Govt to install N400m facilities at Kano airport

TO boost safety in the aviation sector, the communications equipment for the newly constructedKano Airport tower are now ready for immediate installation.The Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, said that the completion of the Kano tower last week after six years, would raise the safety profile of the nation's airspace, adding that the facility would now give room for the installation of the northern sector of the agency's N400 million Total Very High Frequency Radio project and that of the Safe Tower project.The VHF radio project, according to him would provide an extended network of communications capabilities for air traffic controller and pilot's air-to-ground and ground-to-ground communications across the Nigerian airspace, saying that communication challenges at some stations would be eradicated once the installation is completed.Udoh explained further that the installation of these facilities would enable the agency to commence an area radar control and that some controllers were already being trained for its successful takeoff.Kano Airport, an Area Control Centre (ACC) handles the bulk of flight operations into the country and immediate installation and integration of this equipment into the new radar system is expected to attract more foreign airlines over-flying the nation's airspace and its attendant boost in revenue.Speaking at the 40th Annual General Meeting of the Air Traffic Controllers held in Owerri, Imo State over the weekend, Udoh said the new management under his leadership would ensure that all the safety critical equipment and projects of the agency were given proper attention to sustain the quality of air traffic services in the country and the adjacent flight information regions.He noted that the operation of the new radar system in the country had brought about a significant reduction in flight delays, improved surveillance, enhanced safety and reduction in air safety incidents and efficient flight operations with airlines burning less fuel.He informed the controllers that the training of the personnel of the agency would be the priority of the new management, declaring that 'large investments in equipment without a corresponding investment in human capital development would be counter-productive.''As part of the ongoing effort to tackle depletion in the technical workforce, he said that the agency was training 45 air traffic control cadets at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria while recruitment of additional 50 cadets was almost completed.
Click here to read full news..