The federal government
has concluded plans
to close part of the runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for a minimum period of five months beginning from October 2, 2004, in order to effect a complete resurfacing of the runway.
The runway which is mainly used for international flight operations, has been in bad shape for sometimes before the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), awarded the contract for its resurfacing to PW Construction Company.
However, its proposed closure for a period of five months is expected to put a lot of pressure on the domestic runway where all operations will be diverted to.
In order to avoid any accident during the closure period, stakeholders in the aviation industry met last Friday and advised the concerned agencies to live above board during the period.
Present at the meeting which was at the instance of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), were the representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), foreign airlines including air France, KLM, Ethiopia Airlines, Sotuh African Airways and Emirates, representatives of domestic operators at the meeting included ADC, Chanchagi, Bristol Helicopters and Kings Airlines. Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), also represented industry watchdog.
It was gathered that the authority concerned was advised to give enough notice to all pilots about the closure of the runway while outbound flights were also advised to adhere strictly to flight plans.
The NOTAM to be given to airlines will also enable pilots to know that there may be delays in take off and landing time during the period.
The meeting also deliberated on the need for transfer of operational light control from FAAN to NAMA since NAMA is expected to be incharge of all air navigation.
The need for introduction of additional frequency on the control tower frequencies was also deliberated upon with suggestions that the new frequencies should not be restricted to peak period only but should be permanent.
The meeting also noted that Automatic Termal Information Service (ATIS), be made available and serviceable during the period, while weather information on it be upgraded hourly especially during hazy periods.
Pilots were also advised to endeavour to be airborne five minutes after they got start off clearances, in order to reduce delays at the holding point.
NAMA also enjoined pilots to be more professional and bear with Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) especially during delayed period.
One of the issues that the stakeholders concern however, was the issue of dislocated activities caused by the movements of Very Important Personalities (VIP).
Airliners usually incur huge costs whenever there is movement of top government functionaries and VIP as it delays the take off and landing of flights.
Other airlines are compelled to hold in the air for 20 to 30 minutes while waiting for VIPs to take off or land, thereby causing additional cost to airlines.
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