NAMA to Install Critical Navigational Infrastructure
Chinedu Eze
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) plans to embark on aggressive deployment of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure in the next one year to further boost the safety of air travel in the country.
The agency said it has put in place arrangements for the installation of Category 3A Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at the Lagos and Abuja Airports.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the agency, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, while fielding questions from journalists at a Gateway Forum organised by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos.
Akinkuotu said the deployment of the above hi-tech navigational equipment would ensure that aircraft can land in zero-zero visibility given the adverse weather at certain times within the year. The NAMA boss, who recently clocked one year in office listed some of his achievements to include installation of communication radios in strategic areas in the country as well as upgrade of existing ones, deployment of ILS and other navigational aids across the country.
He also revealed that a brand new ILS and a Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR) have been installed and calibrated in Kano.
Other areas of progress, according to the NAMA boss include improvement in Air Traffic Control (ATC) capacity through training and retraining of critical personnel and others, addressing depleting ATC manpower, enhanced staff welfare through implementation of harmonisation of salaries and the signing of new condition of service which is awaiting approval by government.
On critical projects to be embarked upon by his administration in the next one year, Akinkuotu said although the issue of Aeronautical Information Services Automation by the agency has dragged on since 2009, his administration was determined to see to its completion so that NAMA could migrate to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) in view of all the deliverables that would accrue to the agency, adding that his management would also upgrade the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria