AON President Touts Solution To Perennial Flight Delay
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President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Dr Abdulmunaf Sarina
The government agency concerned with air traffic management has been advised to upgrade its navigational aid equipment to meet current global standards by migrating from terrestrial navigation aids to satellite-based navigation systems.
Alhaji Abdulmunaf Sarina, President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, AON, who gave the advice said the current terrestrial-based navigational aids, Navaids, in the global airspace management is fast becoming obsolete. Hence, he urged the leadership of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to be more proactive in its equipment upgrade.
Alhaji Sarina, who is also the Chairman of Azman Air elucidated on the impact of modern navigational equipment on flight delays and airport security thus;
“The Current terrestrial-based Navaids are globally becoming obsolete and there is need to gradually migrate to a satellite-based navigational system. This will not only reduce delays at the Airports, but also increase the safety and security of our airspace system”, Abdulmunaf Sarina said.
He also proffered a solution to the menace of epileptic power supply which more often damaged navigational equipment saying, “there is also the need to install alternate power sources such as static UPS and solar power as a veritable backup to electricity”.
Sarina charged that “NAMA should immediately commence the development and rollout of a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in line with international best practices for the seamless transition to the Future Air Navigation System (FANS), whilst retaining the terrestrial based system as backup”.
Those notions were part of the remarks by Abdulmunaf Sarina, while presiding as the chairman of the opening session at the 53rd Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, flagged off today, Wednesday, 27th November 2024, at the Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano.
Sarina further canvassed for the employment of additional air traffic controllers across the country with adequate training, warning that failure to do this posed a threat to air safety due to the various human factors that could arise from such a trend.
He added that “the development of harmonized business-friendly policies and a renewed, and constant focus on upgrading the aviation sector systems and procedures for improved air safety would also go a long way in boosting the sector’s compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) recommendations and standard practices”.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, in his keynote address, said the government was aware of the myriads of challenges confronting the Nigerian aviation industry.
Keyamo who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Olusola Oyekunle, Deputy Director, assured his audience that the government was already addressing the infrastructural gaps in the sector.
He, however, lauded the leadership of NATCA for the “incredible work you do as air traffic controllers,” despite the challenges.
He said, “I am fully aware of the challenges that continue to confront your profession, including outdated equipment, inadequate staffing, and the need for enhanced training opportunities”.
The national President of Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association, Comrade Abayomi Agoro appealed to the Federal Government to review the policy of 50 per cent deductions from NAMA’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He argued that as a cost-recovery agency, these deductions significantly impeded NAMA’s ability to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
Agoro highlighted impact of the deduction to NAMA operations thus; “It affects the renewal and replacement of critical safety equipment and limits the capacity to adequately train our workforce”.
He argued that “Ensuring NAMA’s financial stability is vital to the safety and efficiency of our aviation sector”.
Agoro on behalf of all NATCA members expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Managing Director/CEO of NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Farouk for his pragmatic approach to staff welfare, implementing the agency’s long-awaited Staff Condition of Service (CoS), tremendous improvement in the working environment and resolving long-standing promotion issues are highly commendable.”
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