Posted by Sade Williams
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has alerted pilots, crew and airline operators of hazardous weather across the nation’s airports.
In an aviation weather advisory circular with the subject: Aviation Hazardous Weather in Dry Season, and sent to all pilots and airline operators, the NCAA caution the operators to be aware of moderate to severe dust haze, early morning fog especially along the coastal areas, which in some instances can reduce horizontal visibility to less than 200 meters during the period of November 2021 to March 2022..
It also cautions the operators of air-to-ground visibility reduction due to dust haze or fog; where erodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed operating minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lightings over wide areas making visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.
The NCAA cautions that due to this, flights are bound to be delayed, diverted, or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.
It added that this may sometimes result in vlosure of the airspace by Air Traffic Controllers when any of the conditions iare observed or forecast by NiMet;.
It warned pilots of strict adherence to published aerodrome weather minima by Flight Crews/Operators and Air Traffic Controllers, adding that Pilots /Flight Crew Members shall obtain adequate departure-route and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet Aerodrome Methodologist offices and station prior to flight operations and excise maximum restraint whenever an adverse weather is observed.
“Operators shall ensure that necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of flight delay or cancellations on their passengers and ensure strict compliance to this Advisory Circular by all stakeholders.” , it said.
