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Tag: Capt Fola Akinkuotu

  • NAMA Commences Implementation of Free Routing Airspace

    NAMA Commences Implementation of Free Routing Airspace

    …as Akinkuotu tasks Airlines to Embrace Technology

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced the implementation of Free Routing Airspace (FRA) in keeping with its commitment to enhancing airspace efficiency and reducing operational costs to airlines.

    Giving this indication at a stakeholders’ sensitization forum which held at Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Ikeja, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said Nigeria had earlier in October 2021 notified the global aviation community of its intent to commence the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace concept in December, 2021.

    He said “the journey to the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace in Nigeria started two years ago, following the decision and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AFI (African- Indian Ocean) Region that member states should develop necessary strategies towards implementation of FRA in their respective states and regions. ICAO in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA) supported this push by developing the FRA concept of operations, conducting FRA gap analysis as well as providing guidance in the development of FRA implementation checklist.

    “After several meetings, workshops, and coordination among contiguous FIRs (Flight Information Regions), the FRA concept is surely transforming from an abstract idea to concrete reality and that has been largely the Nigerian experience as the nation successfully commenced FRA implementation on the 2nd of December, 2021.”

    “FRA was first conceptualized about 13 years ago in Europe, being the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept beginning from 2008. However, in the entire ICAO AFI Region, Nigeria is the second country, after Mauritius to implement this globally new concept.”

    Explaining further, the NAMA boss said FRA basically accords airspace users over Kano FIR the opportunity to migrate from the conventional fixed Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network to flight plannable direct routes between a published FRA significant boundary entry point to a published FRA significant boundary exit point, thereby optimizing airspace utilization.

    He listed the benefits of FRA to airspace users to include: Savings in terms of distance covered per route segment; Savings in terms of time required to cover one route leg; Fuel savings per route leg as well as carbon emission reduction per route segment per volume of airspace.

    Capt. Akinkuotu also used the opportunity of the forum to enjoin airline operators in Nigeria to take advantage of new technologies being deployed by the agency as these would enhance their operational efficiency and also. He recalled that in the last couple of years, NAMA had deployed several next-generation tools like the Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Approaches, Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category II and III, etc but noted that some Nigerian airlines were not taking advantage of them, stressing that NAMA would continue to strive to ensure that Nigeria has, not only safe airspace but also a profitable aviation industry.

    The Free Routing concept is associated with ICAO Aviation System Block Upgrade – ASBU modules B1-FRTO, i.e. Introduction of free routing in defined airspace, where the flight plan is not defined as segments of a published route network or track system to facilitate adherence to the user-preferred profile.

    The sensitization forum was well-attended as it attracted representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), IATA, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Max Airlines, Air Peace, Emirates Airlines, United Airlines, Arik Air among others.

  • NAMA Simulates Aircraft Accident Search and Rescue Operation

    NAMA Simulates Aircraft Accident Search and Rescue Operation

    Ahead of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit coming up by first quarter of 2022, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Saturday joined forces with critical stakeholders in  aviation emergency International Civil Aviation Organization operations  to conduct a live aeronautic simulation of an air crash which occurred at the Mafoluku area of Oshodi in Lagos, a few meters from Runway 18 Left and the local airport, Ikeja.

    Code named “SAREXNAMA 2021,” the search and rescue exercise focused on a disaster that could result from an air crash and create mass casualty incident which requires a coordinated response from critical stakeholders saddled with the responsibility of managing aviation emergencies.  The mock air crash search and rescue exercise involved an aircraft with registration No. ZYMMM from Abuja to Accra. The aircraft diverted to Lagos due to electrical problem, and on board were 38 souls including 4 crew. 15 survivors were rescued while 23 others were unaccounted for.

    Addressing participants at the end of the exercise, the convener of the exercise and Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu expressed delight for the huge turnout by different agencies and stakeholders. The NAMA boss however noted that several gaps were observed during the exercise especially in the areas of coordination and response to alert, even as he assured that the agency would work assiduously with relevant stakeholders in order to close the said gaps.

    Participants included all the aviation agencies, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Air Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the Nigerian Red Cross, as well as Caverton Helicopters, among others.

    As specified by the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of ICAO Annex 12, Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation Pt. 14 of 2005, NAMA Search and Rescue Manual and the National Disaster Response Plan by NEMA, in accordance with Act 12 of 1999 constitution,  the mock search and rescue operation is  being coordinated by NAMA annually in order to test the procedures and communication between NAMA and other agencies involved in search and rescue and their collaboration; ascertain the prompt response of NAMA facilities and personnel to an incident, ascertain the preparedness of other agencies involved in the exercise and their response to alert as well as verify the operability of the joint rescue coordination centre.

    The exercise also seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of all functional elements of NAMA Search and Rescue systems and their collaboration with other organizations within and outside the airport in the event of an emergency.

     

  • NAMA Creates New PBN Regional Routes

    NAMA Creates New PBN Regional Routes

    As part of plans to resume international flight operations in the country, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has created 9 new Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Area Navigation 10 (RNAV10) regional routes across the nation’s airspace.

    Making this disclosure in a release, the Managing Director of NAMA Capt. Fola Akinkuotu listed the newly created PBN routes to include UQ300- connecting Lagos to the Central African Republic; UY604-linking Abuja, Port Harcourt to Southern Africa; UQ181- connecting East and Central Africa to Europe through Nigerian airspace and UQ400-connecting southern Africa to North Africa through Nigeria to Europe.

    Also created are UQ324-from Adis Ababa to Niamey through Nigeria; UY333-from Tunisia/Algeria to Lagos; UY87-from East and Central Africa through Nigeria to Accra and Abidjan; UY57-from East and Central Africa through Nigeria coastal airspace to Cotonou, Lome and Abidjan as well as UQ200-connecting Yaonde to Lagos.

