The Nigerian Airspace Management (NAMA) on Tuesday said it had streamlined airspace coordination procedures at the Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt airports.

This is contained in a statement signed by NAMA’s General Manager, Public Affairs (NAMA) Mrs Jumoke Adetona, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The statement said the streamlining of the airspace coordination procedure between the parent Area Control Centres and the subordinate Approach Control Units would enhance safety in air traffic management.

“This is in line with our determination to provide seamless air navigation services and also enhance safety of air travel within the nation’s airspace.”

According to the statement, the procedure is in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirement for global air safety.

The statement said NAMA had facilitated the signing of letters of procedure between Kano Area Control Centre and Abuja Area Approach Control Unit.

It said that the agency also facilitated the signing of the procedure letters between the Lagos Area Control Centre and Port Harcourt Area Approach Centre.

According to the statement, the letters of procedure spell out the condition under which the responsibility for provision of air traffic services shall be shared between the parent Area Control Centre and the subordinate Approach Control Units.

The statement said it also specified the flow control procedure during periods of congestion and procedure to follow in the event of total or partial communication failure between air traffic control services unit and an aircraft.

It quoted the agency’s General Manager, Air Traffic Control Operations, Mr Ifeanyi Okwor, as saying the signing of letters of procedure was informed by recent changes in the structure of the airspace.

“We need to capture all these changes in the letters of procedure especially as it has to do with the operational relationship between parent Approach Control Centres and the subordinate Area Approach Control units.” (NAN)

•Photo shows MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

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