In aviation sector, many passengers often underestimate the functions of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

In flying, communication is essential. Where a pilot is unable to see what is ahead of him or communicate effectively from the airport of departure to the destination airport, the safety of all on board is already in jeopardy. This is where the job of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) comes to play.

The phenomenon of blind spots has dominated the airspace with pilots unable to effectively communicate with the controllers. Blind spots do not only pose risk to air safety, they also are a huge drain on revenue generation as foreign airlines avoid Nigeria due to multiplicity of blind spots within the airspace terrain.

However, the Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, said they are vigorously tackling the problem.

The NAMA management, led by an aviator who doubles as a pilot, regulator and an operator, has taken drastic actions to address the challenge.

President of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE), Engr. Ishaya Dung, said blind spots have disappeared in the country’s airspace, adding that the issue of blind spots in the country’s airspace has become a thing of the past.

“Management bought Long Range Radios which were actually new in the system. It is new because it was the first time radios were deployed in our system. So far, that challenge has been taken care of and it has been testified to by some of the pilots that we have interacted with,” he said.

Despite the successes, however, the NAAE president advised NAMA not to rest on its oars. He stressed the need to address the challenge of manpower in the sector.

Since Akinkuotu became head of NAMA in January 2017, the agency has recorded more achievements especially in deploying radios in several places to enhance airspace communications.

To address Remote Control Air to Ground (RCAG), it recently deployed two Jotron high-powered very high frequency (VHF) long-range communication radios, one each installed in Lagos West and Lagos East Area Control Centres (ACCs).

•Culled from Daily Trust

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