Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
- As airspace agency trains 80 personnel in NCAT this year
DIRECTOR of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Ahmed Umar Farouk has urged Civil Aviation Authorities all over Africa to follow Nigeria’s lead by facilitating training and licensing of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP)
According to him, a total of 80 personnel have been programmed for training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria this year with first batch of 20 already receiving training
Engineer Farouk, who gave this advise in Abuja at the 9th IFATSEA African Regional Conference said only properly trained personnel can successfully execute timely system maintenance procedures at CNS Stations easily effectively.
Farouk noted that the quality of maintenance and level of competence possessed by any ATSEPs has a direct bearing on training undergone and certification obtained.
“As I speak we have programmed 80 personnel to be trained at NCAT Zaria this year alone, the first batch of 20 personnel are already in Zaria since last week. I urge other CAAs in Africa to follow the example of Nigeria by providing and facilitating the speedy training and licensing of ATSEPs in their respective countries”
According to him, untrained ATSEP was a potential risk to the system adding that training remained the only mitigation.
Farouk noted that aviation industry growth and change resulted in safety threats different from those of the past hence the fundamental objective of the International Civil Aviation Organisation was safety in the global air transport system.
He noted that the aim of collaboration among aircraft manufacturers, pilots, engineers among others was to ensure high level of safety in the skies and on ground.
According to Farouk, aviation safety depended on technology hence ATSEPs were working behind the technology performing critical safety relevant and risk related maintenance on daily basis.
He stressed the need to encourage ATSEP personnel by according them more recognition at state, region and international levels noting that their contributions to the overall safety and efficient handling of air traffic was very significant to warrant their inclusion in Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention.
Farouk commended ATSEPs for keeping the African skies safe despite the challenges encountered, urging them to be very professional in their duties by sustaining integrity, reliability and availability of the services provided in line with best practices.
