Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
- Confirms facilities calibration will commence January 16
NIGERIAN Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have said that the diversion on the 6th of January, British Airways (BA) and other foreign operators are avoidable based on existing facilities as BA has been operating into Lagos daily using the ILS CATII on Runway 18 Left with the same prevailing weather conditions.
This is just as the airspace managers reacted to a statement by the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) on the state of navigational infrastructure, insisting its facilities are operating optimally but awaiting flight calibration in line with regulations and world best practices.
According to NAMA, the idea behind the installation of CAT III Instrument Landing System in strategic airports in the country was implemented to forestall situations like what transpired during the week.
A statement issued and signed by General Manager Public Affairs, Khalid Emele read:
“The attention of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has been drawn to a press release by the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on the state of navigational infrastructure in the country whereby the group said the diversion on the 6th of January, 2020 of a British Airways London Heathrow – Lagos bound BA 075 flight to Accra was occasioned by the ‘degraded state of navigational and landing facilities due to lack of calibration.’ Indeed, nothing can be further from the truth.
NAMA further explained the BA diversion stating that the airline could Have landed but made its choice.
“The prevailing weather condition in Lagos of 1,500m is within the approved minimum state weather conditions for Performance Based Navigation (PBN) approach and landing on Runway 18 Right as well as Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach and landing on Runway 18 Left which is 400m.
“Nonetheless, the British Airways (BA) company requirement for approach and Landing on runway 18 Right using PBN is 1800m as against the prevailing visibility of 1500m.
“It should be noted that all other foreign operators including Emirates, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, etc landed on the same runway in similar weather conditions. It should also be noted that BA, despite the above diversion, BA has been operating into Lagos daily using the ILS CATII on Runway 18 Left with the same prevailing weather conditions. Therefore, these diversions are avoidable based on existing facilities.
The statement continued, “As it stands, arrangements have been concluded for the commencement of flight calibration navigational facilities nation from the 16th of January, 2020.
“While we recognize and appreciate the right of our workers to clamour for better work tools and operational environment, the reality is that our navigational infrastructure nationwide is not in any state of degradation. Our navigational facilities are operating optimally but are awaiting flight calibration in line with NCAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations and world best practices.
“The idea behind the installation of CAT III Instrument Landing System in strategic airports in the country was borne out of the need to enhance safety, efficiency, access and seamlessness of flight operations in our airspace especially during the harmattan season, the statement read.
