Aviation
Another Aviation Milestone, as NAMA Sets To Deploy Surface Movement Radar, Ground Control System
Just a little over a week for the Buhari administration to hand over to a new administration, the aviation sector under Senator Hadi Sirika has recorded yet another milestone as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has successfully conducted the site acceptance test for its newly installed surface movement radar and ground control systems in Abuja and Lagos airports to enable air traffic controllers to monitor aircraft and vehicular movement during low visibility or night time.
Speaking on the significance of the project
the Acting Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Lawrence Pwajok stated that it was meant to enhance the safety and efficiency of flight operations in Nigeria.
The agency, according to him, had embarked on the procurement of the surface movement radar due to its capability for detection, monitoring, and control of aircraft and vehicles on the ground for the purpose of preventing collision between aircraft, and between aircraft and vehicles as well as between aircraft and obstacles on the ground (runway, taxiway, and apron).
Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika
Pwajok said “the surface movement radar which is a primary radar would provide surveillance for aircraft and vehicles on the ground for the air traffic controller rather than physically seeing or looking out on the runway, the apron, taxiway or parking gate. Presently, what obtains is that the ground control is manually done. Air traffic controllers at the tower look outside to see where the aircraft is, to separate it, clear it for takeoff, and landing, and direct it to taxi to the parking gate. But with surface movement radar, guidance on the ground is automated as every surface movement is displayed clearly on the console. So, the air traffic controller can clearly see the aircraft and guide it while taxiing on the ground from the departure gate to the runway for takeoff, and once it takes off, he hands it over to the approach control.
“The surface movement radar can be used when aircraft land in poor weather conditions. In most cases the airport is shut down because pilots can’t see and can’t taxi so they would have to wait until there is weather improvement. But with the surface movement radar we can guide aircraft on landing, to the parking gate and, on departure, we can guide them from the parking gate to the runway for takeoff as everything is displayed on the console. The same way the radar sees aircraft in the air, this one will see aircraft and vehicles as they are moving on the ground,” he said.
M. L. Pwajok, Acting Managing Director, NAMA
Speaking further, the NAMA MD said the surface movement radar would greatly enhance safety as it would help prevent runway incursions, excursions, and confusion.
“Sometimes an aircraft is given an instruction to a particular taxi link and it enters the wrong link. If visibility is very poor or the place is dark, the air traffic controller will not know. Surface movement radar would therefore enable the controller to see clearly that the aircraft is in the right link. It would enhance safety on the ground by preventing collisions between aircraft. The issue of delaying aircraft by waiting for the weather to improve will be a thing of the past,” he said.
The Surface movement radar, Pwajok further explained, would boost Category III Instrument Landing Systems operations because “with CAT III, aircraft can land at zero visibility while the surface movement radar would then enable the controllers even at zero visibility to separate and control aircraft to the gate as well as those taxiing from the gate to takeoff very efficiently. Surface movement radar can also detect conflicts. If two aircraft are going to converge at a point, it can give an alert to the controller to prevent a collision on the ground.”
He recalled that a similar site acceptance test was conducted successfully in Lagos on the equipment located at Runway 18 Right two weeks ago and that “every aspect of the equipment is working effectively. So, what we are doing now is landscaping and fencing the antennas to prevent future encroachment’.
“In Lagos, we had a major challenge of the tower being blocked by the Legend Hotel, Executive Jet, and aviation terminal. And that necessitated the deployment of the surface movement radar. So, with this, that problem has been solved. It has reduced stress on the air traffic controller as he can now see everything from the console. In Abuja, the Chinese terminal also blocked the tower and controllers can neither see the international terminal nor the presidential wing. At the moment we are using the mobile tower to augment the view. But with surface movement radar, we won’t need the mobile tower there anymore as every part of the airport is visible from the console,” he said.
He gave kudos to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for providing the needed leadership support for the timely and successful execution of the project and numerous others in the sector, hoping that the minister will be able to commission the project within the short time left.
Meanwhile, Pwajok has said the agency was working with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the airlines to ensure that all vehicles coming to the airside carry a transponder to enable the surface movement radar to identify them and the controller to communicate and control them. On the training of personnel for the equipment, the NAMA boss said engineers had already been trained since last year while arrangements have been concluded for 12 air traffic controllers to proceed for training in a matter of days.
Outgoing Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Sen. Hadi Sirika has emphasised that Nigeria Air is not merely a law, but an entity comparable to other airlines.
Sirika, who was speaking during the unveiling and reception of Nigeria Air at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the efforts of both the Nigerian and Ethiopian governments in bringing the airline alive again after a prolonged absence.
“We have accomplished our goals without any bias,” he stated. “This infrastructure has been missing in the aviation landscape of our nation. Nigeria Air Limited is an airline that corresponds in size and dynamics to Nigeria’s market, geography and fortune. The kind of infrastructure we are witnessing today under Nigeria Air is precisely what we need.”
