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NAMA’s automated aeronautical centres ready for test run in October

By on May 20, 2013

Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Sunday said that the test run of  NAMA’s automated Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) centres in Nigeria, would start in October.

Nwankwo, Director, Directorate of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, NAMA, told aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, that the first phase of the AIS automation would comprise 10 stations.

He said that all the international airports, class A airports, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, would be included in the test run.

“We are taking 10 of them at a stretch. So, by the end of October, the first phase would have been worked on, and will add value to the system.

“Before the year runs out, another 10 will come on board,” he said.

Nwankwo said that the remaining six centres were those in the remote stations, and very important too, as such facilities would enable the agency to extend its VHF coverage further.

The engineer highlighted the benefits of the AIS automation to include taking care of flight information, planning and movement of aircraft.

“Issues like check in will be automated because the airlines are expected to subscribe to the AIS automation project.

“It will provide the airlines backbone to install the self check in equipment, which means that the airlines will not need to install also their own gadgets to perform their operations’’, Nwankwo said.

According to him, the automation will boost audio and data communications in the system, and that the airlines will be paying less to incorporate the facility in their own system.

He dispelled the fear that nobody would be relieved of his duty with the implementation of the automation.

Nwankwo said that the agency foresaw the challenges of power failure and security, noting that a hybrid solar station had been put in place for the equipment.

He noted that the agency’s engineers would be expected to monitor the stations from time to time, but required adequate security to do so.

The NAMA official said that international airlines had already shown interest in embracing the automation, as it would add value to their operations in the country.

 

 

 

(NAN)