The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday issued advisory circular to airlines and pilots on hazardous weather as the dry season sets in
In a circular entitled ‘Aviation hazardous weather in dry season’ signed by its director general, Capt Musa Nuhu, NCAA advised airlines and pilots to use the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) seasonal climate prediction for the 2021 to “bring forth the evolving weather information associated with severe dust haze/fog and the effects on safety and efficiency of flight operations.”
It said NiMet had predicted rainfall cessation in October in the extreme northern part of the country, November around the Middle Belt and late November/December in the southern part of the country.
He said pilots and operators should expect moderate to severe dust haze, early morning fog especially along the coastal areas, which in some instances can reduce horizontal visibility to less than 200 meters during the period of November 2021 to March 2022.
He also stated that air-to-ground visibility might be reduced due to dust haze or fog
“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,” he added.
Consequently, the NCAA said flights are bound to be delayed, diverted, or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.
In the event of the occurrence of moderate to severe dust haze, early morning fog especially along the coastal areas, the agency spelt out the responsibilities of the pilot, operators and air traffic controllers as follows:
*Closure of the airspace by ATCs when any of the conditions in is observed or forecast by NiMet;
*strict adherence to published aerodrome weather minima by flight crews/operators and ATCs;
Besides, it said pilots /flight crew members should obtain adequate departure-route and destination weather information and briefing from NiMet aerodrome methodologist offices and station prior to flight operations and excise maximum restraint whenever an adverse weather is observed.
Finally, it said “operators shall ensure that necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of flight delay or cancellations on their passengers.”
