Ime Akpan
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that Wednesday’s aborted landing of Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-300 aircraft at the international wing of the Murtala Airport, Lagos was a normal safety procedure in the global aviation industry.
It would be recalled that the flight marked ET 901 flying from Addis Ababa executed a missed approach on landing at the airport.
Addressing aviation correspondents in Ikeja on Thursday, the managing director of FAAN, Capt. Hamishu Yadudu said the pilot’s decision to abort the first landing at the airport was in line with industry standard.
He said pilots are encouraged to go for a go-around if the situation calls for it, stressing that inasmuch as the aircraft has enough fuel in its belly, it does not affect safety.
He further stated that pilots are tutored on go-around in the cause of their training maintain that what the Ethiopian Airlines’ pilot did in that circumstance was not abnormal.
He expressed surprise why the incident generated such hue and cry in the media.
“A go-around is a normal procedure, not an abnormal situation. Even abnormal situations are catered for by the aircraft manufacturer and even the system. In all procedures, you have redundancy, which is also known as alternatives.
“I remember I did a go-around twice in one of our airports. As long as you have enough fuel in your aircraft, you can do a go-around. It is also part of the training we go through. In the cause of your training, you can do a go-around about five or seven times in a flight. Flying is a serious business. We have a duty to report accurately about the industry. Whatever is reported here, goes viral. So, everyone has the duty to report accurately and objectively about the industry,” he said.