Not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that safety of aircraft in the country is guaranteed, the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu says, the authority has kick started the building of a database system to capture all obstruction to flight safety in the country.
The database tagged the electronic terrain and obstacle database, if successfully achieved will kick start the operation of helicopter at night in the country.
Speaking at the gateway forum of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC via zoom, Capt. Nuhu said it is part of their statutory responsibility to identify obstructions within and around the airports to ensure flight safety.
He noted that in the past all kinds of masts were erected within and around the airports constituting obstruction without clearance from the NCAA but has however directed those involved to obtain clearance height certificate before mounting their masts, adding that talks are on with telecommunications companies as regards payments for the clearance.
“Height clearance is a regulatory function of the NCAA which is in our regulations that has been signed and passed by the government, we are dealing with all the communication companies, we are in contacts and deliberations with them, some of them have made part payment and we are working toward getting the remaining payment.
He added, ” we are not using it to rake in money, it is base on cost recovery.”
Director, Aerodromes and Airspace Standards, DAAS, Engr. Mohammed Odunowo stressed that these masts have constituted a lot of safety hazard for them and are trying to do a better job to prevent accident by these oversight.
“If we can implement it (the electronic terrain and obstacle data base) and go live, that will enable with the help of the federal government helicopter to fly at night, we are trying to capture all the obstruction that is out there because everybody flies.”
