Nigeria has introduced a free routing system for airlines. It is the first country in Africa to unveil the new air navigation system, which would enable airlines to spend less to get to their destination, save aviation fuel consumption as well as improve carbon emission on the aircraft to the environment.
Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Mathew Pwajok disclosed this in an interview.
According to Pwajok, the free route system came as part of interventions to rescue airlines from the debilitating shocks of the COVID – 19 Pandemic.
He said under the new free routing system, airlines could fly shorter distances in the airspace to enhance their operational efficiency as well as burn less fuel, given the impact of fuel costs on airlines’ operations.
He said the airspace agency, conscious of the rebound of air travel, has embarked on a series of interventions in upgrading air traffic management, surveillance and other equipment in the country.
To drive the airspace equipment upgrade, he said the Federal Government is committing over N36 billion for the upgrade of both the software and hardware components of the Safe Tower Project as well as the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project.
He said while N13 billion would be deployed to upgrade the Safe Tower Project, N23 billion would be allocated to the TRACON project.
Besides, he said the Federal Government would be deploying over $12.9 million to enhance the air navigation systems on the project christened: “Wide Area Multi-Lateration Surveillance System for the Gulf of Guinea”.
Pwajok said the system, when completed, would provide safety and surveillance systems for helicopters flying in the Niger Delta Region.
He said the system would not only help to detect low flying helicopters in the Nigeria Delta Region, it would also assist to detect drones flying in the region.
He said the airspace agency has also published procedures for the implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN), for all airports across the country .
The PBN, he said, would reduce operational costs, optimise navigation for aircraft operating into such airports.
But, for the PBN to be activated, airlines must have compliant technology onboard aircraft, train their crew as well as secure the relevant approvals from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to actualise the technology.
He called on indigenous carriers to take advantage of NAMA’s new procedures.
Pwajok said the airspace agency has also carried out mapping for manpower needs in new airports in Ekiti, Ogun , Osun, Yobe, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Anambra, Lagos, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River and other states.
The NAMA acting boss said the agency has already taken steps to address its ageing workforce by seeking approval for the recruitment of over 100 air traffic engineers and controllers.