NAMA To Switch To Satellite Based Navigation System

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), said on
Sunday that it was prepared to switch to Satellite Based Navigational System
(SBNS), otherwise known as Performance Base Navigation (PBN), for faster landing.

General Manager of
NAMA, Mr Supo Atobatele told newsmen in Lagos that the organisation would meet
all aviation stakeholders, including pilots on the PBN issue.

He urged airline operators and pilots to key into the SBNS,
which takes effect soon.

“On May 8, we met with the pilots in the industry and
airline operators, just to inform them about the development in NAMA,
particularly about the SBNS.

“Some weeks ago, we migrated from the terrestrial air
navigation system to the satellite-based navigation system.

“So, we need to tell them what we have on ground and what
they should do.

“For you to operate within the sphere of the PBN, your
aircraft must be compliant and it must carry the prerequisite gadgets,’’ he
said.

Atobatele said that airlines that would operate on the
system would be only those whose aircraft were compliant with the PBN system.

“Anytime from now, we will announce a specific date for the
commencement of the PBN system in Nigeria, particularly for the major air
routes and airports such as Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano.

“Like you are aware, the test flight has been done by
Emirates Airline as the first to carry out the approach test on Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in Lagos, while the KLM recorded same in
Kano.

“As of today, South Africa Airways has equally joined, they
did it on their own and it was 100 per cent successful.

“So, we are urging all the local airlines to join too,’’ he
said.

On the benefits of the PBN, Atobatele said that aircraft that were compliant would land faster, as it would facilitate seamless flight operation without the pilot having to contact the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC).

He said that the PBN would allow the pilots to see all
necessary information on the cockpit while flying.