    Akinkuotu also disclosed that apart from the PBN routes, NAMA has also created 6 new flight-plannable direct routes. These include OK DCT POLTO; ARDEX DCT EDUKO; LAG DCT XIRON DCT JOS; KORUT DCT KDA; POLTO DCT APRUN DCT DETAR/ KORUT and KELAK DCT POSIB DCT GURAP DCT IBA DCT POLTO.

    The NAMA boss said “the flight-plannable direct routes are to be used by compliant airlines’ flight management systems and would avail them the opportunity of flight- planning and routing within the Nigerian airspace from an entry point direct to an exit point without recourse to existing Air Traffic service (ATS) route network.”

    Explaining further, Akinkuotu said the agency embarked on the above initiative to enhance regional connectivity, reduce flight time as well as fuel consumption for airlines, reduce C02 emission into the environment and reduce cost to operators, even as he said the move would also reduce pilot workload and enhance airspace capacity.

  • Flight Resumption: NAMA enhances Search and Rescue Facilities

    Flight Resumption: NAMA enhances Search and Rescue Facilities

    Ahead of the planned resumption of flights in the country, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has procured sophisticated search and rescue equipment to boost its aeronautical search and rescue capability across the Nigerian airspace. The equipment which are being distributed among the nation’s Rescue Coordination Centers (Lagos and Kano) and Rescue Subcenters (Abuja, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Enugu, Ilorin and Sokoto) include plotting facilities, communication facilities, medical supplies and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) documents among others.

    The plotting equipment include workstations (for digital plotting) and topographical maps for manual plotting). Communication equipment include very high frequency (VHF) radios, high frequency (HF) radios, megaphones as well as Search and Rescue dedicated satellite telephones which can work outside a network area.  ICAO documents include IAMSAR Manual Volume 1,2 and 3 as well as Annex 12 Search and Rescue Preparation Manual.  Other items procured include multifunctional photocopiers, laptops, printers, professional torchlights, status boards, computer desktops and personal locator beacons.

     Speaking on this development the Managing Director of NAMA Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the agency took steps to procure the equipment in order enhance its preparedness and efficiency in Search and Rescue coordination in the event of any occurrence, especially given that the airports were about to be reopened to commercial activities. “For instance the workstations which came with software applications for digital and faster plotting will aid our personnel in precisely locating where an incident or accident occurred,” he said.

    Akinkuotu also revealed that in addition to the facility upgrade, the agency recently recruited experienced Search Mission Coordinators to be on 24 hours watch at both the Rescue Coordination Centers and Rescue Subcenters, saying that dedicated telephone numbers and email addresses of the above Search and Rescue centers have been published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

    “So, having beefed up the capacity of  Search and Rescue unit at the two Rescue Coordination Centers and at the six Rescue Subcenters in the country, NAMA is more prepared than ever before in terms of human capacity as well as equipment upgrade.

    Also, note that in the last couple of years, the agency has trained different categories of critical personnel both in Nigeria and outside the country in Search and Rescue Coordinator courses in line with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs),” the NAMA boss said

  • Women Aviators donate items to NAMA

    Women Aviators donate items to NAMA

    In a bid to contribute towards flattening the Coronavirus curve especially in the aviation sector, professional women aviators in the industry under the aegis of International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) in Nigeria have donated face masks and hand sanitizers to the Nigerian Airspace management Agency (NAMA).

    Speaking while presenting the items on behalf of IAWA at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, NAMA Legal Adviser, Dr Anastasia Gbem said as working mothers who have put in several years in different areas of specialization, their intervention was inspired by the fact that the health of personnel in the aviation industry remained central to the growth and advancement of the industry itself.

    Gbem also noted that as a global organization of professional women advancing their  careers and promoting Nextgen professionals, “IAWA has a strong affiliation and has been networking with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Boeing and other critical stakeholders in the sector towards moving aviation forward.”   

    Receiving the items on behalf of the agency, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu recalled that from the inception of aviation, the contribution of women in the sector had been legendary, stressing that over time, women had broken several barriers and made useful impacts and contributions which have remained invaluable to the growth and development of the industry. While appreciating the gesture on behalf of management, the NAMA boss assured that the items would be judiciously used for the benefit of staff in the different directorates and departments of the agency.

  • NAMA test runs ILS at Lagos Airport

    NAMA test runs ILS at Lagos Airport

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced the trial run of the newly installed Category III Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Runway 18 Right, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The exercise which started  on Tuesday indicated that the equipment is fully operational on test basis, even as all the ILS components – Localizer, Glide Slope and Distance Measuring Equipment propagated signals optimally.

    Speaking at the commencement of the test run, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the alignment of the facility had already been done by the engineers.

    This, according to him, was to ensure that the equipment aligned with the centre line of the runway and also that it is aligned with the descent path that will be comfortable to arrive the threshold at a good landing height to make a normal landing.

    “In a couple of weeks, we will bring a calibration aircraft to fly in and certify that the equipment is good to go,” he said.

    According to the timelines, CAT III ILS would be available at both Lagos and Abuja airports by the third week of month.

    Explaining the rationale for deploying the facility, Akinkuotu said the agency was responding to the demands and clamour by airlines for better navigational facilities in Nigeria.

    “The CAT II ILSs we have right now are 800 meters visibility.

    “With the CAT III system you will be able to come down lower and when you are closer to the runway you will be able to see it better. A CAT III operation is a precision approach at lower than CAT II minima.

    “A category III A approach is a precision instrument approach and landing with no decision height or a decision height lower than 100ft (30m) and a runway visual range not less than 700ft (200m),” Akinkuotu explained.