ART Calls For Aviation Policy, Programme

By PEARL NGWAMA

A group of aviation experts under the umbrella of Aviation Round Table (ART) have called on the Federal Government to put together an aviation programme and policy that would aid the growth of the sector.
The experts while briefing journalists early in the week at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport called on the government to inject more funds into the Search and Rescue Department of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the total radar coverage of Nigeria, otherwise known as TRACON and the Doppler weather radar that would assist airlines and pilots to avoid deadly wind shear which has contributed to so many air crashes.
It recalled that the Sosoliso plane crash in PortHarcourt, Rivers State in 2005, which killed all on board was traceable to a wind shear.
Wind shear change is the direction of wind speed, and as such could lead to disaster if aircraft enters into it. The acquisition of Doppler Weather radar in the major airports could reduce the risk of the phenomenon, the group noted.
According to the President of the group, Captain Dele Ore , aviation is too important not to be given the priority it deserves and called on partnership to move the system forward.
Ore , accompanied by Sam Akerele, former Airspace Manager of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Sheri Kyari, Social Secretary of the body and Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said the plea became necessary as abandoning the sector could lead to a shut down.
He stated that the country would remain ungovernable if the sector is shut down occasioned by the collapse of facilities, adding that rather than watch it collapse, the sector needed urgent attention.
 “W e will continue to point it out because aviation is the engine room of the economy, until that is accepted, government will continue to take care of railway and other sectors with disregard to aviation. But we will not stop asking for support for the industry until government deems it fit to give aviation all the priority it deserves.”
ART Secretary-General, Akerele, berated the management of the country's airspace, stressing that the airspace has remained as it is because there was no new airspace design and radar occasioned by the paucity of fund.
To “when you look at the problems we are facing, the airspace has remained the way it has been for the past 15 years. There is no new airspace design; no arrival or departure plan, there is no radar because basically NAMA has not got the fund to finish the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) cannot buy Doppler Weather radar because they don't have money,” he said.
He stated that 73 air traffic controllers had been trained on the new system that helps to manage as many aircraft in the country's airspace without much difficulty.
He called on government to bring in professionals and not just create Ministry of Aviation where those working are not professionals.
Using the United States Government as a basis of comparison, Akerele said that they have a plan for aviation for the next 20 years and if one minister is gone the next will continue with it.
His words: “Government should put together policies and programmes and fund them otherwise these parastatals will continue to dance to the gallery.”