PH Airport: FAAN, Aviation Groups Sign MoU

As port of processes towards the certification of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Airports Council International (ACI) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The understanding, which was referred as the Airport Excellence in Safety (APEX) was signed at the conference centre of the Port Harcourt Airport last Monday.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after signing the APEX, the Director, Airport Operation, of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu said the signing was to facilitate the process of certification of the Port Harcourt airport.
According to him, the certification team will be at the Port Harcourt International airport for about seven days to do some inspections and ensure that everything requried is in place.
“This signing of Certificate for Safety Excellence today is a clear message that the Port Harcourt International Airport is ready and willing to be certificated.
“Certification in simple terms means that the airport has met all the international safety standards required for aerodrome operations, and will be declared safe for airlines and aircraft operations”, he said.
The director also said that the process will also involve the invitation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which is the certifying and regulatory agency, and that they are to ensure that everything required is in place before final certification.
On the recent DANA Airline incident, the retired pilot said that everything about aviation is regulated, and that every agency play their role in ensuring safety, adding that pilots have discrection to take certain decisions which for then should be in their best interest for safety.
The director. Airport Operations, Capt Rabiu Yadud, GM safety (FAAN) and Deji Ojo, the Port Harcourt Airport Regional Manager, signed for FAAN, while, Mr. Ermenando Silva, the manager, APEX in safety signed for the ACI and ICAO.

Corlins Walter