NAMA installs ICAO certified AFL at Lagos, PH airports

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has completed the installation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified solar powered Airfield Lighting (AFL) system at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos and Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA).

The Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, explained that the installed lighting system is a product of Avlite Systems Pty Limited, Australia, one of the world’s solar LED airfield system manufacturers.

He stated that the lighting system certified by the ICAO and FAA is currently in use at various airports across the globe, particularly in Africa, Caribbean, Europe and South America.

Abdulsalam added that with the installation of the system at the two major airports, the tempo of night and low visibility operations is expected to increase and reduce operational cost to the airlines through less taxiing and long wait for take-offs  and landing.

NAMA, he said, is also expected to benefit in areas of low maintenance and running cost as power generation and cabling are totally eliminated.

Meanwhile, an unruly passenger, Sadiaq Iliyasu, on board FirstNation Flight FRN101 enroute Abuja to Lagos yesterday, caused a bomb scare at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport (NAA), Abuja, forcing the aircraft to return to ramp.

The airline, however, said that the passenger was immediately handed over to law enforcement agents at the airport. 

The spokesman of the airline, Luke Terver-Uzer, explained that Sadiaq Iliyasu on seat number 8D became unruly after the airplane had commenced taxing and claimed he had forgotten his phone.

He also explained that efforts by the crew to prevail on the passengers proved abortive, adding that in line with the standard procedures of the airline, the captain of the flight returned the airplane back to the ramp and asked the passengers to disembark.

Terver-Uzer added that at the ramp, the passengers were re-screened and the airplane re-checked in line with the airline’s security procedure.

According to him, “A passenger by name Sadiaq? Iliyasu on seat 8D became unruly after the aircraft had commenced taxi and at the threshold, claiming he had forgotten his phone. All efforts to prevail on him were abortive. Hence, in accordance with our operating procedure, the Captain of the flight returned the aircraft back to ramp to off load the passenger. The unruly passenger was then handed over to law enforcement at the airport.”

He continued, “As? a precaution, the aircraft was then searched in line with security procedure with our standard security procedure. It is important to clarify that the passenger did not have checked bag and the flight thereafter operated? to Lagos safely.” 

The airline lamented that the nation’s aviation regulations and law as it concerns unruly behaviour on board aircraft is weak, calling on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the law enforcement agencies to ensure that there is sanction for such behaviour.

“The regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies will need to enforce sanction against this type of unruly behaviour. Our regulations and law enforcement is weak when it comes to dealing with unruly passenger,” he said. 

Terver-Uzer said that incident was not a bomb scare as alleged in some quarters but that given the mood of the country at this time, FirstNation Airways appreciates the apprehension and over reaction, assuring that the airline employs industry best practice in all areas of its operations.

NCAA’s Media Officer, Sam Adurogboye, who spoke on behalf of the General Manager, Public Affairs, Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed the incident.

Source: Daily Independent