Flying Touareg
8th Jun 2006, 10:36
The Federal Government has approved the sum of N450m for the redesigning of the nation's airspace, a development that is expected to usher in huge benefits both for airline operators, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as well as engender increased safety.
NAMA Managing Director, Mr. Roland Iyayi who unfolded this in an interview said the Federal Government's approval was necessary in view of the importance of the exercise to the nation. He added that designing an airspace is done through a globally accepted system known as World Geodetic Survey 84 (WGS 84).
Although he did not divulge the identity of the contractor, the contractor would in the first year collect £3 million for the job and at the end be paid additional £250,000.
He stated that an airspace is tied to what he called "structured grid or network", pointing out that the nation's airspace at the moment is begging for redesigning in order to map out new airways and create more convenience for flights.
Iyayi noted that the current state of the nation's airspace has some serious financial implications as it is costing airlines some financial losses due to delays occasioned by flight diversions.
He cited for instance, that a flight from Lagos to Abuja has to make a diversion from Jebba, taking about 15 minutes of the flight time, which would have been avoided if a better airspace design is in place.
"If we do the right thing, we can save airlines money by giving them shortest connections. There is need to do more airways", he said.
Apart from accommodating more flights, he disclosed that redesigning the airspace and creating more airways would generate more income for NAMA as more flights from other countries are given the leverage of overflying the nation's airspace and paying overflyer charges.
Iyayi who added that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had recently created another airway for the country, said the creation of more helicopter airways would form part of the entire package.
The NAMA chief executive who stated that NAMA is also to commence mapping of obstructions in the airspace, disclosed that it has already begun talks with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) with a view to seeking its cooperation in identifying all the locations and height of masts being used by telecoms operators.
He stated that one of the major reasons why helicopters are not allowed to fly at night is because of obstructions in the air, caused by masts, among others.
On the project for the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) which is awarded to French-based Thales ATM, Iyayi said, the contractors expunged four of the nine primary radar included orginally in the contract, adding that his management made a case for the status quo to be maintained, stressing that compliance has been secured from the contractor.
Iyayi who noted that NAMA is hamstrung by funds to fund the project, however pointed out that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already acted as a facilitaor/guarantor to ensure the project is on course.
He stated that the World Bank's $6 million grant for Virtual Radar would further make the safety of the nation's airspace fully guaranteed at all times because of its multilateration.
He noted that Virtual Radar is a satellite-based system which has 15 per cent lower cost implication vis-a-visTRACON.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=50033
NAMA Managing Director, Mr. Roland Iyayi who unfolded this in an interview said the Federal Government's approval was necessary in view of the importance of the exercise to the nation. He added that designing an airspace is done through a globally accepted system known as World Geodetic Survey 84 (WGS 84).
Although he did not divulge the identity of the contractor, the contractor would in the first year collect £3 million for the job and at the end be paid additional £250,000.
He stated that an airspace is tied to what he called "structured grid or network", pointing out that the nation's airspace at the moment is begging for redesigning in order to map out new airways and create more convenience for flights.
Iyayi noted that the current state of the nation's airspace has some serious financial implications as it is costing airlines some financial losses due to delays occasioned by flight diversions.
He cited for instance, that a flight from Lagos to Abuja has to make a diversion from Jebba, taking about 15 minutes of the flight time, which would have been avoided if a better airspace design is in place.
"If we do the right thing, we can save airlines money by giving them shortest connections. There is need to do more airways", he said.
Apart from accommodating more flights, he disclosed that redesigning the airspace and creating more airways would generate more income for NAMA as more flights from other countries are given the leverage of overflying the nation's airspace and paying overflyer charges.
Iyayi who added that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had recently created another airway for the country, said the creation of more helicopter airways would form part of the entire package.
The NAMA chief executive who stated that NAMA is also to commence mapping of obstructions in the airspace, disclosed that it has already begun talks with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) with a view to seeking its cooperation in identifying all the locations and height of masts being used by telecoms operators.
He stated that one of the major reasons why helicopters are not allowed to fly at night is because of obstructions in the air, caused by masts, among others.
On the project for the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) which is awarded to French-based Thales ATM, Iyayi said, the contractors expunged four of the nine primary radar included orginally in the contract, adding that his management made a case for the status quo to be maintained, stressing that compliance has been secured from the contractor.
Iyayi who noted that NAMA is hamstrung by funds to fund the project, however pointed out that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already acted as a facilitaor/guarantor to ensure the project is on course.
He stated that the World Bank's $6 million grant for Virtual Radar would further make the safety of the nation's airspace fully guaranteed at all times because of its multilateration.
He noted that Virtual Radar is a satellite-based system which has 15 per cent lower cost implication vis-a-visTRACON.
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=50033