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Harmattan: Expect flight delays, cancellations, NCAA alerts passengers

By on December 20, 2013

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has warned passengers who intend to travel by air in the next few weeks to be ready for flight delays and cancellations.

The warning was contained in an advisory circular issued to pilots and operators alerting them to the hazards expected at the end of the rainy season and the subsequent harmattan haze.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, on Wednesday, said the circular dated November 27, 2013, was issued to enhance the safety of flight operations in the country and was signed by the Director-General of the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu.

It also listed the responsibilities of pilots to include obtaining necessary clearance from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency before take-off and landing.

The statement read in part, “By this circular, pilots, responsibilities are stated thus: they shall ensure that adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefings are obtained from the NIMET prior to flight operations, and shall exercise maximum restraint when adverse weather is observed or forecast by NIMET.

“Also, they should ensure that flight operations are scheduled with adequate input from NIMET to minimise delay or cancellation of flight operations.

“Where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed weather minimum, flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled; consequently, passengers should expect minimum delays or flight cancellations arising from adherence to weather situations in the interest of safety.”

Akinkuotu added that the new circular cancelled the previous advisory circular entitled: AC: NCAA-AEROMET -14, dated April 29, 2013.

According to the circular, NIMET forecast shows that there will be the occurrence of moderate to severe outbreaks of dust during the coming dry season between November 2013 and March 2014, which will on many occasions reduce horizontal visibility significantly.

 

 

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