NCAA cautions pilots, airline operators over harmattan haze

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged pilots to exercise maximum restraint during harmattan season, usually accompanied by haze which can hamper flight operations.

General Manager, Public Relations of NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, said the season which has since commenced and would last till March 2020 as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) is hazardous to safe flight operations. He said, “as issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency in its Seasonal Rainfall Prediction Bulletin-2019, the cessation of the rainy season is predicted from mid-October (in the Northern part) to early December, 2019 (in the Southern part)”. The NCAA has however issued Advisory Circular to intimate pilots, operators and other stakeholders about dust haze and safety approach to adopt.

“This Advisory Circular AC: NCAAAEROMET-28 dated 12th November, 2019 is intended to alert pilots on the hazards associated with dust haze which is a dry and dusty wind that blows south from the Sahara across Nigeria. This situation is expected to persist till March, 2020”, he added.

Pilots, operators have been directed to note that during the period Air-to-ground visibility may be reduced considerably due to dust haze while airport visibility may fall below the prescribed operating minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lightings over wide areas making visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.

Others are, pilots should obtain adequate departure, en-route, destination and alternate aerodromes weather information and briefing from the aerodrome meteorological office prior to flight operations; and to ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima. “Pilots shall exercise maximum restraint when severe weather condition is observed or forecast by NiMET. “Flight Crews/Operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) shall ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima”.

The statement also informed passengers that during bad weather situation, flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled when terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.