Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said it was leaving no stone unturned in meeting the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirement for states to ensure full implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) at both local and international airports by 2016.

PBN is the technology in air traffic services where aircraft receive advisory directives from satellite based equipment instead of ground based equipment.

NAMA’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam said in Lagos on Monday that the implementation of PBN was well underway as aircraft with necessary approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can now fly into additional 15 airports in Nigeria without the use of ground Navigational aids.

He listed the airports to include : Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan, Ilorin, Owerri, Jos and Kaduna. Others are Maiduguri, Katsina, Minna, Sokoto, Zaria, Gombe .

NAMA had in 2012 published PBN Area Navigation (RNAV) Approaches, Standard Instrument Departure Routes (SIDs) and Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) for the four major airports of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano making them PBN compliant.

He said the new technology is contained in a publication of the PBN Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches for 15 Nigerian Airports  for airspace managers as well as the publication of Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) and Standard Instrument Departure Routes (SIDs) for Benin Airport by the agency.

Abdulsalam noted that the implementation of Performance Based Navigation in Nigeria became inevitable as it is in line with global migration from ground-based navigation to satellite-based navigation.

Abdulsalam also said that “because of the increased level of accuracy, reliability, continuity, integrity of information, overall enhanced safety and attendant benefits to airlines and the travelling public, it has become imperative for Nigerian operators to key in to PBN.”

He added : “With direct routing and reduced flight times, Performance Based Navigation would enhance efficiency and reduce cost to the airlines.”

NAMA had in 2012 published PBN Area Navigation (RNAV) Approaches, Standard Instrument Departure Routes (SIDs) and Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) for the four major airports of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano making them PBN compliant.

By Pita Ochai

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