The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s inability to certify an £11.5 million aviation fire simulator in Zaria, installed in April 2019, is causing alarm in the industry. The Nigeria Aviation Fire Safety Association (NAFSA) reports that 600 of 1,150 aviation firefighters (52.17%) are not competent.
NAFSA President, Sunday Ugbeikwu, voiced concerns over the potential safety risks posed by this situation. He also highlighted the shortage of fire tenders and personnel at major Category 9 airports, which are critical for emergency response.
Ugbeikwu praised the government’s acquisition of a new multi-scenario aviation fire simulator, emphasising its superiority over previous training tools. However, he stressed that training was disrupted upon the arrival of the uncertified simulator, leaving new recruits without essential competency training.
“The Zaria simulator, meant to provide competency training, remains uncertified by the NCAA. This issue is paramount for our association, with over 600 firefighters lacking competency as a result.”
The advanced simulator in Zaria is designed to train for 28 different aircraft and aerodrome-related incidents.
Fire Tenders and Personnel:
Despite its capabilities, many airports, particularly Category 7 and 9, fall short of staffing and equipment requirements set by international regulations.
“ICAO regulations mandate at least two fire tenders for Category 7 airports and three for Category 9 airports. Unfortunately, most airports in Nigeria do not meet these standards,” Ugbeikwu explained.
He criticised the insufficient number of fire tenders procured for airports, highlighting a shortfall in resources across the board. According to NCAA Annex 14, staffing levels at these airports are insufficient, worsening safety concerns. Cat 7 airports need 75/80 firefighters. Furthermore, Cat 9 airports have a 120 minimum personnel requirement, but these fall short.”
The NAFSA persists in advocating for Zaria simulator certification and more resources for airport fire safety. It states that failure to act swiftly jeopardizes Nigeria’s aviation firefighting capabilities, posing grave risks to air travel safety.
The non-certification of an aviation fire simulator in Zaria raises safety concerns, with over 600 firefighters lacking competency.
