize harmattan haze as a hazard and exercise maximum restraint when the condition is observed or forecast;

“It is therefore MANDATORY for all pilots to obtain weather briefing from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) including departure, en-route and destination weather information prior to flight operations.

“The airlines and their flight crews should keep passengers informed of the situation and of the potential for flight delays and possible cancellations. Safety considerations must always be the highest priority,” NCAA noted.

The statement also highlighted that Nigeria possesses one of the best available safety ratings worldwide today. “The country is not on the European Union (EU) blacklist, which is why we can fly directly to the United Kingdom.

“We have the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 which allows Nigerian registered aircraft to fly directly to the United States of America,” NCAA affirmed.

“Once again”, the DG’s Media Assistant said, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority want to assure the travelling public that it will not compromise any breach of safety no matter how minute to ensure safe airline operations in the country”.