The failure of government agencies such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) to provide instrument landing systems at less travelled airports, close to the busier ones across the country, is resulting in huge losses for airlines.
The instrument landing system is a technology which transmits radio signals from airport runways, in a manner that enables airline pilots take-off and land aircraft in situations (such as nightime, foggy or stormy weather) where visibility is poor.
When faced with bad weather conditions on approach to busy airports such as Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt, Enugu and Kano, aircraft, particularly those on local flights, have to ascend above the storm and hover in the air, sometimes for as long as one and a half hours, and land when the storm is over or return to the airport of departure if the storm persists.
In the process, the airlines lose revenue to aviation fuel consumption and time lost, while passengers remain anxious.
Instruments landing aids include landing systems, night lighting aids, runway lighting and other radio signals to aid 24-hour aviation.
An instrument landing system operates as ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision lateral and vertical guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals, and in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions, such as low ceilings or reduced visibility due to fog or rain.
A passenger who craved anonymity, recounted his experience to BusinessDay. He said, “I boarded a Dana Air flight from Lagos to Abuja last week Friday. At a time, we experience stormy weather, such that the pilot had to hover in the air for over one hour because there was no close-bye alternate airport with instrument systems to land in.
“The pilot said if the situation continued, he might have to fly back to Lagos. Passengers were scared and uncomfortable with the situation. I believe we would have diverted the flight to airports in the Western region if we had equipped them with navigational aids.”
Igwe Francis, the Public Relations Officer, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) told BusinessDay that the state of the navigational aids across major airports in Nigeria is deplorable and this is a function of government’s policy.
Francis said, “The closure of Abuja Airport runway shows the willpower to do it. If government can replicate what it did in Abuja Airport with our navigational aids, then the situation will be a thing of the past. It is very unfortunate that successive governments come and go without tackling this issue.”
Francis suggested that considering the huge capital navigational aids can take, a way to tackle this issue, would be for the government to select an airport in each region and equip it with navigational aids, so that airlines can fly to the nearest airport during an emergency.
He further explained that for the Western region, government can equip Ondo airport, so that airlines departing Lagos will have Ondo as alternative. In the same vein, in the Eastern region government can either pick, Owerri or Asaba, in addition to the already equipped Enugu Airport.
He said airlines have continued to groan under this situation as 7.o’clock remains their last flight of the day.
Nogie Meggison, President, Airline Operators of Nigeria, (AON) said Nigerian airlines lose mony annually to flight cancellations and delays, largely caused by lack of landing aids required for night landing or landing in poor visibility.
Meggison expressed disappointment and displeasure at the deplorable state of navigational aids at airports around the country, which make flying in the Nigerian airspace virtually impossible during the Harmattan and rainy seasons.
He said the development continues to cause air passengers untold suffering and frustration as their plans are constantly disrupted due to flight cancellations.
Meggison recalled that 48 years ago, on December 28, 1968, history was made in the UK “when the first aircraft operated at CAT lll and landed in zero (0) visibility at Heathrow airport.
“Yet Nigeria is unable to land aircraft with visibility of about 800m,” he said.
The AON chairman noted that the economic impact of the frequent flight delays and cancellations due to poor weather conditions has become very burdensome on the airlines.
BusinessDay checks reveal that only the major airports in Lagos, Abuja and PortHarcourt have adequate navigational aids such as instrument landing systems (ILS).
Airports which are under the management of FAAN in cities such as Ibadan, Asaba, Ilorin, Akure, Ondo, Dutse, Uyo, Calabar, Bauchi, Jos, Kaduna, Yola, Benin, Jalingo, Minna, Kastina, Makurdi, Minna and Zaria, do not have such equipment, BusinessDay findings show.
John Ojikutu, Secretary-General, Aviation Round Table, also says that in other aviation climes, aircraft and people fly in zero visibility, wondering why Nigeria’s case is different.
Ojikutu stated that in some airports, night flights are not operated because there are no runway lights, while visual flighing had to be either delayed or cancelled because navigational aids are not working.
IFEOMA OKEKE