Sirika
Sirika clarified that Nigeria Air is an independent entity, separate from Nigeria’s laws and is the result of a partnership between Nigerian entrepreneurs and Ethiopian Airlines. He emphasised that there are no legal restrictions preventing the introduction of developmental projects for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
“It is within our rights to undertake endeavours that promote the general well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians. The aviation sector plays a central role in driving our economy and adding value to the GDP. This remains the government’s focus,” he explained.
Highlighting the growth of aviation in Nigeria, the outgoing minister stated that the industry experienced significant expansion before and even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of airlines and aircraft doubled between 2015 and the present.
When asked about the commencement of operations, Sirika responded, “Establishing an airline involves fulfilling certain conditions set by the regulators, namely the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Once this aircraft is here, we will initiate a demonstration flight to showcase our capabilities. The duration of the demonstration flight ranges from 0 to 48 hours, but it could be shorter, such as 2 or 5 hours, to demonstrate our capabilities. I trust that the NCAA will take the necessary steps to provide a clear date and time for takeoff.”
He further explained the business plan, stating, “Over the next five years, we plan to reach a fleet of 35 aircraft. It will be a gradual process, with aircraft arriving one after another. If everything goes as planned, by the end of the next five years, we will have achieved the target of 35 aircraft. Nigeria Air is a privately-led airline, with the government holding a 5 per cent stake. Eventually, it will be offered to the public for sale. The Boeing 737 Max is the chosen aircraft model.”
The chief commercial officer of Ethiopian Airlines at Bole International Airport, Lemma Gudete expressed his belief that Nigeria Air will become a billion-dollar company within five years.
“Strengthening ties between these two nations will enhance business relations and people-to-people connections. We are committed to sharing our expertise in aviation and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth. We thank the Nigerian government for choosing Ethiopian Airlines as a reliable partner, as we have consistently stood by the people of Nigeria, regardless of the circumstances,” he added.
Aviation
Buhari Renames Airports After Awolowo, Okadigbo, Usman Danfodio, Constitutes Boards of Aviation Agencies
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the renaming of some airports after some prominent Nigerians in recognition of their individual contribution to the development of the nation in different sectors.
He also approved the constitution of Boards for the Agencies which are mostly institutional representations in line with the Acts setting them up.
The new development is contained in an official statement issued weekend from the office of Head, Press and Public Affairs Ministry of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi.
According to the document, Akure International Airport will now be named Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliyu International Airport; Benin International Airport to Oba Akinzua 11 International Airport; Dutse International Airport to Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi International Airport; Ebonyi International Airport to Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo International Airport; Gombe International Airport to Brigadier Zakari Maimalari International Airport; Ibadan International Airport to Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport; Ilorin International Airport to General Tunde Abdulkari International Airport.
Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, former ICAO Council President, has Akure Airport named after him
Others are: Kaduna International Airport to Gen Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport, Maiduguri International Airport to President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport; Makurdi International Airport to Joseph Sarwuan Tarka International Airport; Minna International Airport to Mallam Abubarka Imam International Airport and the Nasarawa International Airport to Sheikh Usman Danfodio International Airport..
Also Osubi Airport has been changed to Alfred Diete Spiff; Port Harcourt International Airport to Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport and Yola International Airport to Lamidi Aliyu Mustapha International Airport.
The Boards of the Agencies, as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari are as follows: For NCAA, the Board Chairman is Lai Are, DG NCAA, Capt Musa Nuhu (member ) and member representing Federal Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Defense.
For FAAN , the Board Chairman is Capt Fola Akinkuotu with Board members representing Federal Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Tourism and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). Also there are two persons outside the public service with requisite experience in Aviation. They are Capt Mukhtar Amim and Mr Chris Aligbe.
For NSIB , the Board Chairman is Engr Ezekiel Danboyi Zang; Engr Siraj Andulwahab, Engr Ita Awal, Mallam Nasir Anas, Alhaji Sani Maida; Engr Pantani Esugo; Lawrence Fubara Anga and Engr Akin Olateru, the Director General of NSIB.
NiMet now has Board members as Dr Imoro Kubor (Chairman); Member representing FMA; Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources;Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Transportation; Ministry of Power Resources; Dr Adebayo Yinka; Prof Aliyu Umar Tambuwal and the Director General of NiMet, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu.
For NCAT, the board members include: Capt Jonathan Ibrahim (Chairman); representative of FMA, representative of the community, Hajiya Binta Aminu Iya; representative of NCAA; Nigeria’s ICAO representative; representative of Aviation Sector, Engr Bashir Sa’ad; Deputy Rector of College; representative of NBTE; representative of academic board of College; representative of the College elected from the congregation who should be a non-teaching staff of the College and the Chief Executive of the Agency, Capt Alkali Modibo.
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