NCAA warns pilots to fly safely during harmattan

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned pilots, operators and other stakeholders to adhere strictly to flight safety regulations as harmattan is fast approaching.

This was made known to PortNews in Lagos by Mr. Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations Department, NCAA.

Adurogboye noted that the warning was contained in the Advisory Circular AC: NCAA-AEROMET-28 dated 12th November, 2019.

According to him, during the harmattan air-to-ground visibility may be considerably reduced due to dust haze; aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed operating minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lightings over wide areas making visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.

He added that flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.

Pilots/operators, as he noted, are to take note of these following hazards and operational problems and pilots should exercise maximum restraint when severe weather condition is observed or forecast by Nimet; flight crews/operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) should ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minimal.

Pilots should obtain adequate departure, en-route, destination and alternate aerodromes weather information and briefing from the aerodrome meteorological office prior to flight operations; and operators ensure that necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of flight delays or cancellations on their passengers.

‘’From the foregoing, the regulatory authority will expect strict compliance from all stakeholders as violation will be seriously viewed,’’ said he.

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