The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has concluded plans to overhaul the nation’s airspace infrastructure architecture as it is set to deploy the Rohde & Schwarz High-Frequency (HF) transceiver, equipped with advanced signal processing algorithms that significantly reduce the noise levels typically associated with traditional HF systems.
NAMA said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Abdullahi Musa that the team, led by the managing director, Mr Ahmed Umar Farouk, inspected the equipment in Germany.
It also disclosed that the delegation which was in the European country on a factory assessment test (FAT) of critical communication equipment needed to enhance the efficiency of the agency’s air-ground communication infrastructure.
The technology, according to the statement is expected to boost the long-range air-to-ground communications capabilities across the Nigerian airspace.
It is specifically designed to address the range limitations of the current Very High Frequency (VHF) systems.
The new HF solution would ensure robust and reliable communication coverage over the Gulf of Guinea, extending far into the Atlantic Ocean, across the Northern desert regions beyond the Kano Flight Information Region (FIR).
It will ensure robust and reliable communication coverage over the Gulf of Guinea, extending far into the Atlantic Ocean, across the Northern desert regions beyond the Kano Flight Information Region (FIR).
Musa quoted Farouk as expressing optimism that the deployment of the communication equipment would further boost upper airspace communication in the country.
“This move aligns with the commitment of the President towards enhancing the safety of the sector through upgrading and modernising airspace infrastructure,” he said.
The managing director also noted that the communication difficulty encountered between air traffic controllers and aircraft pilots became difficult as a result of epileptic electricity supply which he described as a national issue, stressing that the agency had declared an emergency on electricity.
“We have declared an emergency on power because the moment you don’t have power, it is very difficult to communicate signal into the air that the air pilot will make use of and communicate. Those are challenges and we have that aspect of the satellite system.
“The performance is fast deteriorating. Electronics generally, the lifespan doesn’t go beyond ten years. We are into 15 years of this product. What we are saying is that it is fast deteriorating and the government has acceded to our request to quickly modernize it and we are going beyond modernizing. We want to key into the latest technology as far as surveillance system is concerned,” he said.
