The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has solicited for the understanding of airline passengers as adverse weather across the country causes flight delay and cancellation.
It would be recalled that air travelers have had harrowing experience following flight diversion and, in many cases, outright cancellation, occasioned by highly inclement weather.
NCAA said in a statement that the prevailing inclement weather is a global experience which warrants cancellation of in-bound international flights alike.
This appeal is contained in a release issued by NCAA at the Aviation House on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
Earlier, the Authority had urged pilots, operators and other stakeholders to exercise restraint over harmattan dust haze and safety approach to adopt.
This was contained in an ‘Advisory Circular: NCAA-AEROMET-28’ dated November 12, 2019 which alerted pilots of the hazards associated with dust haze.
It stated that the dry and dusty wind that blows south from the Sahara across Nigeria is expected to persist till March, 2020.
“As issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in its Seasonal Rainfall Prediction Bulletin-2019, the cessation of the rainy season was predicted from mid-October (in the Northern part) to early December, 2019 (in the Southern part).
With the issuance of this circular, Advisory Circular (AC): NCAA – AEROMET 27 dated 26th March, 2019 is accordingly cancelled.
Pilots/operators are therefore directed to note the following hazards and operational problems forthwith in the interest of safety.
“Air-to-ground visibility may be considerably reduced due to dust haze.
“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 visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.
“Flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima,” it stated.
The agency therefore advised pilots to exercise maximum restraint when severe weather condition is observed or forecast by NiMet.
It also recommended that flight crews, operators and air traffic controllers ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima.
In addition, it counselled pilots to obtain adequate departure, en-route, destination and alternate aerodromes weather information and briefing from the aerodrome meteorological office prior to flight operations. Advice
Furthermore, it informed operators to ensure that necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of flight delays or cancellations on their passengers.
“While Passengers must be informed of any development concerning their flights well ahead of time by the airlines, the regulatory authority will expect strict compliance from all stakeholders regarding the circular as violation will be seriously viewed,” it added.
