In a move to further boost flight safety through instrument’s efficiency, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has complement powering its instrument landing aids at the nation’s airports for 24 hours daily with the use of solar energy
The solar power is installed as back up to its main power source to provide a boost to ensure unfettered round the clock supply of electricity for an all-round efficiency.
And in effect, the agency said it has saved millions of naira due to the successful installations of the solar powered energy through its air traffic engineers.
Speaking at the 2018 Annual General Meeting of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers, (NAAE) in Lagos, Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu said the air traffic engineers have contributed so much to air safety in the country.
The annual meeting of the air traffic engineers is designed to afford members the opportunity to rob minds, brainstorm, take stock of their activities in the past year and make projections for the year ahead.
Captain Akinkuotu who was represented by the Director Operations, Mr. Idowu Ogunfowora said instrument landing aids have been functioning optimally with the installation of solar panels to provide 24 hours power to surveillance facilities by the engineers, adding that the development had saved a lot of revenue for the agency.
Representative of the Ministry of aviation, Mr. Clement Awobami, also said that all professionals in air navigation business must work together to promote safety in the industry, adding that government had invested massively in the provision of air safety facilities.
In his address, the National President, NAAE, Engr Ishaya Dung, harped on the the role of engineers, saying they are the key link in the aviation safety chain, between the air traffic Controllers and pilots.
He however noted with regrets that the air traffic safety electronics personnel, ATSEP were yet to be recognized in the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO annex 1, saying that the sad situation informed the choice of this year’s AGM theme: Aviation Safety, the ATSEP LINK.
Meanwhile, IFATSEA at its 48 General Assembly conference has adopted moves to evolve ways of increasing the income of the body in order to get more drive into the inclusion of Annex 1
The body also called for a template as a baseline training of the ATSEP to be developed by IFATSEA in line with ICAO document 10057 to boost the agitation for inclusion into Annex 1
The Assembly, it was gathered, also gave NAAE the mandate to develop the model template for ATSEP training for Africa.
The association assured of commitment to the implementation of the adoptions of the IFATSEA 48 General Assembly and commended the minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika and some heads of aviation agencies for their support in training of ATSEP to encourage professionalism
By Gboyega Adeoye
