Air Traffic Controllers Seeks Speedy Completion Of Projects

Air Traffic Controllers have urged the Federal Government to quickly complete the safety critical projects it has embarked on at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) so that there would be improved safety in the nation’s airspace.

The projects include Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio Coverage of the entire airspace, World Geodetic Survey Project and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as well as Regional Navigation Project (RNAV), which when completed would bring the facilities in the airspace to international standards and also ensure safe flight operations in Nigeria.

Addressing participants of the 38 annual general meeting and conference of the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in Abuja recently, the president of the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Hesky Jubrin commended government for the significant progress recorded in the implementation of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project with Lagos and Abuja centres becoming functional while advances have been made in the installation of Kano and Port Harcourt radar systems by the end of 2009.

“We appreciate the committment of the Federal Government on the TRACON project implementation but urge faster pace of work in order to fully complete the project within this year.

Jubrin also called on the government to urgently provide airfield lighting at the domestic runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to eliminate traffic congestion in the airspace which becomes critical during the evening rush hours.

“We note with delight the re-opening of the domestic runway 1st in December 2008, which has since then eased off-traffic congestion and delays at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” he said.