These assets, detailed in an inventory sent to the ministry, include the hangar, an unserviceable calibration aircraft (HS-125), a ground power generator, a flight calibration laboratory, a library, and offices
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) officially handed over ownership of the Navigational Aids Flights Inspection and Surveillance (NAFIS) hangar to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). NAMA takes ownership of NAFIS hangar during a formal ceremony on Thursday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
This is just as NAMA has developed capacity for an indigenous flight calibration crew capable of handling routine and commissioning flight calibration services. NAMA had in the past lacked theindigenous flight calibration crew to handle the complex tasks required for accurate NAVAIDS calibration. Hence, the dependence on external expertise, outsourcing flight calibration services to the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). This caused delays and increased costs for Nigeria’s airspace management.
During the ceremony, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdulahi Musa, confirmed the handover. Top officials from NAMA and NCAA signed the transfer documents, while representatives from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development witnessed the event.
The handover followed a thorough inspection of the premises and verification of assets. These assets, detailed in an inventory sent to the ministry, include the hangar, an unserviceable calibration aircraft (HS-125), a ground power generator, a flight calibration laboratory, a library, and offices.
In her remarks, Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Engr Terese Iheanacho, representing the NAMA Managing Director, expressed optimism. She noted that NAMA’s takeover of the facility would enhance the agency’s capacity for calibrating air navigation systems and improve operational efficiency.
“You would recall that the Federal Government, in a bid to reposition NAFIS as a key player providing efficient flight calibration services globally, transferred the operation of the Beechcraft KingAir 350i flight calibration aircraft with registration marking 5N-CAA and crew to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),” Iheanacho stated.
She emphasized that NAMA has developed an indigenous flight calibration crew capable of handling routine and commissioning flight calibration services. “It is worthy of note that NAMA has developed indigenous flight calibration crew with capacity to undertake routine and commissioning flight calibration services. With this development NAMA is now fully ready to extend her flight calibration services beyond the shores of Nigeria. The Ministerial directive is what we are implementing here today,” Iheanacho said.
The NAFIS hangar serves as a vital facility for the calibration and inspection of navigational aids (NAVAIDS) used for safe air navigation. It is essential for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of critical systems such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS), Very High-Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).
The NAFIS hangar plays a crucial role in flight inspection and surveillance of communication and surveillance equipment, including radar systems. It also serves as a maintenance facility for specialized calibration aircraft, such as the Beechcraft King Air 350i, which is used for flight inspections. Additionally, the hangar provides storage and maintenance for advanced calibration equipment while serving as a training hub for flight inspectors and engineers. This facility is vital in ensuring compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s airspace.
The successful handover is expected to boost NAMA’s technical capacity and contribute to safer and more efficient air navigation across the country and the region.
