The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), it is going to implement flight spacing at all its airports to ensure total safety once the airspace is reopened for flight services.
The managing director of the agency, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu who stated this in an interview in Lagos at the weekend explained that flight spacing is not meant to disrupt any of the airline’s schedules, but to ensure total safety of passengers, airline staff and others within the airport environment.
He said he had informed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about such plan which he said would restrict multiple flight departures from the same terminal at the same time.
“We have already told NCAA that we are going to space the flights. No two airlines will depart at the same time from our airports. The spacing is not to make things difficult for the operators, but to protect their staff and other users of our airports.
“It is not going to be unnecessary spacing. Like I told them, it is not a slot, but just spacing of flights,” he said.
On inadequate space at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Yadudu said plan was underway to increase its capacity by about 200 per cent with the construction of fabricated materials within the facility.
That, he said, would be ready very soon.
He reiterated the agency’s readiness to recommence activities at the airports adding that all the staff had been adequately trained to withstand the new order.
“At GAT, we have also erected a large canopy for people to stay in incase of rain. We also have sanitisers and equipment to test their temperature at the airport and others in the country. Our tap water has sensors to minimse touch.
“We are discussing with some companies to enlarge the GAT with fabricated materials because we don’t have time for concrete work, which may take another five months to complete. The expansion of the GAT will lead to 200 per cent in the hall capacity.”
Also, Yadudu disclosed that FAAN was installing transparent shields in front all airline counters operating from its terminal in a bid to minimise physical contacts.
He added that wearing face masks and observing other protocols recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) would be made compulsory.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, Yadudu said FAAN would open two arrival halls for the comfort of the passengers.
In preparation for flight restart, Yadudu said between 85 and 90 per cent of the agency’s staff had been trained by World Health Organisation (WHO) how to on operational and response time to the coronavirus pandemic.
He also stated that the Port Health Services had trained the entire agency’s staff at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri, in order to ensure compliance on resumption.
“No airport in Nigeria has 100 per cent of its staff trained by WHO and Port Health on Covid-19 pandemic, but we achieved that with Owerri Airport. All our staff at Owerri airport are trained 100 per cent. Overall, about 85 to 90 per cent of our staff have been trained and we want to achieve 100 per cent training for all,” he said.
He further said the management followed to the letter all the protocols on the coronavirus and advisory circular by the NCAA.
He added that FAAN had improved its performance by increasing the requirements.
