The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution as the dry season with its attendant hazardous weather sets in.
The warning is contained in an advisory circular marked AC: NCAA-AEROMET – 34 initiated by the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) and addressed to all pilots and airline operators.
The circular is sequel to the seasonal climate prediction (SCP) issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) which reported the cessation of rainfall and weather associated with dry Season in Nigeria from late December 2022 to March/April 2023.
In the memo signed dated December 19 and signed by the director general of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, the agency stated that “this advisory circular is intended to alert pilots about nature of weather associated with dry season in Nigeria, ranging from light/moderate to severe dust haze and sometimes early morning fog which can sometimes reduce the horizontal visibility to below the aerodrome operating minima.”
With the issuance of the circular, Nuhu said the advisory circular marked AC: NCAA – AEROMET 33 is accordingly cancelled.
The agency enumerated some of the effects of the hazardous weather on flight operations to include 1) Air-to-ground visibility reduction due to haze dust or fog; 2) aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed operating minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lightings over wide areas making visuals navigation extremely difficult or impossible; and 3) flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.
In view of the foregoing, NCAA said all pilots, operators and air traffic controllers are obliged to abide by the following safety requirements: 1) closure of the airspace by Air Traffic Controllers when any of these conditions in (3) are observed or forecast by NiMet; 2) strict adherence to published aerodrome weather minima by flight crews/operators and air traffic controllers; 3) pilots/flight crew members shall obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet aerodrome meteorological offices and stations prior to flight operations and exercise maximum restraint whenever an adverse weather is observed; and 4) operators shall ensure that all necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of delay or cancellations on their passengers.
“While the Authority urges all passengers to exercise patience and understanding during this period as their safety is of utmost importance, stakeholders should ensure strict compliance to this advisory circular as violations would be viewed seriously,” it added
