The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Sunday instructed Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) in all the nation’s airports to temporarily close the airspace during hazardous weather conditions to avert air travel crisis.
This is even as it also advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution during flight operations in such weather conditions.
The agency gave this directive in its Advisory Circular (AC) with reference no AC: NCAA-AEROMET – 27 addressed to all Pilots and Airline Operators and signed by its Director General, Capt. Muhtar Usman.
The aviation expert stated that the advisory circular was issued following the latest Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released for the year 2019 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
The NIMET has predicted that in March/April and May/June 2019 as the commencement of rainy season in Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria, air travels may be turbulent as usual.
Usman expatiated: “This is in addition to micro-burst, low-level wind share and sometimes events that could affect the safety of flight operations.
“With this information, it is expected that ATCs may temporarily close the airspace when there are adverse weather conditions.
“Consequently, Flight Crews/Operators and ATCs shall ensure strict adherence to aerodrome operating minima in line with standard and recommend practices”, the NCAA boss added.
He, therefore, charged all pilots to exercise maximum restraint whenever severe weather condition is observed or forecast by NIMET.
In addition, Usman stated that for the purpose of safe flight operations, pilots/flight crew members should obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information from NIMET before embarking on any flight.
Similarly, he advised operators to ensure that adequate measures were put in place to lessen the negative effects of flight delays and cancellations on their passengers due to severe weather conditions.
