There have been divided opinions amongst stakeholders within the nation’s aviation business, following the choice of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to cease flight operation extension to dawn and sundown airports throughout the nation.
FAAN in collaboration with the Nigerian Airspace Administration Company (NAMA) had not too long ago adopted a brand new working requirements coverage by stopping flight operation extension to dawn and sundown airports throughout the nation.
Sundown airports consult with aerodromes with out touchdown amenities. Which means airways can solely function between 7 am to six.30 pm.
Nevertheless, the 5 main airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kano, can function 24 hours, dawn to sundown.
Shortly after the declaration by the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu, a cross part of pilots and engineers applauded the transfer, saying that the choice to cease flight extension request to airways by the managements of FAAN and NAMA was a step in the proper course
The stakeholders, underneath the auspices of Nationwide Affiliation of Plane Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), identified that inasmuch as the choice was primarily based on safety and security the choice couldn’t be compromised.
Alternatively, individuals on the not too long ago held seminar on Sundown Airports by League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, have argued that the notion of ‘Sundown Airports’ or restricted (daylight) hours of operations is a self-limiting issue that’s retrogressive and a problem that must be addressed by a contemporary state.
In response to them, the phenomenon is a significant disrupter of the economies of airline operation and utilisation of plane belongings.
The self-imposed limitation was recognized as one of many predominant banes of gross under-utilisation of plane, estimated to price every airplane three hours of operation day by day and not less than N4.3billion price of unearned income yearly (per gear).
The untapped income, they noticed, will get larger in an airline that has 5 or extra plane and the rationale native airways battle survivability not like their counterparts in Europe, North America and Asia.
The stakeholders due to this fact, suggested that Sundown airport phenomenon and restriction in working hours ought to henceforth be handled as an aberration and an issue to deal with, given their dire impacts on airways and the economic system at massive.
Explaining additional, why they’re in help of stopping flight extension, President of NAAPE, Engr Abednego Galadima, who spoke on behalf of the professionals appealed to the gamers within the sector, particularly airline operators to stick strictly to their schedules to keep away from a disaster of their operations, stressing that when that is adhered to, disruption to service can be averted.
He mentioned, “If the intention is predicated on security and safety of airways and individuals, it isn’t misplaced. I don’t assume the intention is to short-change the airways.
“I’ll solely advise the airways to make sure that they adhere strictly to their schedules as a substitute of asking for extension by FAAN and the Nigerian Airspace Administration Company (NAMA). As you realize, security and safety are our high precedence within the business and may’t be compromised.”
The Managing Director of FAAN Capt. Rabiu Yadudu has earlier introduced the brand new flying regime, stating that the step was taken because of security and safety issues.
Yadudu who knowledgeable that FAAN had met with sister company, NAMA) and each have resolved to undertake the brand new coverage.
Talking at a discussion board organized by NIGAV not too long ago, Yadudu pressured that approvals can be found for mandatory instances however that airways should now work inside their confines as no approvals for extension will likely be granted willy-nilly.
This transfer, in line with Yadudu is a security transfer and will in time examine airways who’ve a Customary Working Process of delaying their flights however he nevertheless, insisted that the coverage FAAN has tinkered will not be absolute and would make concessions for excessive conditions.
“We now have stopped giving operation extensions to dawn and sundown airports throughout the nation. It was truly the security and safety issues that drove us to make this specific resolution. We now have already began and we’ve met with the NAMA group and we’re in settlement that there is no such thing as a going again.”
On exigencies that might drive airways to function to dawn and sundown airports past the scheduled interval, he mentioned:
“We don’t plan security and safety coverage primarily based on such permutations.When one thing like that occurs, then we all know how one can cross the bridge once we get there; however proper now we’re working usually and operations are regular, we’ve to plan our operations the way in which they continue to be customary. For those who think about such issues then you’ll not have customary operations process (SOP) wherever. It stays as it’s.”
