Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), says Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the global movement from manual to digital operations in the aviation industry.

Abdulsalam said this in a statement signed by Mrs Olajumoke Adetona, acting General Manager, Public Affairs (NAMA) in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to the statement, Abdulsalam expressed the view while declaring open a three-day workshop designed to educate stakeholders on the migration from manual to electronic Notice To Air Men (e-NOTAM).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the e-NOTAM is application software designed by NAMA to enhance the dissemination of aeronautical information electronically to airspace users.

The statement quoted Abdulsalam as saying that “aviation globally is moving away from manual to digital operations and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

“The agency’s determination to provide safe, efficient and economic air navigation services has challenged us to deploy new technologies that would ease service provision, save time and reduce operational cost for the airlines and aviation agencies.”

According to the statement, Abdulsalam said he was confident that the deployment of e-NOTAM would make for ease of access to online real-time aeronautical information by doing away with paper work and bureaucracy.

The statement said Abdulsalam also assured participants that NAMA was willing to make all necessary adjustments to accommodate customers’ feedback and complaints in areas of possible improvement.

It said the provision of aeronautical information that could enhance flight operations was one of the key functions of NAMA.

According to the statement, NOTAM, before now, was printed in hard copy and made available to airspace users.

It said apart from time constraint, the cumbersome nature of paper work posed a challenge to both the agency and airspace users, especially in emergency situations.

The statement said e-NOTAM was conceived to ensure an accurate database of NOTAMs, address the above challenges and also bring about efficiency in service delivery.

Participants at the workshop, according to the statement, included airline operators, service providers, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Air Force and other stakeholders.

NAN recalls that NAMA, not long ago, had also developed the e-flight plan and e-clearance software packages in response to the yearnings of airspace users for a faster method of processing flight plans and clearances. (NAN)

•Photo shows NAMA MD, Ibrahim Abdulsalam..

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